New Look. New Opportunities. Reinvention.

As we enjoy the foliage and leave October for the November election and the start of the holiday season, CWCBExpo is excited to launch our new look and reinvent ourselves as Cannabis Means Business (CMB).

“This evolution is a significant shift in the landscape of cannabis industry events and reflects the needs of today and the future of the industry.”

Christine Ianuzzi, CEO, Founder, Cannabis Means Business

Cannabis Means Business (CMB) is a new vision for the show previously run as CWCBExpo. This evolution is a significant shift in the landscape of cannabis industry events and reflects the needs of today and the future of the industry.

Taking place June 4-5, 2025 at the Javits Center in New York, this transformation to CMB reflects a growing recognition of the cannabis sector’s evolution and its increasing relevance in business discussions across a multitude of industries in the US and around the world.

CMB–New York Global Edition will serve as a dynamic platform that encompasses an impactful range of topics, emphasizing the integration of cannabis into mainstream business practices. The event will foster an environment where industry professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers and key stakeholders can engage in meaningful dialogue about the future of cannabis and New York’s growing influence as a global hub.

Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, with press, 2024
Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, with press, 2024

“The Politics and Medicine of Cannabis: A Multi-state Approach.”

In keeping with the political season, and with many states having ballot measures up for a vote on election day, we feature one of the sessions from our June 2024 conference, “The Politics and Medicine of Cannabis: A Multi-state Approach.”

This session holds a timely relevance as 40 states have passed laws for medical and/or adult-use of cannabis – without waiting for changes on a federal level to cannabis regulations.

Read more about this session at the bottom of this newsletter, or click here to view the session now.

Rescheduling News

Rescheduling Decision Delayed

DEA Hearing Delayed Until 2025

The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) just announced (on November 1), that the scheduled December 2 hearing, with testimony and witnesses, will be delayed into 2025.

Before this delay, the DEA had just begun to notify the selected participants who would speak at the December 2 hearing. The purpose of this hearing was for the DEA to gather more information from stakeholders and experts on the issue of rescheduling cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. Applicants submitted a letter requesting to speak at the hearing.

New York State Cannabis News

New York State Office of Cannabis Management, Cannabis Control Board

Noteworthy happenings have transpired this month regarding New York State and its efforts to strengthen and expand the build-out of its cannabis industry efforts. Among them include:

 

  • The Cannabis Control Board (CCB) held a meeting on October 17, 2024. At the meeting they reported that the total Cannabis Retail Sales amount is close to reaching $700 million. Other valuable stats were reported about NYS cannabis sales, dispensaries, licensing, etc.. To learn more about what transpired at this decisive and informative meeting, read through the meeting slides: https://cannabis.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/10/october-10-2024-ccb-meeting-deck.pdf

     

  • The public comment period ended on October 28, 2024 regarding the proposed amendments to marketing and advertising cannabis and cannabis products in NYS. Proposed amendments were filed by the NYS CCB to the Department of State to Parts 128 & 129 Packaging, Labeling, Marketing and Advertising Regulations. The full list of the proposed regulations can be found here:  https://cannabis.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/08/exprs-trms-prts-128-129-amend-final.pdf

  • NYS opened up the application process for Adult-Use Processor Type-3 Branding licenses. Though not a plant-touching license, it allows the licensee to enter into white labeling agreements with NYS licensed cannabis processors who will manufacture a brand’s cannabis products. Stipulations as to what this Type-3 Branding License does can be found here:  https://www.businessexpress.ny.gov/app/answers/cms/a_id/3833

  • NYS launched a grant application program called the Community Reinvestment Program. This program aims to fund non-profit organizations dedicated to supporting young people in under-served and under-resourced communities. This program will be funded by legal adult-use cannabis sales in line with the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA) which legalized Adult-Use cannabis sales in NYS. Read more about the grant program here:  https://cannabis.ny.gov/reinvestment

  • Since MRTA was introduced in 2021, much has occurred in NYS and its efforts to build its legal cannabis industry. A comprehensive Implementation Report on MRTA was issued by the NYS Office of Cannabis Management (OCM). Download the report here: https://cannabis.ny.gov/system/files/documents/2024/10/mrta-implementation-report.pdf
NYS OCM Office of Cannabis Management

Congratulations to These Recent Adult-Use Dispensary Openings

Bayside Cannabis Dispensary

OAKLAND GARDENS | 224-15 Union Turnpike, Oakland Gardens 11364
Website: https://baysidecannabis.com

Secret Garden 716

BUFFALO | 1363 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo 14209
Website: https://secretgarden716.com

Back Home Cannabis Co.

