COnference Program
Schedule & Speakers
Plan Your CMB Experience:



Schedule at a Glance
We look forward to seeing you the first week of June 2025
Tuesday, June 3 – PRE-SHOW wORKSHOPS & Rooftop Party
TUESDAY, JUNE 3 | PRE-SHOW WORKSHOPS & B2B ROOFTOP BASH |
EXHIBIT FLOOR CLOSED (EXHIBITOR SET UP) | |
11:00 am – 1:30 pm | Workshop: AI & Everything Cannabis for Your Business |
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Workshop: Taking Your Cannabis Brand or Business Around the World – An International View of Building Your Opportunities |
2:00 pm – 4:30 pm | Workshop: Marketing & Communications for Brands & Retailers |
5:30 pm – 8:30 pm | B2B Rooftop Bash, with the NORML FORML, at the Yotel Network and relax with skyline views, open bar and food. You can support NORML's mission by participating in the gift basket give-away. |
All listed sessions take place in the "main conference room" unless otherwise noted. All sessions, networking events, times and speakers subject to change without notice. |
Wednesday, June 4 – Expo, COnference & O2VAPE Yacht Party
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4 | DEAL MAKING & |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | EXHIBIT FLOOR OPEN 10 AM TO 5 PM Exhibit hall activations include:
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9:00 am – 9:30 am | Press & Media Preview and Reception Located near the press office. Special preview for journalists and media representatives, exhibitors and speakers. |
9:50 am – 10:00 am | Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to Open Show Floor, at Hall 1C Lobby Entrance (Open to all registered attendees) |
11:00 am – 3:50 pm | CONFERENCE PROGRAM SEMINAR SESSIONS |
11:00 am – 11:50 pm | Market Analysis, Trends & Business Opportunities: Industry trends – the center of opportunity, New York or Berlin? Where is the cannabis market headed? |
1:00 pm – 1:40 pm | The Investment Renegades Changing the Face of Cannabis: Has cannabis funding turned from green to yellow? |
1:40 pm – 2:20 pm | Mainstream Industry: Cannabis infused – are you in or out? Mainstream business opportunities in the cannabis industry. |
2:20 pm – 3:00 pm | Infusion from the Beverage Industry: How far has it come into cannabis, and where is it heading? |
3:00 pm – 3:40 pm | Industry Check-In: Proliferating your brand to multiple markets – gaining market share for your brand |
6:00 pm – 10:00 pm | O2VAPE Industry Yacht Party (Board at 6 pm from Pier 81, behind the Javits, open bar, dinner, dessert and dancing) (Super Saver Pass or seperate ticket required) ![]() |
All listed sessions take place on the "main conference room" unless otherwise noted. All sessions, networking events, times and speakers subject to change without notice. |
THURsday, June 5 – Expo and Conference
THURSDAY, JUNE 5 | GETTING DEALS DONE |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() | EXHIBIT FLOOR OPEN 10 AM TO 5 PM Exhibit hall activations include:
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11:30 am – 1:00 pm | Women in Cannabis Entrepreneur Luncheon Located on the show floor, networking, fireside chat and lunch |
11:00 am – 3:30 pm | CONFERENCE PROGRAM SEMINAR SESSIONS |
11:00 am – 11:30 am | Spotlight on Hospitality & Cannabis Tourism: Emerging trends across tourism and hospitality |
1:00 pm – 1:30 pm | Cannabis Marketing, Social Media & PR: Winning the clicks, swipes and likes |
1:30 pm – 2:00 pm | Real Estate & Cannabis Business Planning: Location, location, location – where will your cannabis business grow most? |
2:00 pm – 2:30 pm | Compliance & Best Practices: Breaking through to profit in uncertain times |
2:30 pm – 3:15 pm | Health & Wellness, Part 1: Minor cannabinoids, hemp-derived products |
3:15 pm – 3:50 pm | Health & Wellness, Part 2: Sports, sexual health, pain managemet, aging, and veterninary products |
8:00 pm – 1:00 am | After Party (To be announced) |
All listed sessions take place on the "main conference room" unless otherwise noted. All sessions, networking events, times and speakers subject to change without notice. |
Session Descriptions
Workshop: AI & Everything Cannabis for Your Business
AI is in the news every day and we hear about its promise to help industries across many disciplines to be more: efficient, investor-attractive, operationally streamlined, adaptable to new technologies, and help make businesses more profitable. How will this play out in the cannabis industry? Which segments in the cannabis supply chain will benefit – the most, the least, or at all? This workshop starts with explaining what AI is and takes attendees through how it can serve the cannabis industry from cultivation, processing, retail, marketing, consumer and client tracking, and what is available today, as well as what costs can a cannabis business expect to invest in to make a justifiable ROI.
