MJBizCon kicks off in Las Vegas amid economic turmoil, hopes of marijuana reform

Staff Writer
December 14, 2022.

MJBizCon attendees pick up their badges Tuesday for the 11th edition of the nation’s largest cannabis industry conference. (Photo by Alicia Fresquez)

MJBizCon, the oldest and largest trade show in the cannabis industry, officially opens Wednesday amid growing economic challenges and renewed hope that federal marijuana reform will help the industry in the wake of this month’s midterm elections.

Now in its 11^th year, MJBizCon runs through Friday and features more than 1,400 exhibitors, 70-plus hours of educational content and 180 speakers.

More than 380 exhibiting companies are new to the showcase this year.

The expo hall, the largest in MJBizCon history, spans nearly 280,000 square feet on two floors of the Las Vegas Convention Center’s South Hall.

It’s where tens of thousands of cannabis industry professionals will convene for networking, startup funding, strategic partnerships, insights on regulatory reform and the political landscape and other topics.

This year’s event arrives amid another critical juncture for the industry.

Cannabis companies, like others in mainstream sectors, are laying off workers and implementing other cost-cutting measures as prices for wholesale marijuana fall and recessionary concerns rise.

Meanwhile, the Biden administration has set in motion a process that could lead to revolutionary changes for federal marijuana policy.

The midterm elections, which often highlight the nation’s political polarities, provided a mixed bag of results on the marijuana front.

Among the many changes this year at MJBizCon, a new design divides the exhibition floor space into four distinct pavilions to help attendees find what they need:

Cultivation products and services.
Processing, packaging and lab services.
Retail and dispensary.
Business services.

“We can’t wait for everyone to see what’s new at MJBizCon – new exhibitors, a reorganized show floor, an outdoor patio,” said Jess Tyler, MJBiz’s senior vice president for events and sales.

“We really upped the experience this year.”

In a Wednesday highlight,

MJBiz CEO Chris Walsh

delivered his “State of the Industry and Predictions for 2023” in which he outlines the cannabis business environment and opportunities for future growth.

Other topics featured at the conference will include the recent elections, mature and emerging market difficulties and opportunities, strategies to overcome current headwinds and whether federal reform, particularly the passage of SAFE Banking Plus, is gaining momentum.

The main stage on Wednesday will feature in-depth discussions with cannabis industry leaders and successful mainstream executives.

Highlights include:

A fireside chat with Cookies co-founder and CEO Berner, an expert on branding and global expansion in the cannabis industry. The rapper, who recently sat down with MJBizDaily for a Q&A, will discuss how he and his brand have become influential.
Insights from Rhonda Kallman, a trailblazer in the alcoholic beverage industry with decades of business, branding and marketing expertise. Kallman, who was recently the subject of an MJBizDaily Q&A, founded the Boston Beer Co., producer of Sam Adams, and now runs Boston Harbor Distillery.
A “power panel” of cannabis business leaders including Wana Brands co-founder and CEO Nancy Whiteman; Ruben Lindo, founder of Blak Mar Farms; The Parent Co. CEO Troy Datcher; Toi Hutchison, president and CEO of Marijuana Policy Project; and Acreage Holdings CEO Peter Caldini.

Additional experiential exhibits include the return of the Hall of Flowers Experience at MJBizCon, First-Timers Open House, Innovations Product Showcase and the Exhibitor Spotlight Theater.

MJBizCon has also partnered with CannaVest to host the CannaVest Institutional Investment Conference for institutional and accredited industry investors.

Other notable breakout sessions off the main stage include:

Strengthening Social Equity in Cannabis Through Strategic Partnerships.
Deliver on Your Brand: Creating a Sustainable and Competitive Retail Experience.
Old Market, New Revenue: How U.S. Players are Finding Opportunity in Canada’s Cannabis Market.
Cannabis Investing Trends: How to Stay Ahead of the Curve.

MJBizCon also features a new scholarship program, pop-ups from Women Grow and Black Cannabis Magazine

, and networking events focused on women and Black entrepreneurs as well as other people of color. The MJBiz app and signage help attendees find women- and BIPOC-owned businesses on the expo floor.

Attendees can convene at one of two lounges, The Joint (first floor) and Elevation (second floor), to hydrate, plug in or meet up.

They can also visit The Patio at MJBizCon, a newly added outdoor gathering space to unwind, get fresh air or check out some cool experiences, including a 360 photo booth, yard games, DJs, drink options and food trucks.

The conference has a soft kickoff Tuesday with six preshow forums at the Westgate Las Vegas hotel, next to the Convention Center:

MJBizFinance Forum.
MJBiz Hemp + CBD Forum.
MJBiz Marketing Forum.
MJBizScience Symposium.
reMind Psychedelics Business Forum.
Associations Day.

More information, including registration details, speakers and session topics, is available here. Online registration remains open all week.

Chris Casacchia can be reached at chris.casacchia@mjbizdaily.com.