STONE RIDGE | 3056 State Route 213, Stone Ridge 12484

Joint Jungle

LIBERTY | 187 Mill Street, Suite 6, Liberty 12754
Website: https://jointjungleny.com

FingerLakes Cannabis Co

VICTOR | 5 Railroad Street, Victor 14564
Website: https://flxcannaco.com

Catskill Mountain High

KINGSTON | 308 Plaza Road, Kingston 12401
Website: https://catskillmtnhigh.com

Brown Budda New York

SOUTHAMPTON | 1533 Country Rd 39, Southampton 11968
Website: https://brownbuddanewyork.com

Collegetown Dispensary

ITHACA | 105 Dryden Road, Ithaca 14850
Website: https://collegetowndispensary.com

NUGHUB NY

STATEN ISLAND | 1350 Forest Avenue, Staten Island 10302
Website: https://nughubny.com

Hazy Daze

WAVERLY | 332 Broad Street, Waverly 13743
Website: https://hazydaze.store

Mammoth Cannabis

BUFFALO | 212 Ohio Street, Buffalo 14204
Website: https://mammothcanna.com

NUG Yonkers

YONKERS | 2371 Central Park Avenue, Yonkers 10710
Website: https://nug.com/nug-cannabis-yonkers

Treehouse Cannabis

NYACK | 28 Route 59, Nyack 10960
Website: https://treehousecannabis.com

County Road Cannabis

HUDSON VALLEY | 1326 CR-12, New Hampton 10958
Website: https://countyrdcannabis.com

KushKlub NYC

NEW YORK CITY | 186 Orchard Street, New York 10002
Website: https://kushklub.com

Salmon River Cannabis Company

PULASKI | 3808 State Route 13, Pulaski 13142
Website: https://salmonrivercannabis.com

Happy Munkey

NEW YORK CITY | 151 Dyckman Street, New York 10040
Website: https://happymunkey.com

The People’s Joint

SCHENECTADY | 501 State Street, Schenectady 12305
Website: https://thepeoplesjoint.com 

New Jersey Cannabis News

New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Issues Announcements

New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission Issues Announcements

 

Much has happened in New Jersey. The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC ) has made progress in many areas. Here are several of their many recent announcements:

 

  • The NJCRC held its final virtual session to seek input from stakeholders of medicinal cannabis on October 1, 2024. They sought participation from healthcare providers, patients, and business owners. These meetings were focused on Product Safety, Packaging, and Labeling Committee (PSPLC), and Permitting and Licensing Committee (P&LC).
  • The Cannabis Training Academy opened on October 16, 2024

  • The final Medicinal Cannabis Program (MCP) Registration Clinics are set for November 13, 15 and 19, 2024

  • As of October 22, 2024, there are 2,108 approved Recreational Licenses

  • As of October 17, 2024, 170 retail and medical dispensaries have opened across 21 counties in NJ
NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission

Learn more and access the slides and information from the most recent NJCRC meetings held on October 17th and 30th, and get info on future meetings:
https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/about/meetings/

Military Veteran Opens New Jersey Dispensary

Congratulations to Dr. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez, CEO & Founder of the recently opened adult-use dispensary “The Other Side,”  located at 36 Congress Street in Jersey City.

Dr. Alyza spoke in our June 2024 CWCBExpo conference in the Dispensary Workshop and at the Women’s Entrepreneur Luncheon. She earned her doctorate in Leadership Management, and is a twice disabled combat veteran and a former U.S. Navy military police officer. She is also an industry trailblazer being the first Black, LatinX, LGBTQ, Female, and Disabled Veteran licensed cannabis operator in NJ.

Visit the TOS Dispensary website here.

Delaware Cannabis News

Cannabis License Lottery

The Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner awarded cannabis licenses on October 24, 2024 in a lottery held via a Facebook live event – it was monitored by an accounting firm.

 

Learn more about the outcome of the lottery from the Delaware Office of the Marijuana Commissioner.

OfficeoftheMarijuanaCommissioner-Delaware1

Learn more and access the slides and information from the most recent NJCRC meetings held on October 17th and 30th, and get info on future meetings:
https://www.nj.gov/cannabis/about/meetings/

Ohio Cannabis News

Sales Exceed $75 Million in Two Months

Recreational sales started in Ohio on August 6, 2024. Ohio Adult-use sales have been in the green ever since. In less than two months they exceeded $75 million.