(Separate workshop ticket required)
Workshop: Taking Your Cannabis Brand or Business Around the World –An International View of Building Your Opportunities
This workshop is an informative presentation for all investors, entrepreneurs, business owners inside and outside the cannabis industry. Discussions will map out global geographical hot spots for cannabis investment and business expansion. Interesting hot spots will be drawn from: North America; Europe; South America.
(Separate workshop ticket required)
Workshop: Marketing & Communications for Brands & Retailers
This workshop will focus on making your products, services and brands be ubiquitous in an industry that is challenged on numerous fronts. Advertising, marketing and trends will be discussed. Real-life journeys will be discussed that tell of trials and tribulations for the next generation of marketing cannabis products.
Topics will include marketing in a digital era, case Studies of successful well-known brands and failures. What are the trends that are guiding the marketing of cannabis businesses and brands today including: consumption trends, political trends, culture trends and capital investment trends that should be baked into a marketing plan for retail?
What are the legalities and illegalities of cannabis advertising? Where does rescheduling stand today and does it affect marketing strategy now or ever?
Where do you go to get help in marketing your cannabis business and brands?
Does NIMBY affect your marketing strategies? Should it?
(Separate workshop ticket required)
B2B Rooftop Bash with the NORML FORML
Join us for the ultimate networking experience at the B2B Rooftop Bash, taking place on Tuesday, June 3rd at the Yotel rooftop. Starting at 5:30PM, this exclusive event promises an evening of connections, collaboration, and camaraderie in the heart of New York City.
Enjoy an open bar, delectable food offerings, and panoramic views of the city skyline as you mingle with industry peers in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your network and relax the day before CMB begins.
NORML will be featured at the bash. Since its founding in 1970, NORML has provided a voice in the public policy debate for those Americans who oppose marijuana prohibition and favor an end to the practice of arresting marijuana consumers. A nonprofit public-interest advocacy group, NORML represents the interests of the tens of millions of Americans who use marijuana responsibly. You can support their mission by participating in a gift basket give-away.
Market Analysis, Trends & Business Opportunities: Industry trends – the center of opportunity, New York or Berlin? Where is the cannabis market headed?
This presentation will provide a big-picture overview of the adult-use market across the United States and will address growth market trends, consumer behavior preferences, sales of different form factors, and cannabis production challenges. This session will also discuss opportunities in cannabis on a global level. The data and analytics will focus on the hottest markets and what are the barometers to watch.
The Investment Renegades Changing the Face of Cannabis - Has Cannabis Funding Turned from Green to Yellow?
Wall Street executives and managers lead a discussion on state of capital funding for cannabis businesses. It is a fact that the industry has been fielding challenges throughout its history as an unregulated and federally illegal industry. As individual states legalized for medical and or adult-use cannabis, Wall Street firms were quite warm to cannabis. This session takes the temperature on that in the current business climate and assesses the availability of funding.
