Cannabis legalization is spreading rapidly across North America and the world. As of writing this article, all of Canada, 21 states in America, and Washington D.C. have legalized recreational cannabis use. In addition, 10 states have decriminalized recreational cannabis use, and medical use and CBD are legal in even more states.
This is just the start. In fact, Maryland and Missouri voted to legalize recreational cannabis use in November 2022.
It can be hard to keep track of the rapid changes in legalization. There are many regulatory hurdles, especially relating to the need to maintain your cannabis growers’ or dispensary license.
Cannabis security compliance is another major consideration. From needing to provide a sitemap detailing security, to ensuring the various locations are properly set up for video monitoring, compliance regulations are tedious, evolving quickly and may vary from state-to-state, or county-to-county.
One of the best things you can do to monitor these growing opportunities is attend a cannabis conference in 2023. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of the cannabis events you should attend in 2023.
This is an archived list. To see our cannabis events 2024 list, click here.
What is a cannabis conference?
A cannabis conference is an event where people from across the cannabis sector come together to discuss the rapid growth of the legal cannabis market. Exhibitors and attendees include cultivators, dispensaries, and all the companies that service the industry.
What is it like at a cannabis convention?
We polled some of our event marketers and sales staff to hear exactly what it is like at cannabis events. The most common word was “excitement.” That excitement stems from this opportunity to build businesses in a completely new industry.
Here’s how Tyler Spence, the Cannabis Team Lead at Solink, put it:
“There are a lot of young people at cannabis conferences. They see this new industry as a way to use their entrepreneurial skills to start a business and are really excited to learn about this growing market.”
Why should you attend a cannabis expo?
Cultivators and extraction operators looking to sell products and retailers looking for products to market will get a lot out of attending cannabis conferences.
You’ll find all the products and services both cultivators and dispensaries need to manage their business, from grow lights and sensors to the security solutions offered by Solink.
If you do not currently own a cannabis company but are looking to get into the market, you’ll find helpful contacts willing to walk you through the entire process. You will also be able to get a clear understanding of the financial investment needed, the regulatory requirements, and more.
Why should you attend a cannabis expo?
Cultivators and extraction operators looking to sell products and retailers looking for products to market will get a lot out of attending cannabis conferences.
You’ll find all the products and services both cultivators and dispensaries need to manage their business, from grow lights and sensors to the security solutions offered by Solink.
If you do not currently own a cannabis company but are looking to get into the market, you’ll find helpful contacts willing to walk you through the entire process. You will also be able to get a clear understanding of the financial investment needed, the regulatory requirements, and more.
Do cannabis and CBD industries host different events?
Sometimes CBD events and cannabis events are separate, but most events have a mix of the two. It is important to read the descriptions of the conferences. The list below has both CBD expos and cannabis expos. Be sure to explore the events’ websites before committing to attending a convention.
Where are cannabis industry conferences usually held?
Cannabis conventions are held across North America. You can also find more online events as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as hybrid events with an in-person conference and online viewing options. However, there are some clear trends in the choice of locations for cannabis conferences.
First, there are more events found in locations that have historical ties to the fight for legalization (e.g., British Columbia in Canada and California and Colorado in America).
Second, you find a lot of events in the traditional conference cities (Las Vegas, Atlantic City, and New York City). These events are usually held at the same venue every year, including MJBizCon, which is the Super Bowl of cannabis conferences.
Finally, cannabis conferences that tend to move from year to year often choose locations where legalization is about to happen or has just happened. In 2023, that means you should look out for cannabis events taking place in Maryland and Missouri.
List of cannabis events in 2023
Here is a list of every cannabis event in 2023. (If you are the host of an event and don’t see it on this list, please contact Timothy Ware, Solink’s Content Manager, to have it added.)
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January 2023
Event: Lift Vancouver
When and where: 12-14 January at the Vancouver Convention Centre, 1055 Canada Pl, Vancouver, BC
February 2023
Event: Champs East Coast
When and where: 8-11 February at the Las Vegas Convention Center, LV, NV
Event:NYC Sessions
When and where: 23 February at the Work’n’Roll, NYC, NY
Event: CannaCon South Mississippi
When and where: 24-25 February at the Mississippi Coast Coliseum 2350 Beach Blvd, Biloxi, MS
March 2023
Event: The Emerald Conference
When and where: 1-3 March at the Lowes Coronado Bay Resort, San Diego, CA
Event: NECANN New England Cannabis Convention
When and where: 10-12 March at the Hynes Convention Center, Boston, MA
Event: Lucky Leaf Expo Missouri
When and where: 24-25 March at the Sheraton Kansas City Hotel at Crown Center, KC, MO
Event: CannExpo Toronto
When and where: 24-26 March at the Exhibition Place Toronto, ON, CA
April 2023
Event: CannaCon South OKC
When and where: 31 March to 1 April at the OKC Convention Center 100 Mick Cornett Drive, OKC, OK
Event: Lucky Leaf Expo Albany
When and where: 14-15 April at the Albany Capital Center, Albany, NY
Event: Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference
When and where: 11-12 April at the Fountainbleau Miami Beach, Miami, FL
Event: 2022 Cannabis Science Conference West
When and where: 19-21 April at the Portland Expo Center, Portland, OR
Event: Celebrate 420! Gala Dinner & Dance
When and where: 21 April at the Mirage Banquet & Convention Centre, Toronto, CA
Event: BC Cannabis Summit
When and where: 21-23 April at The Eldorado Resort, Kelowna, CA
Event: National Cannabis Festival
When and where: 22 April on the RFK Festival Grounds, Washington, DC
Event: MJ Unpacked
When and where: 26-28 April at the New York Hilton Midtown, NYC, NY
About: MJ Unpacked is the only national event that showcases hundreds of cannabis CPG brands from around the country to connect and collaborate with retailers, manufacturers, and investors. Attendance is exclusive to cannabis retail and brand executives with the title manager and above, and accredited investors actively investing in the space.
