Schedule
Cannabis Conference
Exhibit Hall Hours
Tuesday, August 23 - 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM
Wednesday, August 24 - 10:00 AM - 5:30 PM
Thursday, August 25 - 10:30 AM - 2:00 PM
Times, sessions and speakers are subject to change. Sessions may be categorized under more than one topic. When selecting topics, please note that you may need to deselect your previous selections or choose "ALL" as multiple selections can be made at once.
08:00 AM – 07:30 PM
Registration Open
Paris Ballroom Foyer
10:00 AM – 11:10 AM
ALL ACCESS PASS: How to Launch a Medical or Adult-Use Dispensary
Champagne I/II
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 opening plans, 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.



10:00 AM – 11:10 AM
ALL ACCESS PASS: Product Trends of 2022 and Predictions for What's to Come
Champagne III/IV
The availability and acceptance of cannabis continues to grow rapidly and at a global scale. As a result, new consumers continue to flock to the market, and experienced consumers are becoming more sophisticated in their product selections.
In this session, experts from some of the industry’s leading data and research companies will present their findings on product and shopping preferences by generation, region and other demographics and categories—providing key insights into today’s consumer demands and how plant-touching businesses can rise to meet them. Plus, learn what product categories are poised for growth and other trends that can significantly impact your business.


10:00 AM – 11:10 AM
ALL ACCESS PASS: University Research Roundup: The Latest in Cultivation Science
Versailles I/II
Ensure your team is up to speed on the latest scientific developments and how they can impact your operations with one of the most highly anticipated sessions for the second time at Cannabis Conference. University researchers will present their most recent findings for both cannabis and hemp, including (but not limited to) advances in:
- Nutrient delivery;
- Growing media;
- Horticultural lighting; and
- Pest & disease control.



10:00 AM – 11:10 AM
ALL ACCESS PASS: How to Build Out and Set Up an Extraction Facility
Versailles III/IV
Building a successful cannabis processing/extraction lab requires technical, market and business expertise. Learn what you need to know to help ensure your lab’s success—from experts with experience designing, building and operating butane, CO2, ethanol and solventless labs.
In this session, you will take away:
- An understanding of market competition;
- Types of extraction methods for your end-product goals;
- Technical equipment needs;
- Best practices for launching and managing a processing lab facility, including space and safety requirements, lab layout for efficient workflow, required expertise and more; and
- Economic considerations such as adding efficiencies to the process, determining overall costs and projecting margins.


11:20 AM – 12:30 PM
ALL ACCESS PASS: Create a Winning License Application
Champagne I/II
Securing a cannabis business license is one of the most critical—and perhaps one of the most daunting—first steps in launching a business in this increasingly complex and competitive industry. Make your application stand out from the crowd with takeaways from this can’t-miss session for any new or expanding business.
In this session you’ll learn:
- How to navigate the most important aspects of application writing;
- Strategies for finding team members that can win over regulators;
- How to establish relationships with local and state officials; and
- Best advice from experts with proven track records of success.



11:20 AM – 12:30 PM
ALL ACCESS PASS: Pitch Workshop: Win Over Investors with the Perfect Presentation Strategy
Champagne III/IV
Raising capital for a cannabis business can be daunting. Regardless of how strong your business idea is or how successful your business is to date, success with investors comes from proper preparation—from crafting a quality pitch deck to anticipating the tough questions that will inevitably come your way.
In this session, investors and current cannabis business owners will outline:
- Which elements should be included in your pitch deck;
- How to convey your company’s value proposition;
- How to design and format your pitch deck for maximum appeal;
- Tips for delivering a clear and concise oral presentation;
- What to prepare for Q&A; and
- Other important do’s and don’ts.



11:20 AM – 12:30 PM
ALL ACCESS PASS: The Latest Advances in Medical Cannabis Research
Versailles I/II
With federal cannabis prohibition still lingering in the U.S. and throughout the world, funding and implementation of research into cannabis’ potential medical benefits remains a challenge for the advancement of human health treatments and the cannabis industry at large. However, domestic and international researchers are moving through these hurdles to provide valuable data regarding cannabis applications for the medical community and the public.
In this session, two respected medical researchers from Goodness Growth Holdings and the University of Colorado Boulder will share the latest from their in-progress and recently completed clinical trials in the areas of chronic pain and opioid reduction, cannabinoids and fertility, as well as palliative care for non-small cell lung cancer.