Read more here from the Ohio Capital Journal.

National Cannabis News

VOTE: State Ballot Measures

As we have been highlighting in our recent Newsletters, many states have ballot measures in this election.  With early voting yielding a large voter turnout across the states – anticipation grows. Which states have ballot measures is very important to know.  Michelle Rutter-Friberg, Director of Government Relations for the NCIA, highlights which states are on the ballot.

(Michelle Rutter-Friberg is also featured in this month’s session recording, located at the bottom of this newsletter.)

Learn more from NCIA here.

Smoke the Vote with NORML

Visit NORML to stay informed about legalization efforts across the entire country.

 

Learn more from their Smoke the Vote guide.

Uruguay Cannabis News

Meet the First Country to Legalize Recreational Cannabis

Did you know that Uruguay was the first country in the modern era to legalize recreational cannabis? The year was 2013 under president Jose Mujica. He did it to combat drug crimes and to improve health. The legislation was monumental as it allowed ultimately for home grow.

 

The cannabis laws in Uruguay are regulated by the Instituto de Regulación y Control del Cannabis (IRCCA) which has been successful in its evolution of regulations and building the cannabis industry in Uruguay.

 

Read more from Uruguay’s IRCCA.

Smoke the Vote with NORML

Visit NORML to stay informed about legalization efforts across the entire country.

 

Learn more from their Smoke the Vote guide.

THIS MONTH’S CWCBExpo NY 2024 ARCHIVED VIDEO

The Politics & Medicine of Cannabis: A Multi-state Approach

This session is a discussion of regulation and policy, highlighting supply chains for both medicinal and adult use channels. Subjects include the latest regs and the potential impact of re-scheduling to Schedule III from Schedule I for the adult-use retail market and for medical patients.

 

Moderator: Nichelle Santos, Founder, CEO, CannaCoverage

 

Speakers: Tosin Ajayi, Senior Policy Research & Policy Analyst, Cannabis NYC; William J. Caruso, Partner, Archer-Greiner; Michelle Rutter-Friberg, Director Government Relations, National Cannabis Industry Association; Ken Weinberg, MD., Founder, CEO, Cannabis Doctors of New York

 

To watch the full session recording, click here.

We look forward to seeing you at Cannabis Means Business 2025.

June 4 – 5, 2025
Javits Convention Center, NYC
East Side Trio, Networking Mixer, NY 2022

How to Create an Impressive Trade Show Booth 

Exhibiting at a trade show is an excellent opportunity for cannabis businesses to showcase their products and services and connect with potential customers and partners. But with so many exhibitors alongside you, it can be tough to stand out from the crowd. If you want to make an impression with a trade show booth that other attendees won’t soon forget, follow these great tips.

1. Focus on a theme

A well-executed theme can help you to stand out from the crowd and make a memorable impression on attendees. Choose a theme and use it to guide your design and messaging. Remember that attendees are often busy, so be direct and to the point to ensure that your brand is communicated effectively. 

 

For example, you might choose the theme of “health and wellness” to promote the therapeutic benefits of your products. A booth with this theme might incorporate aspects like calming colors, comfortable seating, and even interactive elements like aromatherapy or a meditation area. Messaging could focus on the medicinal benefits of cannabis products and the importance of self-care, with branded giveaways that attendees can use at home during their own self-care routines.

2. Consider your design and space

Create a trade show booth that’s both visually impressive and functional. The design of your booth should reflect your brand and products or services, while also being visually appealing and easy to navigate. 

 

For example, if your business specializes in high-quality, environmentally friendly edibles, you might choose a theme highlighting the ingredients and craftsmanship of your products. You could use wooden crates or baskets to display your products and natural, earthy tones to emphasize the relationship between your product and the plant. 

3. Make it interactive

Creating an interactive booth experience is a great way to draw foot traffic over to your booth and kick-start that initial conversation about your company. Interactive elements can include hands-on product demos, promotions like raffles or prize wheels, or games that tie into your brand or products. By offering a fun and engaging experience, you can increase the amount of time attendees spend at your booth and give yourself additional opportunities to discuss your products and services.

 

For example, a cannabis testing lab could create a virtual reality (VR) experience that simulates a cannabis testing facility. Attendees could wear a VR headset and interact with a digital environment that showcases the company’s facilities and services. A fun and unique experience like this is sure to be the talk of the show floor too, directing other attendees to come to your booth and try it out!

