This year’s Marijuana Business MJBizCon has already come and gone to the Las Vegas Convention Center, which makes it the perfect time to look back on the history of this significant conference and some past events.

The very first MJBizCon, the Marijuana Business Conference and Expo, took place in November 2012. As has been the case, it is run by&nbsp;Marijuana Business Daily, a business news outlet based on Denver that appeals to professionals in medical and recreational cannabis.

When the first MJBizCon took place, it was the very first national marijuana business conference, causing it to make headlines. The trend of holding the convention in fall in Las Vegas has continued every year since.

This first MJBizCon event was just a three-day weekend, providing enough vendor spaces, workshops, and related activities to peak interest. Over the years, it has expanded, now lasting a full week.

Right from the start, the Marijuana Business Conference and Expo has aimed to appeal to every sector of the marijuana business. These include large companies to the smallest cultivators, sales reps, and retailers. There are also representatives from major global and multi-state cannabis companies, including executives.

In 2017, Marijuana Business Daily published a chart showcasing the growth of the event from 2012 to 2017 in terms of attendance. The first event in 2012 had a small but respectable turnout of 402. The following year, attendance rose to 720. From there, it truly skyrocketed every single year.

In 2014, 3,214 people attended, a rise of around 350 percent from the previous year’s attendance. After this, the number of people to attend the MJBizCon continued to grow steadily, although not to such a dramatic degree.

2015’s event saw 5,561 people attend while 2016 about doubled this figure to 10,881. Between 2016 and 2017, there was a 67 percent increase in attendance, leading to 18,121 attendees in 2017.

In addition to the massive growth in attendance for the 2017 conference, there were also increases in other aspects of it, leading to great success. 2017 saw a 111 percent increase in companies who exhibited, reaching 678. These companies covered every marijuana industry sector, including infused product companies, cultivation equipment manufacturers, packaging and marketing firms, consultants, security, and banking.

The 2017 conference also had significant attendance from outside the United States, with almost 11 percent of attendees coming from outside the country. More than 75 percent of the nondomestic participation came from Canada.

Even the physical size of the convention grew dramatically in 2017. The exhibition floor space increased to more than double the previous year’s size, reaching 100,000 square feet compared to 45,000 the year before. To put this in more practical terms, the average person can understand, if you wanted to walk through every single exhibition floor aisle and did so at about two miles per hour, it would have taken around 45 minutes. If you wanted to talk to each vendor for about five minutes, that would have required 57 hours.

By the 2018 MJBizCon, the event had grown to include more than 35 conference sessions, 1,027 exhibitors, and 158 speakers. It also featured 27,600 attendees, including those from every state in the country and a total of 60 countries around the world. The exhibitors were spread over almost 175,000 square feet, an increase of 70 percent from the previous year.

Also, there was a 38 percent increase in companies at the event. Attendees came from 70 different countries, with around 13 percent of attendees from places other than the United States. Once again, most of the nondomestic attendees were from Canada, accounting for slightly less than 70 percent of that group. That year, walking through all the aisles was over three miles.

In 2018, the keynote speaker was Torsten Kuenzlen, the Sundial Growers CEO. This is one of the largest cannabis companies in Canada. Other notable speakers included the Marijuana Business Daily founding editor, Chris Walsh, and Codie Sanchez from CS Ventures, who is an entrepreneur, consultant, and investor within the industry. Kevin Murphy, the CEO and founder of Acreage Holdings, also spoke. His company is one of the largest American multi-state cannabis companies.

The general sessions covered topics like emerging technology, research and development, investing, branding and marketing, legal issues and taxes, and licensing and regulation.

With all that growth over the years in mind, the 2019 conference was sure to be a success. The conference continues to be the biggest cannabis business professional gathering around the world. Marijuana Business expected 35,000 attendees from more than 75 countries, over 1,500 CEOs, over 8,000 other executives and c-level attendees, over 1,250 investors, and over 1,300 exhibitors.

The main event, the actual conference, is still a long weekend this year, from Dec. 11 to 13. The festivities now last much longer, featuring a full MJBizCon Week.

The keynote speaker this year was Marc Randolph, Netflix’s founding CEO, who discussed innovation while facing adversity.

The MJBizCon this year also included an Investor Intelligence Conference 2019 on Monday, Dec. 9, and Tuesday, Dec. 10. It connected accredited and high-net-worth investors with crucial data and forecasts to help them make informed decisions.