Mainstream Industry: Cannabis infused – are you in or out? Business opportunities in the cannabis industry
Thought leaders come together to discuss that as cannabis has emerged out of isolation and extreme stigma, it has created new business opportunities for many across the United States and across the globe; cannabis has evolved and is still evolving as a business layer for ancillary services, the medical community, adult-use markets and government research. Along-side cannabis, ancillary businesses (aka, mainstream services) have also emerged as an opportunistic business layer. Both offer economic and business opportunities and promise for investors. In this thought leadership panel, we bring together mainstream and cannabis business owners to discuss the needs, the progress and obstacles for the next level of business and opportunity
Infusion from the Beverage Industry: How Far Has It Come into Cannabis, and Where is it Heading?
A timely discussion with leaders of beverage companies from both the cannabis and non-cannabis industry. They detail where the intersection and fusion of these industries stands and what the future may hold.
Industry Check-In: Proliferating your brand to multiple markets – Gaining market share for your brand
In this session we explore the geographic proliferation of expanding a retail cannabis brand across the US and the globe. Marketing professionals and brand owners come together to present how to gain a level of ubiquity for your products, brands and services based upon their successes and failures, detailing what works, and what does not work in this highly competitive industry where the marketplace is still being defined and built within a volatile and unregulated industry.
O2VAPE Industry Yacht Party
Set sail with us for an unforgettable evening at the O2VAPE Industry Yacht Party on Wednesday, June 4th, from 6:00 to 10:00 PM just after the first day on the Show Floor.
Boarding begins promptly at 6:00 PM at Pier 81, located behind the Javits Center at West 41st Street. Cruise along the Hudson River, surrounded by breathtaking views of the New York City Skyline and the radiant glow of the sunset. Indulge in the open bar, enjoy a delicious dinner, and treat yourself to delectable desserts as you dance the night away. This exclusive event offers the perfect opportunity to unwind, connect with industry colleagues, and create lasting memories against the backdrop of one of the world’s most iconic cityscapes. The Yacht Party is proudly sponsored by O2Vape. O2VAPE® is a USA Veteran owned company and has been providing consumers with high quality portable vaping products since 2014. Products include their exclusive PATENTED FLIP ULTRA. O2VAPE offers a no receipt, no further purchase necessary Lifetime Warranty.
(Separate ticket required.)
Women in Cannabis Entrepreneur Luncheon
Connect with women leaders, entrepreneurs, and advocates shaping the future of the cannabis industry. Enjoy meaningful conversations, networking, and empowerment in an exclusive setting. Don’t miss this opportunity to celebrate the power of women in cannabis. Includes networking, fireside chat and lunch.
Spotlight on Hospitality & Cannabis Tourism
In this session, we dive into the crossover of hospitality with cannabis. What are the emerging trends across tourism and hospitality? We also look at the pros, cons and risks for business owners?
Cannabis Marketing, Social Media & PR: Winning the clicks, swipes and likes
Cannabis marketing is challenging, and it has become even more so as social media platforms continue to tighten against cannabis advertising. There are methods and solutions to market your cannabis business - plant-touching or non-plant-touching. Learn from marketing and media industry leaders how to be on the right platform, and maximize getting swipes, clicks and likes for your cannabis business and products.
Real Estate & Cannabis Business Planning: Location, location, location – where will your cannabis business grow most?
Regionally cannabis businesses such as dispensaries, grow facilities, process facilities, etc., will thrive based upon many factors including LOCATION - no different than other real estate investments. However, where one gets a cannabis business license, or owns a property, or selects a property to lease, can make a huge difference in the success of that cannabis business. When it comes to entering or exiting a cannabis business, one must be cognizant of the local and state laws, regional ordinances, and the location of other cannabis businesses to yours.
Compliance & Best Practices: Breaking through to profit in uncertain times
This session reviews the issues that a cannabis business must tackle to become profitable and stay profitable. Getting your business to be compliant and stay in compliance, regarding lab testing, tracking, waste management, HR, and cash-flow management make your business attractive for M&A, loans, expansion and exiting. The panelists are cannabis business owners who will share their journey to compliance and ultimately to profitability.