11:20 AM – 12:30 PM
ALL ACCESS PASS: How to Launch a Cultivation Business
Versailles III/IV
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 start-up, 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;
- Other critical team members and outsourced services to have in place;
- Building relationships with dispensary customers; and
- Packaging and wholesaling.




12:30 PM – 01:30 PM
Networking Lunch and Refreshments
12:30 PM – 01:15 PM
HVACD Approaches: How to Find Your Best Fit
Versailles I/II
The importance of HVAC systems to every layer of the cultivator’s business is well understood. One of the complications with selecting the right designer or technology is that few cultivators are mechanical engineers. This really complicates the process of deciding which provider or technology is best for your facility. When it all sounds good, how do you make the right decision for your grow? The truth is, there are a number of technologies that can successfully manage the climate in an indoor facility. The trick is understanding the pros and cons of each and working with a mechanical design partner who can clearly articulate them to help you make an informed decision.



01:40 PM – 02:15 PM
Welcome Address & State of the Industry 2022
Champagne I/II
Editorial Director Noelle Skodzinski will share a dynamic overview of the North American cannabis and hemp industries, based on exclusive research and in-depth reporting from Cannabis Business Times, Cannabis Dispensary, and Hemp Grower magazines, along with data from our research partners.

02:15 PM – 03:00 PM
What It Takes to Make a Movement: A Conversation with Chris Conrad and Mikki Norris
Champagne I/II
Chris Conrad and Mikki Norris are legendary human rights activists, whose tireless work since the late 1980s has been instrumental in educating people around the world about the benefits of cannabis and hemp legalization—from Conrad’s numerous books, publications, and displays (including editing and designing “The Emperor Wears No Clothes”) and Norris’ authoring “Shattered Lives: Portraits from America’s Drug War” to their intricate involvement in campaigns such as Prop. 215, Prop. 64, and Measure Z; the formation of Business Alliance for Commerce in Hemp and the Hemp Industries Association; Conrad’s serving as an expert witness on thousands of cases that have kept people out of prison for cannabis offenses; as well as the curation of Hash-Marijuana-Hemp Museum in Amsterdam and Oaksterdam Cannabis Museum in Oakland.
In this special Keynote Fireside Chat, Conrad and Norris will share the amazing stories and actionable strategies behind their 30-plus years of activism, which propelled lofty ideals and dreams into real-life solutions that have slowly eroded the mindsets and policies of unjust prohibition and incarceration for cannabis and hemp production and use. The pair will also share tips for how individuals and companies across the supply chain can work to expand the protections of their consumer base, as well as move toward a more sustainable industry for all.



03:10 PM – 04:20 PM
What's Your Company Worth? How to Build a Business Valuation
Champagne I/II
It’s important to be able to properly assess your business’ value in an ever-evolving marketplace, whether you’re trying to raise capital, merge with or be acquired by another company, or many other reasons. In this session, finance experts and operators will lead you step-by-step through the process of valuating your business. They’ll touch on physical assets, as well as the more nuanced aspects of valuation, including a company’s “special sauce"—which could be superior branding, fame, a resonating company story, product differentiation and exclusivity, and many other factors. Panelists will also identify key components that can make your business value go up or go down, and how valuation can fluctuate with time.



03:10 PM – 04:20 PM
How Do You Select Quality Genetics? The Metrics That Really Matter
Champagne III/IV
What makes for a high-quality cultivar can be very subjective, depending on who you ask. For example, growers have their own set of characteristics that are important to them, such as disease resistance, uniformity, input requirements, cannabinoid and terpene content, etc. Similarly, the post-harvest team may have their own important characteristics as they relate to trimming, drying, and curing. Lastly, and most importantly, consumers have their own set of tastes and preferences that drive these offerings, from look, to taste, to THC percentage.
So, how do you evaluate the importance of each set of characteristics, and how do they all factor into your company’s genetic selection plans? Our expert panel of growers in both adult-use and medical markets will share their perspectives and help you conceptualize your own priorities for developing your genetic library in today’s cannabis industry.




