Schedule of Events

With the Biden administration in place, what is on the short- and long-term horizon for federal cannabis legalization efforts? And how could those efforts impact banking and finance, the opening of interstate and international markets, state regulatory structures, and federal government oversight?

In this session, experts with an intricate understanding of federal regulatory and financial structures will provide valuable insights into:
• The easements that could come for cannabis operators in a federally legal market;
• The potential market slowdowns under federal regulations;
• How federal oversight (including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration) would impact compliance and related costs;
• How plant-touching businesses can influence decision-making in D.C.; and
• How legalization could dynamically shift the competitive landscape.

High-THC products still reign supreme in the cannabis industry; however, some state regulatory agencies are now looking more closely at potency thresholds. At the same time, patient and consumer preferences are showing early signs of a shift to more balanced and sophisticated profiles, and interest in minor cannabinoids (such as CBG, CBN, THCV and delta-8 THC) is piquing. How will the practice and business of cultivation and extraction evolve to accommodate shifts in regulations and consumer tastes?

In this session, experienced cultivators will share:
• What factors to consider today in genetic selection;
• The future of terpenes in cannabis breeding;
• The challenges and opportunities of growing for APIs (active pharmaceutical compounds) and minor cannabinoids; and
• How to teach consumers about the benefits of lower-THC profiles.

Data can tell cannabis dispensaries a great deal about patient and consumer preferences and how well products are selling, and even help you project inventory trends to better serve the market. But data without the proper analysis can be time-consuming, cumbersome, and sometimes even misleading. Here, data and retail experts will help you sort through the numbers that can take your retail inventory management to the next level.

Learn how to:
• Use customer analytics/data analysis to drive product inventory decisions;
• Better balance supply & demand; and
• Boost sales through integration with merchandising techniques.

As a cultivator, few moments are more distressing than when you see your crop riddled with pests. More than two-thirds of cultivators said they have had to deal with pest or disease problems in their grows in the past 12 months, according to Cannabis Business Times’ 2021 “State of the Growing Environment” report. Pests can cause cannabis plants to produce lower yields and reduced potency and flavor, and, in worse cases, kill your entire crop. Thankfully, there are many effective ways to prevent and mitigate pests.

In this session, you will learn:
• What to look for when scouting for common cannabis pests;
• What the most frequent contamination sources are;
• What strategies are best to employ when pests are detected; and
• Tried-and-true strategies you can implement to increase your facility’s biosecurity.

M&A activity in the cannabis space is picking up speed in 2021 after capital squeezes and the coronavirus pandemic slowed down deals in 2020. Acquiring another company can be a viable way to expand into new markets, diversify or vertically integrate your business and/or expand your product offerings. Being acquired or merging with another company can give you access to much-needed capital and resources. But if you’re considering selling your company or acquiring/merging with another, there are a host of essential considerations to ensure a successful deal and transition for both companies and their teams.

In this can’t-miss session, you’ll learn about:
• How to evaluate potential partners—from a strategic perspective to cultural synergies and beyond;
• What deal options exist (cash, equity/stock and payable notes) and their pros and cons;
• Lessons learned from successful deals and those that fell through;
• Seamless financial and operational transition through the merger or acquisition closing process.

Every decision you make as a manufacturer of cannabis products comes with capital expenditures (CapEx), as well as workflow and quality assurance implications—so taking the time to wisely choose which cannabis products you will take to market and why, as well as how they will be developed, is crucial to a solid and profitable business plan.

In this session, extraction experts will share:
• Considerations for your go-to-market strategy—from regional market trends and product supply/demand, competitive analyses;
• Planning your input sources, quantity and quality needs;
• Evaluating your core competencies and how to maximize them;
• Technical and financial considerations for solvent selections based on your end-product goals (e.g., butane, CO2, ethanol, solventless); and
• Quality assurance methods to help you spot issues as well as money-saving efficiencies.

With the ever-changing adult-use cannabis consumer, it's no surprise that companies in adult-use markets are experimenting with a ‘house of brands’ approach to target different demographics. Even those who’ve started out in the medical market and have now ventured into adult-use are shedding their pharmaceutical-style image for more lifestyle-oriented product lines. If you’re targeting the adult-use market, how can your brand address the ever-evolving recreational consumer and stand out among an ever-increasing number of competitive brands?

In this session, learn about:
• The importance of brand building, and how successful companies are creating product lines that resonate with their current and prospective customers;
• Factors to consider for targeting specific segments of the overall consumer market, and how homing in on a target demographic can create more loyal customers;
• How to ensure your brand is strong and consistent across company departments; and
• Considerations for elevating your brand to the next level, including creative packaging, merchandising, sponsorship, media and influence partnership opportunities.

Maintaining your cannabis crop’s health is crucial to your success as a cultivator. But unseen forces including molds, mildews, viruses and other diseases present a constant threat to plant health and yield goals. Staying ahead of problems by being proactive instead of reactive can be the difference between turning a profit and destroying a crop.

In this session, you will learn:
• How to identify common cannabis plant diseases (including the more recently identified and increasingly concerning HpLVd virus);
• Treatment options for contaminated crops;
• Prevention strategies to protect your plants; and
• How to build standard operating procedures (SOPs) with plant health and disease prevention in mind.