May 2023
Event: Cannabis Europa
When and where: 2-3 May at the The Barbican Centre, London, UK
Event: Hall of Flowers Santa Rosa
When and where: 3-4 May at the Sonoma County Fairgrounds, 1350 Bennett Valley Rd, Santa Rosa, CA
Event: Lucky Leaf Expo Jackson
When and where: 5-6 May at the Jackson Convention Complex, Jackson, MS
Event: NECANN Vermont Cannabis & Hemp Convention
When and where: 6-7 May at the Champlain Valley Expo, 105 Pearl St., Essex Junction, Burlington, VT
Event: Regenerative Cannabis Live
When and where: 10-11 May at the United Nations, Delegates Dining Room, NYC, NY
Event: CannMed
When and where: 15-17 May at the JW Marriott Marco Island Beach Resort 400 South Collier Boulevard, Marco Island, Florida, USA
About: CannMed started in 2016. It aims to promote understanding of the complex science and medical benefits of cannabis.
Event: The 5th Annual Luxury Meets Cannabis Conference
When and where: 18-19 May at Hudson Yards, NYC, NY
Event: CannaCon West Albuquerque
When and where: 19-20 May at the Albuquerque Convention Center 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM
Event: NECANN Connecticut Cannabis and Hemp Convention
When and where: 20-21 May at the XL Center – 1 Civic Center Plaza, Hartford, CT
Event: Grow Up Conference & Expo
When and where: 28-30 May at the the Edmonton Convention Centre, Edmonton, AB, CA
Event: Hall of Flowers Toronto
When and where: 31 May to 1 June at the Enercare Centre (Carpark 850), 100 Princes Blvd, Toronto, ON
June 2023
Event: Cannabis World Congress & Business Exposition (CWCBExpo)
When and where: 1-3 June at the Javits Center, NYC, NY
Event: Lift Toronto
When and where: 1-3 June at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre – North Building, 255 Front St. W., Toronto, ON
Event: NECANN Illinois Cannabis Convention
When and where: 2-3 June at the Schaumburg Convention Center, Chicago, IL
Event: Lucky Leaf Expo Edison
When and where: 8-9 June at the New Jersey Convention and Exposition Center, Edison, NJ
Event: CannabisWiki Expo & Conference
When and where: 13-14 June in the Western Fair District, London, ON
Event: GreenTech
When and where: 13-15 June at RAI Amsterdam, Amsterdam, NL
Event: The Summer Show, Cannaone Bizcon Expo
When and where: 21-23 June at the Las Vegas Convention Center, LV, NV
Event: The Delta 8 Expo in partnership with the CBD Expo
When and where: 23-24 June at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Charlotte Concord Golf Resort & Spa, Charlotte, NC
July 2023
Event: Lucky Leaf Expo Baltimore
When and where: 21-21 July at the Baltimore Convention Center, Baltimore, MD
Event: Canna Golf Classic
When and where: 25-26 July at the Angus Glen Golf Club, Toronto, ON
August 2023
Event: CannaCon West Long Beach
When and where: 4-5 August at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center 300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA
Event: Canna Golf Classic
When and where: 22-23 August at the Northview Golf & Country Club, Vancouver, BC
September 2023
Event: International CBC Slovenia
When and where: 7-8 September at the Rikli Balance Hotel, Bled, Slovenia
Event: NECANN New Jersey Cannabis Convention
When and where: 8-9 September at the Atlantic City Convention Center
Event: Montreal Cannabis Expo
When and where: 23-14 September at the Palais des congrès, Montreal, QC
Event: Lucky Leaf Expo Albuquerque
When and where: 22-23 September at the Albuquerque Convention Center, Albuquerque, NM
Event: NECANN New York Cannabis and Hemp Convention
When and where: 29-30 September at the Albany Capital Center, Albany, NY
October 2023
Event: Grow Up Conference and Expo
When and where: 1-3 October at the Victoria Conference Centre, Victoria, BC
Event: Real Cannabis Entrepreneur Conference
When and where: 5-6 October at the Doubletree Hotel, Newark, NJ
Event: CannaCon Midwest Detroit
When and where: 6-7 October at the Huntington Place 1 Washington Blvd, Detroit, MI
Event: MJ Unpacked
When and where: 10-12 October at the Motor City Casino Hotel, Detroit, MI
November 2023
Event: MJBizCon Vegas
When and where: 28 November-1 December at the Convention Center, LV, NV
About: MJBizCon is in its 12th year. It promises to again be the biggest MJBizCon ever.
December 2023
Event: The CBD Shows
When and where: 7-8 December at TBC.London, London, UK
Summary
Cannabis events are a great place to make strong connections within the cannabis community. We hope to see you at one of the events we’re attending in 2023.
If you can’t wait until the next cannabis expo to get your security needs met, please sign up for a Solink demo today.
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