4. Create buzz with cool giveaways

Offering cool, branded swag is a great way to create buzz and draw attention to your trade show booth. Swag items can range from simple giveaways like branded pens or stickers to more unique items like rolling papers or portable chargers. To make your swag stand out, consider offering items that align with your brand messaging or products. 

 

 

For example, if your business focuses on cannabis-infused beverages, you could offer branded tumblers or bottle openers, so the next time attendees are having a refreshing drink they think of your brand. Here are some other examples of cool swag items to consider: 

 

 

  • Customized lighters 
  • Branded tote bags or backpacks 
  • Phone chargers or power banks with your logo 
  • Branded candles or incensed 
  • Cannabis-themed socks or hats 

Giveaways that are visible on the show floor, like tote bags or hats, are especially effective for getting your brand seen by other attendees.

5. Connect with attendees on a personal level

At the end of the day, people do business with people – not machines. While incorporating cool tech and interactive activities is an effective way to draw people in, it’s still vital to connect on a personal level to truly make a lasting impression. Make sure that your booth staff is friendly, engaging, and knowledgeable about your brand and what it has to offer. Make eye contact, offer a firm handshake, and engage in genuine conversation with booth visitors! By focusing on the human element of it all, you can create a memorable experience that goes beyond just a flashy display.

 

 

What about turnkey booths?

 

 

While some exhibitors prefer full control over their booth display, many others opt for turnkey booths to eliminate the upfront work and focus on other efforts instead. A turnkey booth is a pre-built, fully equipped exhibit space that is paid for and ready to go when you arrive at a show. These booths typically include all the essential components such as walls, lighting, carpeting, and furniture – making it easy for exhibitors to simply show up and start promoting their business. CWCBExpo offers turnkey booths for exhibitors – inquire with us for the next show!

 

 

Your booth is a hit — now what? 

 

 

Attracting people to your trade show booth is just the first step for a successful event. Once you’ve captured someone’s attention, it’s important to make the most of your time by engaging with attendees and building relationships that can lead to future business opportunities. Here are some ways to do just that: 

 

 

  • Be approachable: Stand up, smile, and make eye contact to create a welcoming atmosphere. This will encourage attendees to approach your booth and start a conversation. It’s a good idea to look up and forward, and not look down at your phone, during quiet periods.
  • Leverage social media: Show off your booth on social media and invite others to engage with your company online. This is a great way to extend your reach beyond the trade show and increase your brand’s visibility.  
  • Collect contact info: Use a tablet, trade business cards, create a QR code, or offer a sign-up sheet to collect contact info from potential leads. This will allow you to follow up with attendees after the event and continue building relationships with potential clients or customers. 
  • Follow up: Reach out to leads after the event via email, Linkedin, or other communication channels. This is a crucial step in solidifying relationships with potential customers and converting leads into actual deals.  
  • Network with other exhibitors: If you have a team to operate the booth, take turns walking the floor and introducing yourself to other exhibitors to build new industry relationships. You can also schedule meetings during the show and attend panel discussions or Q&As.
  • Attend post-networking events: Participate in post-trade show events to network and build connections with attendees and exhibitors outside of the exhibition hall. Post-show events are a great way to catch up with people you met during the show and reinforce that first impression.

Bring home a Best of CWCBExpo Award for your unforgettable booth

Ready to put these tips into action? This year at CWCBExpo, your booth could be nominated for a Best of CWCBExpo Award. Unleash your creativity for the chance to be voted the winner of one of six booth superlatives, including:

 

  • Best Large Booth
  • Best Small Booth
  • Best Product Display
  • Most Interactive Booth
  • Most Unique Booth
  • Best Booth Swag

Not exhibiting at CWCBExpo but still want to get in on the fun? If you see a booth you want to vote for in one of these six categories, simply take a photo of it and post it to Instagram with the superlative you chose in the caption — and don’t forget to tag @cwcbexpo as well. Winners will be announced Saturday, June 3 during the final day of the show, and each will receive a framed certificate commemorating their unforgettable booth!

Bring your best to CWCBExpo

CWCBExpo is the premiere trade show for cannabis companies looking to showcase their brands and network with other industry professionals. With the show right around the corner, it’s time to start prepping your booth, designing your swag, and perfecting your pitch. Whether you’re a first-time exhibitor or an experienced vet, following these tips will help you to stay ahead of the curve and make meaningful connections. 

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