Market realities as well as regulatory and financial restrictions cause many operators to start small and build bigger later. So when it comes time to grow your business (either expanding an existing facility or adding new facilities), a complete analysis of your current capabilities and needs is critical to ensure you’re allocating your capital and workforce resources properly and compliantly.

In this session, you will learn:
• How to plan a successful expansion that fits your budget and market realities;
• What construction, financial and regulatory mistakes to avoid when planning an expansion;
• How to make a smooth transition to the added space; and
• How to start with a facility design made to be scaled easily.

A successful operation depends on much more than high-quality and high-volume yields. Key decisions made early on in a cultivation business will have long-lasting impacts on your chances of success.

In this session, experienced and successful cannabis business leaders will share essential considerations when mapping out your startup, along with some of the key lessons they’ve learned along the way when it comes to:
• Early-stage decisions, from determining your long- and short-term goals, site location to cultivation methods and genetics sourcing options;
• Financial modeling, fundraising and unexpected costs;
• The application process;
• Regulatory and compliance requirements;
• Hiring an all-star cultivation team;
• Building relationships with dispensary customers; and
• Packaging and wholesaling.

As dispensary competition continues to stiffen in nascent and established markets, getting your dispensary off to a good start is critical to your chances of success. From site selection to ensuring you have enough capital to sustain your business through common project delays that could otherwise derail your business, the success of your dispensary launch hinges on many factors.

In this in-depth session, learn from experienced dispensary operators about:
• Site selection and market analysis;
• Start-up budgeting and unexpected costs;
• How to work with municipalities and regulatory committees;
• Critical team members, partners and vendors to hire; and
• Keys to product selection and pricing.

In what ways can businesses step up to use their own platforms and build partnerships to create equity in the cannabis industry? This powerhouse panel will share programs that their cultivation, dispensary and hemp businesses are implementing right now—from free expungement clinics to franchise opportunities to education workshops, hiring strategies, internal resource groups and more, that work to create space for Black and Brown communities disproportionally impacted by the war on drugs.

In this session, you’ll take away insights and strategies to help you examine your own social equity priorities and develop meaningful, short-term and long-term initiatives.

Not everyone wants to, nor can afford to, build out tens of thousands of square feet for cannabis or hemp cultivation. Staying small and focused on what you do well can be a successful plan, as long as you can stay competitive with the big players (even if you can’t match them on price).

In this session, experts will share lessons learned when it comes to:
• How to identify and build your market niche;
• How proper branding can amplify your business across key market segments;
• How to work with dispensaries to get the prices you want (and why cutting prices alone won’t help your business compete); and
• How to leverage your unique strategic advantages to stand out in the marketplace.

As cannabis continues its path toward widespread legalization and mainstream acceptance, it will also follow the path of consumer packaged goods (CPGs), such as food and beverages, cosmetics, dietary supplements and more. That path includes stricter government and multi-agency oversight. GMPs and GAPs are established practices required to comply with those agencies’ strict standards. Understanding and implementing production and agricultural standards now is crucial to prepare your business for the regulatory road ahead.

In this session, you will learn about:
• The various international production standards relevant to cannabis;
• What common process adjustments and system upgrades are required to meet those standards;
• How to properly train your team to meet GMP and GAP; and
• Why quality and production standards are important to normalizing the cannabis industry.

Authentic, innovative marketing is crucial to cut through the noise and connect with your current and potential customers. State regulations create major roadblocks for cannabis companies who want to promote their brands, but our panel of experts have navigated these challenges and have solutions to share.

In this session, dispensary leaders will provide insights into:
• Creative ideas and nontraditional strategies to reach audiences in ways that have worked;
• How to track how strategies are performing;
• Why developing a consistent voice and strong messaging that answers "who" and "why" that aligns with your company branding is imperative to a successful marketing campaign;
• How to discover and understand what matters most to your current and potential customers;
• Leveraging paid and earned media; and
• How to blend cannabis education and marketing to spotlight plant benefits and challenge stigmas.

When it comes to launching a cannabis dispensary, the first retail location can be the most challenging. But once you've been through the difficult process of winning a license, navigating regulations, designing and building your store, developing SOPs and growing your customer base, there are many lessons you can apply to your next potential location. Launching multiple storefronts can improve brand recognition and drive significant business growth, giving you an edge whether you are expanding in-state or beyond, but careful planning is key.

In this session, dispensary operators will share:
• Considerations for expansion and weighing the benefits and drawbacks;
• Their business models and reasons for expanding in-state or nationally;
• The steps of expansion and where to begin; and
• Lessons learned from expansion, both mistakes and wins.

The post-harvest process is one of the most important in cultivation, and many seasoned cultivators even call it an art form. Whether you’re a small-batch producer or a larger commercial grower, it’s critical to fine-tune your process to protect your cannabis moisture levels and terpene and cannabinoid expressions to come away with a desirable and compliant product.

In this session, you’ll take away valuable insights to help you:
• Properly build-out your space for drying and curing;
• Understand drying and curing methods today’s operators are using to achieve their product goals;
• Establish climate-controlled temperature, humidity and airflow set points; and
• Develop a plan for continual fine-tuning and improvement to your post-harvest process.