Thursday, Dec. 12, also featured the MJBizDaily Awards Gala &amp; After Party. This event recognizes and celebrates the impact of companies and people who set standards and bring the industry forward. It featured complimentary drinks, food stations, and music from DJ Shai.

MJBizCon Week also includes the Associations Day program. The program encourages participation from well-respected non-profits and associations that help to push the industry forward.

There is also a full list of other affiliated events that are part of the MJBizDaily Week. This is due to their alignment with the values and commitment of the conference. These span topics like introductions to the EU GMP specifically for the cannabis industry, the National Women of Cannabis Conference, the Science Symposium Reception, and the Advancing Cannabis Cultivation Technology Summit.

With MJBizCon a success for 2019, it is time to start looking forward to what 2020 will bring, and for professionals and companies to start making plans to attend.

History of MJBizCon

Find out how Marijuana Business Daily, a marijuana news outlet, created this growing (no pun intended) event

With the spread in the legalization of cannabis, it makes perfect sense that more cannabis events are taking place than ever before. Some of these events are designed for those who own or work in marijuana-related businesses, others are for cannabis enthusiasts, others are for potential investors, and the list goes on.

No matter the aspect of the cannabis industry that interests you, there are sure to be at least several events, conferences, and conventions that will appeal to you. Here are some of the top cannabis events that you should definitely know about.

Boston Freedom Rally – Boston, Massachusetts

The Boston Freedom Rally has been in existence since 1989, taking over the large city for a single September day. Following Hempfest in Seattle, Boston Freedom Rally is considered the country’s second-largest rally for cannabis reform. The Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition hosts it, and they are a branch of the larger National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.

Due to Boston laws, the Boston Freedom Rally is technically a non-consumption event. Despite this, it is very common for attendees to enjoy some cannabis during the festivities. You will find plenty of entertainment as well as cannabis-related vendors and more. The event also has an Education Village which shows historical pictures and provides information on the ways cannabis can help the planet and the history of cannabis, prohibition, and hemp. That area features speakers, panels, and vendors.

There is also a 21+ area for owners of cannabis-related businesses. Attendees that are at least 21 years old can also explore this area.

This event is free to attend, encouraging a sense of community. The event is always the third weekend of September and the 2019 event marked the 30th event.

Cannabis Conference – Las Vegas, Nevada

The Cannabis Conference takes place in Las Vegas and it prides itself on being a leader in dispensary education and cultivation.

It is ideal for businesses in the industry who want to gain insight into retail management, customer engagement, business and cultivation operations, and selling and cultivating hemp along with hemp-derived products. The conference also features the latest technology and innovations. There are also various industry exhibitors.

The 2020 event will be in April in Las Vegas.

Cannabis Cup From High Times – California and Michigan

The High Times&nbsp;Cannabis Cup is potentially the best-known cannabis-related event, as it was one of the first. The main event is the Cup itself, which is a cannabis competition. The event also features musical performances, advocacy, and vendors.

The Cannabis Cup began in 1988 in Amsterdam. It continued to be hosted there for 28 years before recently moving stateside. It has already had events in San Bernardino, San Francisco, and Santa Rosa in California and in Clio, Michigan.

The current version of the Cannabis Cup is even larger than its predecessors with big-name musical headliners, such as Ice Cube’s performance in 2019. It also has an experience it refers to as the “fifth dimension” and is definitely a&nbsp;consumption-friendly event. The most recent Cannabis Cup was in mid-December in Nevada and more are planned for the future.

The CannaBiz Expo prides itself on being California’s largest cannabis business event. It features thousands of cannabis businesses geared toward recreational users. The California Weed Blog hosts with some assistance from the National Cannabis Industry Association and other groups.

This is a business-to-business expo that gives cannabis companies, both new and older, the opportunity to network and connect with other businesses. There are thousands of businesses, dispensaries, legal experts, and investors at each annual event. There are panels and speakers on a range of topics, such as law, distribution, investment, tech, testing, insurance, and more.

The next CannaBiz Expo will be in Sacramento, California, in May 2020. Pre-registration is already open.

CannaCon – Tacoma, Detroit, and Chicago

CannaCon has several events throughout the year and is aimed at cannabis businesses. This is a business-to-business cannabis event, so you will not find many consumers there.

CannaCon Tacoma is the flagship event and is now entering its seventh year. There will be thousands of attendees along with hundreds of exhibitors in attendance. The conference aims to bring together the greatest minds in the industry, including investors, entrepreneurs, and more to discuss industry developments and share ideas and products.