03:10 PM – 04:20 PM
Protect Your Store - Does Your Business Truly Understand Security Risks, and How to Handle Them?
Versailles I/II
With the recent increase the industry has seen in dispensary armed robberies and break-ins, preparing yourself and your team for how to handle a security event before it happens can increase your chances of keeping your employees, your products and your cash safe.
Top security consultants and directors will help your business answer the following questions, such as:
- Is my staff prepared to prevent or respond to a security threat?;
- What types of security are necessary at my dispensary (beyond what’s required by law)?;
- What can we learn from dispensary robberies that have happened?; and
- How do industries similar to cannabis employ best practices to ensure overall safety?



03:10 PM – 04:20 PM
Sustaining Our Future - Evaluating Water Efficiency, Carbon Neutrality, Reduced Electricity Usage and More
Versailles III/IV
Conserving natural resources is of the utmost importance in cannabis cultivation—not only to reduce harm to the environment, but to also save on capital costs. Serious energy and resource consumption evaluations are increasingly important as state laws regulating cannabis’ use of natural resources are also starting to emerge.
In this session, we’ll focus on three major areas of resource reduction, including water, carbon, and electricity. Experts will weigh in on recent studies, as well as real-world successes and lessons learned as it relates to lessening and/or off-setting consumption in an extremely energy-intensive business. These will range from cultivation methods to materials recycling partnerships, carbon credits, and more.




04:30 PM – 05:30 PM
In the Black: Become Cash Positive by Avoiding These Expensive Cannabis Business Mistakes
Champagne I/II
A common business lesson is that it’s more expensive to correct a mistake than not to make it in the first place. And the nascent cannabis industry has plenty of “been there, done that” stories to share in this regard. In this dynamic panel discussion, you’ll learn from experienced cannabis operators who will share ways that they’ve avoided (or learned from) costly missteps—from cultivation and operations to merchandising and marketing, to hiring and firing, retail sales strategies, product development and more.




04:30 PM – 05:30 PM
Facility Design - Indoor
Champagne III/IV
Indoor cultivation provides growers with a major advantage: the ability to control nearly every aspect of cannabis cultivation—from temperature, to humidity, lighting, airflow, odor control and more. However, a poor indoor design could cause expensive bottlenecks in workflow and/or be severely detrimental to plant health.
In this detail-rich session, experts share tips and pitfalls to avoid when designing indoor cannabis cultivation facilities, including:
- Site selection;
- Utility considerations and sustainability in design;
- Personnel and resource efficiency;
- Important equipment considerations and how to properly size equipment for your needs;
- Designing for workflow efficiency and scalability;
- Pest and disease prevention strategies;
- and much more




04:30 PM – 05:30 PM
Marketing 101: A Step-by-Step Guide to Building a Cannabis Brand
Versailles I/II
Everyone creates brands—but few companies are successful in creating brands that cultivate staying power with consumers. Many entrepreneurs, not just in the cannabis industry, but in all consumer segments, get excited about the idea of creating a brand, and jump straight to designing a logo. But that’s a big mistake, according to experts, especially as brand power becomes increasingly important in the uber-competitive, rapidly expanding cannabis industry.
This session will help determine what your ideal customer should look like, how to build out the demographic, and conduct important research. Presenters will also outline how to determine your company’s points of parity and/or differentiation in the marketplace, what your brand stands for, and what types of emotions you want to evoke. Then, they’ll provide building-blocks for design and more traditional branding ideas. They will also dive into how to evaluate these concepts for both medical and adult-use markets (as these applications should be handled differently).

04:30 PM – 05:30 PM
Innovative and Regenerative Growing Techniques
Versailles III/IV
Learn about today’s alternative cultivation methods cannabis growers are employing in regions throughout North America to differentiate their operations competitively and help preserve the planet. Seasoned growers will share their expertise utilizing techniques such as dry farming, organic and biodynamic farming, cover cropping, low-till or no-till, Korean Natural Farming (KNF), and more. They’ll also arm you with best practices you can apply to your crops.



