The 13th annual MJBizCon—the largest cannabis business conference and expo in the world—opens next week Wednesday, December 4, 2024, at the Las Vegas Convention Center.
The show promises a more defined and inclusive expo this year. With more than 1,400 exhibitors expected, the expo show floor will be segmented to make it easier for attendees to navigate.
"MJBizCon is the one event of the year where the cannabis industry is all in one place," says Kyle Loucks, founder and CEO of RollPros, a pre-roll automation company. "We love the opportunity to show off the Blackbird running actual flower at the expo, spend time with customers, and reconnect with our favorite partners. The traffic to our booth has increased every time we've participated, and we expect the same this year as well."
Regional Spotlights
While MJBizCon is the largest global cannabis event, regional and state specifics are paramount to industry success. The show is promoting State Takeovers at The Hub in the central hall of the convention center, featuring influential regional industry leaders, speakers and panels. Additionally, The Hub will host ticketed networking receptions, such as the first-timers open house, achieving equity in cannabis, and empowering women in cannabis.
Tyler Priest, chief revenue officer at Green Leaf Business Solutions, which specializes in outsourced cannabis HR consulting and payroll services, says his team is excited to move beyond virtual meet-and-greets and do business in person.
"In the virtual world that exists today, it's a breath of fresh air to connect with our partners and current clients in person," Priest says. "This year, we are doing an Ask Me Anything (AMA) forum at our booth. We are bringing in not just salespeople but actual HR professionals that know what it's like to deal with employee relation issues and compliance with all the changing labor laws." Green Leaf will also have CPAs and ERISA/401k professionals onsite who will take time to consult with operators. "We hope this brings to life how tradeshows can have a real benefit and not just [provide] another business card or free lighter."
Manufacturing & Distribution Pavilion
The Marijuana Industry Trade Association (MITA) will host the MITA Manufacturing + Distribution Pavilion, which will be dedicated to best-in-class manufacturers and distribution companies from each state to help expand cannabis retail operations.
"This year's MJBizCon is a groundbreaking moment for us," says Yasha Shamayeli, director of marketing at LeafyPack. "We're not just exhibiting; we're here to change the way the cannabis industry thinks about packaging. With our latest innovations, we're creating tools that empower businesses to be more efficient, more capable, and more connected than ever before."
The MITA pavilion's exhibitors include Nova Farms from Massachusetts, The Goodfellas from California, CLOVR from Missouri, Mint Brands from Florida, Next Level Labs from Alaska, Pono Life from Hawaii, and HiJolly from Arizona.
"I'm expecting MJBizCon to be extremely exciting," says Nohtal Partansky, co-founder and CEO of Sorting Robotics. "We're going to have our latest robot, Stardust, kief coating joints live and in person for the world to see. It will also be nice to connect with all of our customers in one central location. MJBizCon is like a class reunion for operators in the industry, which makes it really fun."
Cultivation Focus
Located in the central hall, The Vault will connect global genetics thought leaders, including some top geneticists. For example, Mario Guzman, creator of the cannabis genetics Gelato and Sunset Sherbert, will attend. Other exhibitors in The Vault include Sensi Seeds and Barney's Farm from Amsterdam, Abstrax, and VOP Genetics
MJBizCon will also feature a preview of Culture+, MJBiz's new event set to debut in 2025. Located in the central hall, this section will spotlight manufacturers, importers, distributors, wholesalers, product developers, and advocates who support the growth of smoke, paraphernalia, hemp/CBD, functional mushrooms and alternative lifestyle businesses.
Kyle Neathery, CEO of CBD supplier Samson Extracts, says his team will attend MJBizCon for the first time this year. "We are excited for the opportunity to expand our network and meet with the leading growers, processors, distributors and investors who will be in attendance," Neathery says. "We anticipate hemp and CBD to be major topics of discussion at this year's conference, with projections forecasting significant growth for the global CBD markets and the hemp-derived product segment in particular.
"As consumer demand for alternative or natural products continues to rise, and as more research comes to light highlighting cannabidiol's varied health benefits, it's important to stay in the know on the latest developments," Neathery adds. "We're also keen to share and explore the latest innovations in hemp manufacturing, extraction and automation, particularly on the heels of our newly-launched, internationally-available bulk CBD isolate offerings."
Social Justice Row
MJBizCon will also feature Equity Row, a platform for justice-impacted cannabis businesses. Equity Row, located in central hall, will provide a dedicated space for founders or close family members who have been incarcerated due to cannabis-related offenses. Exhibitors include 40 Tons, a cannabis restorative justice-focused brand, as well as 15 additional exhibitors, like Upling, Delisoso, and Conbud.
"Our goal was to make this year's tradeshow easier to navigate by organizing key segments into dedicated pavilions—cultivation, processing, packaging and lab services, business services, and retail and dispensary," says Sarah Wilson, vice president event and sales with MJBiz. "With enhanced signage throughout the venue, attendees can quickly find the resources and solutions they need, making their experience more productive and seamless."
Ray DeSabato, CEO of Chorus, a company that developed a patented odor control and pathogen prevention technology, is anticipating "excellent networking and promising new business opportunities with many of the seasoned and reputable cultivators and MSOs."
DeSabato says MJBizCon 2024 is the "most trusted event" serving the cannabis industry that gathers the professionals shaping this industry. Chorus is launching its first commercial product at the show. The Chorus Gro is a closed-loop, integrated, smart system that generates and controls low levels of chlorine dioxide in indoor grow rooms.
Now in its 13th year, MJBizCon remains the tentpole event of the year for the industry.
"MJBizCon is the heartbeat of cannabis. The event serves as the nexus of the cannabis industry with attendees and exhibitors excited to expand their network and do business," says Tom Lynch, president of Cannabis Equipment News, an industry trade publication. "This is the event where every manufacturer launches new products, which is the biggest reason we bring our entire staff to the show. We're excited to deepen our relationship with the industry and excited for a healthy and vibrant 2025."
To register for the show, click here.