Panels cover a range of topics, such as HR in cannabis businesses, interstate commerce, the basics of running a cannabis business, and the future of marketing technology for cannabis.

The CannaCon events are regional, with the Northwest one in Tacoma in January 2020 as the flagship. There will also be CannaCon Midwest events in Detroit in April and Chicago in July, both in 2020. Another 2020 CannaCon Northwest is also planned, with details to be announced.

One of the events designed for industry leaders along with consumers that are highly cannabis literate, the Cultivation Classic is an annual event in Portland. It is a conference with education and business-to-business opportunities along with an awards ceremony.

The conferences are heavy on science and education, with past speakers including Jeremy Plumb from Pruf Cultivar; Guy Rocourt from Papa &amp; Barkley; Adie Rae, Ph.D. from Smart Cannabis, and Ethan Russo, Ph.D. from the International Cannabis and Cannabinoids Institute.

The awards ceremony at the end of the event honors the best craft hemp and cannabis in Oregon. The next event will be in late May in Portland. You can also get VIP tickets that include tours of cannabis-related labs, coffee and chats with key speakers, and more.

The CannaGrow Expo will be in its 10th year in April 2020. The expo is intended to appeal to anyone with an interest in growing cannabis.

Cannabis growers, extractors, grow managers, and even grow enthusiasts are welcome, as long as they are over 18 years old. At the expo, attendees can explore the latest techniques, tools, and technology in cannabis cultivation.

There are more than 25 educational sessions focused on cultivation over two days. There are also “endless” networking opportunities available. The vendor expo hall has more than 115 vendors showing off products, tools, and technology related to extracting and growing cannabis.

The event is open to those from around the world who are over 18 years old. Since it is a business-to-business event, there is no consumption.

Dope Cup – California, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington

The first Dope Cup was held in Seattle in 2015 and it also had an event in Adelanto, California in 2018. Other Dope Cups have been in other nearby states.

There is a cannabis competition, hence the name Dope Cup, but there are also vendors, opportunities to enjoy using cannabis, and music performances. Most of the attendees at this particular event are those who consume cannabis.

The Emerald Cup in Santa Rosa is among the most important and popular competitions involving cannabis. It is the industry favorite in terms of cups, with some people calling it the “Oscars of Pot.” This is also the world’s “longest-running sungrown contest, celebration, and farmers market,” according to the Emerald Cup’s website.

The Emerald Cup always takes place at Northern California’s Sonoma County Fairgrounds. It has a strong focus on outdoor growing and honors the growers that are the hardest-working and cleanest. The event is highly respected, so winning it is a strong honor that nearly everyone in the industry will pay attention to. There are various categories and the experts make a judgment.

Importantly, all cannabis that is grown for this event is grown outdoors. When you attend the Emerald Cup, you can buy cannabis right from your favorite cultivators. There are plenty of opportunities to listen to music with a long list of bands. There are also numerous sessions and panels on nearly every topic related to marijuana, such as vaping, regenerative agriculture and technology, federal legalization, advocacy, yoga, and more.

The Emerald Cup is strongly poised for future expansion as it recently partnered with Starr Hill Presents and Red Light Management. Tim Blake, who is the founder and producer, has previously indicated that he wants the Emerald Cup to become on the scale of Lollapalooza.

The Hash Bash in Ann Arbor has a long history, as the first event was in 1971. It should be no surprise that this festival grew in size significantly in 2018 when the state legalized recreational cannabis.

The Hash Bash is easy to find as it is always on the Diag, which is the central square, of the University of Michigan campus. It always starts at noon on April’s first Saturday. Given the location, there are usually plenty of college students in attendance, but cannabis aficionados of all ages are welcome. There have also been famous attendees, including John Sinclair and Tommy Chong.

This event also features the Hash Bash Cup, which was in its third year for 2019. Keep in mind that while you do not need tickets to attend the Hash Bash, you do have to attend the Hash Bash Cup. You can already purchase tickets for the 2020 Hash Bash Cup, which will be from Friday, April 3 at 3 p.m. to Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m.

Hempfest refers to itself as the “undisputed King of Protestivals” and takes place in Seattle. Every year sees around 100,000 attendees, a figure which lets the festival proclaim itself to be the biggest gathering for hemp and cannabis reform in the country.

The feeling at Hempfest has always been a combination of protest and festival. Historically, the event focused on free cannabis consumption and free speech. In the late 90s, some of the annual events resulted in citations as well as arrests.