05:30 PM – 07:30 PM
Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall
05:30 PM – 07:30 PM
Exhibit Hall Opens
Paris Ballroom
09:30 AM – 05:30 PM
Registration Open
Paris Ballroom Foyer
10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
Welcome Refreshments & Networking in the Exhibit Hall
Paris Ballroom
10:00 AM – 05:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
Paris Ballroom
10:05 AM – 10:50 AM
Best Practices in Water Use Efficiency and Recirculation for Precision Cultivation
Versailles I/II
Join Marcel Koole from Priva as he presents on why water recirculating systems and water-use efficiency in cannabis cultivation is essential. Advance your knowledge of irrigation recirculation infrastructure, best practices for water management, and how data-driven solutions can increase production efficiency while minimizing your water footprint.
When recirculating irrigation water, you reuse expensive fertilizers and perhaps elements that you do not want to release into the environment. And in areas where good quality fresh water is a limited resource, reusing the water is good for the environment and good for the bottom line. Pressure from society, and from governments in the form of regulation to stimulate growers to start recirculating their water is partly based on reducing emissions but also considers the availability of fresh water. And getting all of the potential out of the water is a sustainable and smart way of growing.
Key session take-a-ways:
- Key components to ensure the safe re-use of return water
- Precision fertigation and irrigation for healthier plants and maximum yield
- Intelligent water management with the plant in control

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
From Pioneering Founder to Foundational Investor: Mitch Baruchowitz Shares Crucial Strategies for Building a Successful and Long-Term Cannabis Company
Champagne I/II
Mitch Baruchowitz, the founder and managing partner of Merida Capital Holdings, has more than a decade of experience investing in cannabis and calibrating his team to the nuances of the emerging corporate ecosystem in this business. He knows how to navigate the delicate balance of short-term and long-term in the industry. He knows this because he’s founded plant-touching companies himself and has spent years empowering his team at Merida to zoom in and zoom out on the rapidly changing context of what it takes to build a successful cannabis business. In this candid keynote presentation, Mitch will share those team-building tenets, and he will share his passion for building companies that are structurally prepared for wherever the cannabis market goes next.
In this session, you’ll come away with:
- High-level macro trends in cannabis investment in 2022
- How to conduct a “self-awareness check” that determines your company’s ultimate goal (and the steps to build a process to achieve it)
- What it takes to create an internal culture of “happy warriors” who can address the industry’s constant challenges head-on with solid ethics and confidence—and why this is important
- Reasons why information gathering at all levels of your business will give you a competitive edge
- The role investment firms play in operations – and how to build a better working relationship

12:00 PM – 01:30 PM
Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
Paris Ballroom
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Risk Management and Its Vital Role in Cannabis Growth and Sustainability
Versailles III/IV
National Cannabis Risk Prevention Services (NCRPS) part of the NCRMA family of companies, will present its innovative and disruptive risk management platform. This technological advancement combines a business framework SaaS Risk assessment tool (Cannabis Risk Prevention Platform -CRP2) with custom corrective action syllabi and live risk manager support. Risk scoring of the many areas of the business framework provide a tangible and measurable report card that is effective in securing rampant business improvement as well as vital financial services such as insurance, banking and capital investment.
12:45 PM – 01:30 PM
Technology & Solutions Session
Versailles I/II
01:30 PM – 02:20 PM
Federal Cannabis Legalization in the United States: What Will It Mean?
Champagne I/II
The Biden Administration has not yet prioritized the federal legalization of cannabis. And with legislative efforts mostly falling short of any substantive relief for today’s state-legal cannabis businesses, operators continue to be burdened with stringent tax and banking restrictions, lack of governmental support and resources, and prohibition of interstate or global commerce.
In this session, experts with an intricate understanding of federal regulatory and financial structures will provide valuable insights into:
- An overview of the temperature and recent efforts from the White House and Congress;
- The relief 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 and what that shift would mean for your business.




01:30 PM – 02:20 PM
How to Use Today's Marketing Trends to Boost Your Bottom Line
Champagne III/IV
Cannabis cultivation, extraction and dispensary operations are getting savvier when it comes to taking advantage of marketing trends. Ideas such as product drops, mood marketing, experiential marketing, celebrity and influencer partnerships, as well as a focus on cannabis culture are coming to the forefront as brands look to establish themselves and engage and build loyal consumers in an ever-competitive marketplace.
In this session, you will hear from plant-touching operators who are having success with these and other marketing trends. They will provide lessons learned, share regulatory considerations, and explain how to evaluate the success of any marketing campaign to help decide whether to bolster or pivot your efforts.