Now, Hempfest is a massive festival and concert featuring five stages. Attendees can expect artists, food, grass-roots hemp and vendor booths, and more. The event also has an educational component, even listing various educational resources regarding cannabis and hemp on its website.

The next Hempfest will be in August 2020. This will be the 29th event.

HempFest Canada – Various Canadian Cities

HempFest has multiple dates throughout the year, with different sizes of events featuring a range of focuses. Past locations have included Winnipeg, Halifax, Edmonton, Hamilton, Calgary, and Saskatchewan.

This is an event designed to appeal to cannabis businesses, giving them the opportunity to show off their products and make networking connections. You will typically find vaporizers, strains, and more.

So far, planned events in 2020 include a Growing Summit in late March and early April, the C45 Summit in May, the Edmonton MMXP in May, Hempfest CUP in September, Calgary in September, and Saskatoon to be announced.

As an example, the Hempfest CUP lets people submit their own cannabis for professional testing to ensure quality and safety. The C45 Quality Summit aims to set standards for Canadian cannabis by bringing together industry leaders.

International Cannabis Business Conference – San Francisco, Berlin, Bern, Barcelona, and Vancouver

As the name implies, the International Cannabis Business Conference is a conference for those in the cannabis industry, offering a range of networking opportunities. The events tend to bring in international audiences with attendees including policymakers and entrepreneurs from more than 60 countries.

The upcoming events in 2020 include in San Francisco in February, in Barcelona in March, in Berlin in April, in Bern in May, and in Vancouver in September.

Mile High 4/20 Festival – Denver, Colorado

The Mile High 4/20 Festival takes place in Denver, Colorado and always occurs regardless of the weather conditions. It always takes place on 4/20 at 4:20 p.m. at the Civic Center Park. Denver remains the unofficial area for recreational cannabis consumption, as Colorado was the first to legalize it in 2014.

When it first began, the festival was a protest designed to encourage lawmakers to legalize cannabis. At the time, hundreds of people would gather annually to participate in the illegal consumption of cannabis.

Now, with the legalization in the state, it has turned into a huge concert that attracts big names. Past headliners include hip-hop greats, such as Lil’ Jon and Lil Wayne.

This event is free to attend and technically open to all. However, it is an adult-oriented celebration, so the organizers strongly encourage only attendees over 18 years old.

MJBizCon – Las Vegas, Nevada; Toronto, Canada; New Orleans, Louisiana; Copenhagen, Denmark

MJBizCon is among the largest cannabis events geared toward professionals in the industry. It offers networking, business-to-business opportunities, conferences, education, and vendors.

This is the world’s largest trade show for cannabis business-to-business. The biggest event is always in Las Vegas with smaller versions in some other cities around the world.

You can expect to see big-name speakers, including for the keynote. Past speakers have included Bruce Linton from&nbsp;Canopy Growth Corporation, Gene Simmons, and Kevin O’Leary from “Shark Tank.” The event usually pulls in more than 35,000 attendees and the programming spans every sector.

National Cannabis Festival – Washington, D.C.

The National Cannabis Festival always takes place in Washington, D.C. on the weekend that is closest to 4/20. This is an all-encompassing cannabis event with something for everyone.

There are major musical acts, with 2019 performers including Ludacris as well as Action Bronson. You can also explore the vast exhibitor’s fair, where you are sure to find items to buy. The event also features a Cannabis Policy Forum that provides education to attendees via the panels that feature industry experts.

Just keep in mind that Washington, D.C. does not yet have official&nbsp;legalization for public cannabis consumption, so this event is marketed as a non-consumption one. However, you will likely still see plenty of people enjoying cannabis while there.

The Oregon Hemp Convention had its sixth annual event in 2019, featuring products, education, and networking. This is more of a trade conference than a cannabis event geared toward consumers.

The 2019 event included more hemp cultivators and CBD businesses than in previous years, along with 80 growers. The goal of the Oregon Hemp Convention is to connect as well as educate the decision-makers within the industry. It also features a unique product auction.

The seventh annual Oregon Hemp Convention will be in June 2020 in Portland and registration is already open. The organizers, who also curate Kush.com, expect more than 5,000 attendees, including the industry’s biggest names.

Sensi Night – Massachusetts, California, Colorado, and Nevada

Sensi Night began small but has since spread across the country with multiple events including in the Royale in Boston, the Eclipse Theater in Las Vegas, and events in Los Angeles and Denver.

The idea behind Sensi Night is celebrating the current industry. Each event has its own selection of local companies to show off the local market. The events also have DJ lineups for plenty of fun.

The Sensi Night events are still non-consumption events, due to the laws that are in place regarding consuming marijuana. Most of the attendees, however, are consumers. Sensi Nights is usually free to attend but does require registration.

The Cannabis Events You Should Know About

As cannabis becomes more mainstream, events showcasing it have started to surge. We'll break down the important ones.

You may have heard of the Cannabis Cup, which is a major event in the world of marijuana. The Cannabis Cup offers prestigious rewards and is a big event, where the best of the best in the industry get to show off.

Steven Hager founded the Cannabis Cup in 1988, also known as the “High Times” Cannabis Cup. He created the Cup as a way for product manufacturers and cultivators of cannabis to show off their products. It also gives them a chance to compete to earn titles and status.

From the start, the Cannabis Cup has honored every single step in the process of producing and using cannabis. There is judging for plants, final products, and accessories. You can find a range of products related to marijuana during the expo, as well as various businesses that interact with cannabis in some way.

To participate in the Cannabis Cup, manufacturers and cultivators must submit their products for independent testing. This verifies their potencies for both THC and CBD.

In addition to showcasing cannabis and cannabis-related products, the Cannabis Cup also provides educational seminars. These workshops and seminars are perfect for spreading knowledge about cannabis to the public. Topics include everything from uses to history to growing.

No competition would be complete without judging, and the Cannabis Cup features judging for multiple categories. The event organizers gather a group of expert judges that come from various locations around the world. This diversity eliminates bias and provides multiple perspectives during the judging.

Some of the most popular categories of the Cannabis Cup include Best Sativa, Best Indica, Best Hybrid, Best Imported Hash, Best Nederhash, Best Hash, Best New Product, Best Glass, and Best Booth. Some categories encourage the attendees to vote on the winner, including those for Best Glass, Best Booth, and Best Products.

The first Cannabis Cup took place in Amsterdam, a city known for its openness to marijuana. Over the years, nearly every single annual Cannabis Cup occurred in Amsterdam, the last of which was in 2014. After27 years of hosting the Cannabis Cup, a decision to switch locations was made due to a combination of factors. Those concerns included uncertainty regarding the future of cannabis laws in the country and the improved climate towards cannabis in other areas of the world.

As cannabis spreads in legality, other cities have also started holding their version of the Cannabis Cup. Many of these events focus on medical cannabis instead of or in addition to recreational cannabis.

Some of the current Cannabis Cups that you may see include those held in Southern and Northern California, Jamaica, Las Vegas, Colorado, Rhode Island, Portland, and the U.S. Midwest.

The first Cannabis Cup to take place in the United States was in 2010. The “High Times” Medical Cannabis Cup was created to celebrate states with legal medical marijuana. It provides the expected activities and products, but the focus is all on medical marijuana.

The U.S. Cannabis Cup is for those states that legalized recreational use of marijuana. It includes very similar events to those in the main Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam. In other words, judges give out trophies for various categories after testing strains, and attendees vote for some categories.

You can experience the Cannabis Cup without attending thanks to DVDs made to document the events. Following the 2003 festival, producers made “High Times Presents: The Cannabis Cup.” During the summer of 2008, there was a film of the previous year’s event, which marked the 20th anniversary. That particular Cannabis Cup was hosted by Redman and Tommy Chong.

The 2010 Amsterdam Cannabis Cup Police Raid

In 2010, police raided the location of the Amsterdam Cannabis Cup for the first time. This experience did not end well and contributed to the location of the Cannabis Cup changing after 2014.

The raid was incredibly controversial and followed conservatives coming into power in the Netherlands that year. Those conservatives had already closed some of the country’s coffee shops, venues known for their cannabis in addition to coffee.

At the time of the event, most of the information regarding the raid came from tweets. The police told the authorities that they had seen booths giving out cannabis, which was against the rules. Based on that, they shut the event down and made everyone leave except the exhibitors.

Following the drama, one of the “High Times” attorneys released a statement. According to David Holland, the problem came down to a permit misunderstanding. No one was arrested, and the attendees were never in any danger of being arrested or otherwise harmed. According to him, the police were only ensuring that no vendor gave out more cannabis than allowed. The Opium Law required that all vendors be within a 500-gram limit at the venue, and only one was slightly over.

The police, organizers of the Cannabis Cup, and the vendors worked everything out amicably. The event continued the next day. Even so, the police presence brought a stigma and negative media attention to the event.