01:30 PM – 02:20 PM
Facility Design - Greenhouse
Versailles I/II
Building (or retrofitting) a greenhouse structure for cultivation provides tighter environmental control than an outdoor operation, but also maximizes the use of natural resources, like sunlight. Learn from seasoned cannabis greenhouse operators the intricacies of building a structure that is highly efficient yet keeps production costs low.
In this session, you’ll take away tips on:
- Climate location factors;
- Materials selection (e.g., glass, polycarbonate, aluminum, galvanized steel, etc.);
- Designing for tight environmental controls and workflow efficiency;
- Automated equipment and technologies to consider (e.g., HVAC, odor control, supplemental lighting);
- and much more.




01:30 PM – 02:20 PM
Retail Facility Design & Buildout for Optimal User Experience & Aesthetic
Versailles III/IV
Your dispensary’s design is often your company’s first impression, and therefore it must be impressive. Not only is it important to attract patients and customers to your store, but it can evoke emotions, engage and direct shoppers through product options, facilitate expedited customer service and even increase sales.
In this session, dispensary owners and design experts will share important insights and strategies in any retail buildout, such as:
- Keys to budgeting and setting timelines;
- Critical elements to store layout and design aesthetic/branding;
- Merchandising-planning musts;
- Security and surveillance that is effective but not intimidating;
- Hiring the right contractors;
- and much more.




02:30 PM – 03:20 PM
How to Become a National Cannabis Business
Champagne I/II
There are essentially two routes to multi-state expansion in the legal cannabis industry: acquiring a license for a plant-touching business, or licensing your products/intellectual property (IP) to companies already established in legal markets. In this session, experts will weigh in with the pros and cons of both paths to market, from understanding business structure and cost to operations requirements, partnership considerations, regulatory compliance and more. They will also share their tips for successfully navigation both paths, as well as predictions for how cannabis branding strategies will evolve under federal legalization.




02:30 PM – 03:20 PM
Is Your Budget Leading Your Business to Profitability?
Champagne III/IV
“Businesses that fail to budget ultimately fail themselves,” wrote Merida Capital Operating Partner and Cannabis Conference Advisory Board Member Colin Kelley in an article for Cannabis Dispensary.
Your pro forma budget serves as a roadmap to your cannabis or hemp business’s success, so it is critical to understand the fundamentals of creating a budget, as well as understand how business budgets ebb and flow as your customer base, sales, staff, and overall business grow over time.
In this session, we’ll detail how to create a budget that yields financial success—from capital and operating expenditures to commonly overlooked expenses—as well as the unique nuances of the cannabis industry. You’ll also learn about the importance of setting minimum profit margins and bottlenecks, and hurdles to profitability.

02:30 PM – 03:20 PM
How HpLVd is Affecting the Future of Cannabis Plant Health (and Ways to Control It)
Versailles I/II
Cannabis growers go to extreme measures to ensure their crops are healthy, but one plant pathogen associated with stunting and low-trichome production has become increasingly prevalent in the industry: hop latent viroid (HpLVd). Last year, 90% of California facilities researched tested positive for HpLVd with 200,000 tissue samples analyzed, according to the team at Dark Heart Nursery.
In this session, Mojave Richmond of BioAgronomics Group Consultants will make a special introduction about HpLVd and the impact it has had on cultivators and the industry.
Then, Dr. Sadanand Dhekney of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore will provide a behind-the-scenes look at his current research—conducted as part of a two-year funded Maryland Industrial Partnerships Program—on identifying and preventing HpLVd in cannabis plants. He will share insights into the science, background and technology being used for virus detection, elimination and mass propagation of plants for clean plant production through tissue culture.


02:30 PM – 03:20 PM
Using Data to Boost Sales & Improve Inventory Management
Versailles III/IV
Data can tell retail cannabis companies a great deal about patient and consumer preferences, as well as help you project trends to better serve the market. But reviewing data without the proper analysis can be time-consuming, cumbersome, and sometimes even misleading. Here, data and operations experts will help you sort through the numbers that can take product development and inventory management to the next level.
Learn how to:
- Understand the types of data that are most important for your business;
- How to properly analyze data, and what technologies to utilize, so that your data doesn’t become a wasted asset;
- Better balance supply and demand; and
- Boost sales through integration with marketing techniques.




03:30 PM – 04:15 PM
Turning Talk Into Action: How Cannabis Companies Can Develop Meaningful and Actionable Social Equity Priorities
Champagne I/II
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, political activism, and more, that work to create space for minority 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.




03:30 PM – 04:15 PM
Is Tissue Culture the Right Move For Your Operation?
Champagne III/IV
By utilizing decades-old tissue culture propagation methods, growers can reproduce and preserve genetically identical clones on a significant scale with less space required by mother and cloning rooms. As the technology and infrastructure to support tissue culture in the cannabis industry has strengthened, so has its popularity with today’s cultivators and breeders.
In this session, experts will explore the benefits of tissue culture and help you determine whether a tissue culture lab could be a fit for your own organization, with considerations such as:
- Genetic advantages in plant health and storage;
- Lab build-out requirements and timelines;
- Cost analyses of build-out and operation;
- Supplies and equipment needed;
- Sanitation and labor workflow SOPs;
- Variables affecting shoot growth and tissue health;
- and more.


03:30 PM – 04:15 PM
Quick-Fire Tips Session: Techniques for Optimizing Your Extraction Process
Versailles I/II
In this session, you will learn how to hone your extraction processes, improve the quality of your output, and make the most of your investment.
Experts will walk you through crucial steps such as how to increase extraction throughput and efficiencies, minimizing unwanted materials (lipids, waxes), maintaining equipment, pesticide screening and best practices when it comes to safety.



03:30 PM – 04:15 PM
Expand Your Medical Dispensary to Adult-Use
Versailles III/IV
Bringing your business to a recreational market is a substantial route to company growth. However, many factors are at play that can hinder or ensure success with such a major business change. Get ready to pivot your dispensary to serve recreational consumers with these considerations from experts who’ve already made the leap (and learned the hard lessons along the way).
In this session, you’ll learn about:
- Regulatory and compliance considerations for adult-use markets;
- How to ensure you continue to serve your patients while expanding your customer base;
- Inventory management for maximizing sales to patients and consumers;
- Logistical essentials, such as parking, in-store traffic flow, staffing needs and added security needs;
- Marketing to adult-use consumers;
- and much more.



04:00 PM – 05:30 PM
Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Paris Ballroom
04:15 PM – 05:00 PM
Don’t Blow It: Federal Tax Strategies for New and Established Operators
Versailles I/II
Plant-touching cannabis operators must adhere to Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which prohibits a business trafficking a controlled substance from deducting typical business expenses when filing yearly federal taxes. This presents a number of accounting challenges for cultivation, dispensary and extraction professionals, and mistakes can lead to significant legal and financial consequences.
In this session, experts from Jones Tax Group will explore:
- The inherent risk and additional burden of a cash businesses;
- How misunderstanding IRC 280E can break cannabis businesses;
- Why using the correct inventory method is critical; and
- Why having proper accounting, controls and record-keeping is the key to success.

10:00 AM – 03:00 PM
Registration Open
Paris Ballroom Foyer
10:30 AM – 11:25 AM
Welcome Refreshments & Networking in the Exhibit Hall
Paris Ballroom
10:30 AM – 02:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Opens
Paris Ballroom
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM
Vertical Farming | What to know before you grow up!
Champagne III/IV
How do you set up a multi-tier indoor cultivation facility for success? In this session, experts from Pipp Horticulture will outline the important considerations behind space planning and design, as well as: environmental control needs, key traits to consider for genetics selection, and how to improve workflow, ergonomics and safety with accessibility and labor optimization.


11:25 AM – 12:15 PM
Spotlight Session: Buds 'n Suds—A Fireside Chat With Paul Weaver, Director, Head of Cannabis, Boston Beer Co.
Champagne I/II
Lots of overlap exists between the worlds of hops and cannabis, particularly when the two are combined. Weaver knows this all too well from his experience at Boston Beer Co. (the maker of famous craft beer brands Samuel Adams Boston Lager and Dogfish Head), as he launched the company’s first cannabis brand, TeaPot, and THC-infused beverage, Good Day Iced Tea, into the Canadian market.In this special fireside chat, Weaver, former director of innovation at Canopy Growth Corp., will talk about lessons he’s learned from the cannabis industry. He’ll also share insights into what Boston Beer Co. has learned from its past product innovations, its foray into cannabis, and how steadfast dedication to producing top-quality product has helped the company make critical decisions when it comes to its beer and its cannabis-infused beverages.