Many of the previous winners of the Cannabis Cup are still in business today, doing very well for themselves. If you look at the past winners of the Cup, you will also notice some repeat winners, showing which companies consistently produce quality products. Here are just a few of the winners over the years:

The most recent Cannabis Cup in Amsterdam was in 2014. First-place winners at that event included:

Looking at the winners from the 2014 Amsterdam Cannabis Cup gives you a good idea of how much the various categories have expanded over the years. There were a dozen categories, each with honors for first, second, and third place. Only two of these categories, the highest CBDs, only had a single winner. This shows that the Cannabis Cup was sizable enough to attract enough vendors to justify requiring so many winners and categories. It also indicates enough diversity in products and offerings. After all, the Cannabis Cup did not give honor to every vendor, so offering 36 titles shows significant participation.&nbsp;

Some of the categories that are up for judging in the Cannabis Cup include:

The wide range of categories, once again most with winners for first, second, and third places, indicates a high level of participation.

In addition to the Cannabis Cup, there are other cannabis-related events and honors throughout the world. The Counterculture Hall of Fame is designed to honor those who influenced the shaping of the cannabis industry. This Hall of Fame began in 1997. Bob Marley was among the first to be inducted, with his induction occurring that same year. In 2012, Steve Hager was inducted. Other inductees include Louis Armstrong, Peter Tosh, Tommy Chong, William S. Burroughs, Allen Ginsburg, Jack Kerouac, Bob Dylan, Cheech Marin, Tom Forcade, Coke La Rock, Jack Herer, John Grigs, Ben Dronkers, Alexander Shulgin, and Ann Shulgin. &nbsp;

It should come as no surprise that the Cannabis Cup is not the only major marijuana event. There are various events around the world throughout the year, with a focus on countries with more marijuana-friendly laws.

The next of these annual events will be in June 2020 in San Francisco. It is a business-to-business event that provides commerce and education to empower the industry. The National Cannabis Industry Association hosts this event.

This year’s Cannabis Conference was in April in Las Vegas, but you can already get a super early bird ticket for the next year’s event in April 2020, also in Las Vegas. This event offers insights into cannabis business operations and cultivation, customer engagement, and retail management. It also began offering insights on cultivating and selling hemp and products derived from hemp.

May 2019 also saw the most recent Cannabiz Expo in Sacramento, California. This was the second time the annual event was held. Instead of focusing on the plants and products like the Cannabis Cup, the Cannabiz Expo focuses on businesses in the marijuana industry. It is an opportunity for networking and connecting with legal experts, grow operations, dispensary owners, and anyone else in the industry. The next event will be in May 2020, also in Sacramento.

The most recent CannaGrow Expo was in August in Palm Springs, California, with the next one planned for November 2020, marking the tenth year of the expo. The expo dedicates itself to the science and art of growing cannabis. It prides itself on being open to everyone over 18 years old. It tries to appeal to cannabis growers, grow managers, grow enthusiasts, and extractors. There are dozens of cultivation-focused educational sessions, a vendor expo hall, and plenty of networking opportunities.

HempFest Cannabis Expo is a Canadian event with multiple events in cities like Winnipeg, Calgary, Saskatchewan, Hamilton, Halifax, and Edmonton throughout the year. It is a chance for people to learn about and try products as well as an opportunity for businesses in the industry to connect. Upcoming events include October dates for HempFest CUP and Calgary and 2020 dates for Edmonton and Saskatoon.

<a href="/articles/events/history-of-mjbizcon">MJBizCon</a> is one of the biggest cannabis events, greatly appealing to marijuana businesses. There are more than a thousand exhibitors, networking events, and high-profile speakers. This convention is more expensive to attend than other events, but those in the business agree that it is worth it. The next event is in September in Toronto, with others planned for September and October in Bogota, and December in Las Vegas. There will also be at least three events in 2020, including the MJBizCon NEXT, MJBizDaily’s European Cannabis Symposium, and The Hemp Industry Daily Conference.

Some of these other cannabis events also include awards and competitions. MJBizCon, for example, honors companies and individuals that have strong market influence or success, or have made significant advancements in the industry.

The Cannabis Cup was created in 1988 as a way to honor those who participate in the cannabis industry while also spreading education. The event began in Amsterdam and now occurs in multiple cities throughout the world, still going strong. While the Cannabis Cup is an important event in the cannabis industry, it is far from the only one.

History of the Cannabis Cup

A household name amongst the cannabis community; find out how this festival started and some of the cannabis cup winners

Find out about upcoming or past local and global cannabis events.