11:25 AM – 12:15 PM
Creating a Thriving Crop Environment: Lessons in Relative Humidity, Vapor Pressure Deficit, CO2, Heat Loads and More
Champagne III/IV
Whether you're growing indoors or in a greenhouse, the environment is critical to a successful harvest. If your facility’s environmental controls are off, your crop could not only be at risk for pests and diseases, but you could also be risking lower yields—all of which can significantly affect your cultivation business' bottom line.
In this session, controlled-environment experts will share strategies for achieving the ideal relative humidity (RH), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), CO2 supplementation, HVAC requirements and more—as well as how to aggregate and analyze valuable data points from these controls to make proper adjustment decisions.

11:25 AM – 12:15 PM
Solventless at Scale (And the SOPs You Need to Make It Happen)
Versailles I/II
Solventless is often thought of as one of the purest forms of extract production; however, it can be a tedious, expensive, and labor-heavy process compared to other, more popular processes on the market. When it comes to solventless production, the key is in your forward-thinking build-out and planning of standard operating procedures (SOPs). Some of the biggest names in solventless cannabis production will share their insights into how they’ve increased the value of their product offerings (such as rosin, kief, hash, and more) by building robust solventless programs.



12:15 PM – 02:00 PM
Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
Paris Ballroom
12:15 PM – 01:00 PM
Choosing the Right Supplier
Champagne I/II
In this session, join Ben Britton and Mike Maibach from Agrify who have experience designing, building and operating state-of-the-art extraction facilities. They’ll explore the trends in extracts and concentrates and let you know what consumers want today. They’ll also explain which equipment is needed to create today’s top-tier formulated products and outline what to look for when choosing a supplier.
In this session, attendees will:
- Examine the current market trends for extracts and concentrates and which products appeal to which consumer demographics
- Understand the technical equipment required for extracts and concentrates, as well as the economic considerations for choosing equipment such as time, quality and output
- Analyze how to choose the right supply partner who understands your full end-to-end process


01:00 PM – 01:45 PM
Flower Power: Spectral Factors To Consider When Optimizing Lighting For Flower Production
Champagne III/IV
What does it take, from a lighting perspective, to create optimized conditions for cannabis flowering? Fluence research project manager Brian Poel will unpack Fluence’s cannabis lighting research and provide insights into choosing the right lighting spectrum to increase production at high light intensity levels. This session will also delve into other considerations, including yield, potency, spectrum efficacy and photobleaching, to help cultivators understand the lighting conditions that will maximize their production goals.
02:00 PM – 03:00 PM
Merger & Acquisition Lessons from Large and Small Operators
Champagne I/II
M&A activity continues to ebb and flow in the cannabis industry. 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 also give you access to much-needed capital and resources. But there are many essential considerations to weigh 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 find and evaluate potential partners—from a strategic perspective to cultural synergies and beyond;
- What deal options exist (e.g., cash, equity/stock and payable notes) and their pros and cons;
- Lessons learned from successful deals and those that fell through; and
- Seamless financial and operational transitions through the merger or acquisition closing process.



02:00 PM – 03:00 PM
Master the Art of Drying & Curing Cannabis
Champagne III/IV
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 the drying and curing methods today’s operators are using to achieve their product goals;
- Establish climate-controlled temperature, humidity, and airflow set points to avoid over- and under-drying your cannabis flower; and
- Develop a plan for continual fine-tuning and improvement to your post-harvest process.

02:00 PM – 03:00 PM
Quick-Fire Tips Session: Make the Most of Your Merchandising
Versailles I/II
Come prepared to take down dozens of merchandising takeaways from retail and cannabis industry experts in this quick-fire tips session.
Experts will help you build a well-thought-out merchandising strategy to boost sales by outlining:
- How to set up your dispensary for ideal traffic flow and directing consumers’ attention;
- Strategies for running specials;
- How to pull levers on increasing sales (overall gross and increasing units per transaction);
- Positioning products in the store; and
- How to optimize sales for lower-selling product categories.