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DEA Announces How Much Marijuana, MDMA, Psilocyn, LSD, Mescaline, 5-MeO-DMT, MDA, 2-CB Can Be Produced For Research In 2023

Story by Lara Goldstein

The DEA has shared its final production quotas for research drugs for 2023 and is now aiming for further manufacturing goals of several psychedelic compounds than the already substantial increases regarding 2022 initially proposed, reported Marijuana Moment.

DEA Announces How Much Marijuana, MDMA, Psilocyn, LSD, Mescaline, 5-MeO-DMT, MDA, 2-CB Can Be Produced For Research In 2023© Provided by Benzinga

The compounds include marijuana, MDMA, psilocyn, LSD, mescaline, 5-MeO-DMT, MDA, and 2-CB.

The agency stated that it is “committed to ensuring an adequate and uninterrupted supply of controlled substances in order to meet the estimated legitimate medical, scientific, research, and industrial needs of the U.S., for lawful export requirements, and for the establishment and maintenance of reserve stocks.”

As such, 2023’s production quota numbers for psilocyn would go from the original 8,000 grams to 12,000 grams, 5-MeO-DMT from 6,000 to 11,000, MDMA from 8,200 to 12,000 grams, MDA from 200 to 12,000 grams, and 2-CB from 25 to 5,100 grams.

In the case of marijuana, the DEA suggested the production of 6.7 million grams -or 14,770 pounds- for medical and scientific purposes, more than double that of 2022. Licensed cultivators can now apply to become federal marijuana suppliers under the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA.)

Several companies have already made recommendations to raise DEA’s 2023 proposed quotas in view of pre-clinical and clinical research particularly for PTSD, TRD, schizophrenia and anxiety.

The proposal also received a comment regarding the creation of “diversified categories” for production and research on psilocybin-containing fungi fruiting bodies/sclerotia/liquid culture similar to cannabis (flower), fruiting body extract (akin to cannabis extract), and psilocybin and psilocyn separately as purified compounds (akin to delta-9-THC), as well as applying that same system for mescaline and other plants, fungi and lifeforms producing these compounds.

But the agency replied stating that the suggestions “do not impact the analysis involved in establishing” the production quotas for each substance.

Nonetheless, the DEA seems to be listening to what is taking place in the psychedelics space, as it has recently backed down on banning two psychedelic compounds claimed to have scientific value as well as a separate project to list five tryptamines as Schedule I substances.

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4 Hemp Club was Inspired by Steven Smith’s vision to

“Have an older generation 4H Club, where an older community of adults could carry on what the younger 4H Club envisioned.

Our 4H Platform Uses HEMP as an Agricultural Focal Point, deserving of research, development and with the

4 Hemp key points being Health Hope and Happiness, thru Hemp“.

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LOS ANGELES, CA October 11, 2021, Marijuana Company of America, Inc. Reprinted from a previous release 9/21/22

a diversified holding company with operations and investments throughout the cannabis industry, today

announced that the Company’s new hempSMART” Brazil operations has received product recognition from ANVISA,

the Brazilian regulatory agency equivalent to the FDA to sell its premium hempSMART” products via physician prescriptions in Brazil, the biggest CBD market in South America.

The Company has begun to fulfill prescriptions and expects continued requests. ANVISA, the Brazilian regulatory agency,

in 2019 established a legalized environment for the sale and consumption of CBD and cannabis for medical use in Brazil.

ANVISA Agência Nacional de Vigilância Sanitária

ANVISA is an autonomous agency that regulates most, if not all products and services in Brazil.

The institution assures that products follow the necessary standards and health regulations

before they can be sold to patients. hempSMART” products are available to physicians and patients in Brazil.

Cannabidiols are Legal in Brazil with a Prescription

The ANVISA regulatory framework sets a comprehensive procedure for the manufacture and import of CBD products as well as the requirements

for commercialization, prescription, dispensing, monitoring and supervision of cannabis products for medical purposes.

Cannabidiol (CBD) oil can be sold only in Brazil to cannabis medical patients who receive a special control prescription from their physician,

and must be renewed every 60 days. hempSMART” is now being shipped directly to the patient.

US

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“Have an older generation 4H Club, where an older community of adults could carry on what the younger 4H Club envisioned.

Our 4H Platform Uses HEMP as an Agricultural Focal Point, deserving of research, development and with the

4 Hemp key points being Health Hope and Happiness, thru Hemp“.

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LOS ANGELES, CA July 6, 2022 Marijuana Company of America MCOA; today announced that the Company’s cDistro distribution operating entity has signed a Master Distribution agreement with multi-brand cannabis eCommerce and marketing company Mellow, a subsidiary of CBD of Denver, Inc. (OTC: CBDD), a cannabis roll-up company. The agreement covers the launch and distribution of dosist health’s award-winning line of high-concentration CBD+ formulas & products and innovative delivery vape devices to the UK & Europe. Mellow will be doing this via its newly established Mellow Distribution division.

cDistro distributes CBD brands, along with smoke and vape shop-related products to wholesalers, c-stores, specialty retailers, and consumers in North America. Mellow group operates as a multi-brand eCommerce Marketplace, a full-service digital & performance marketing agency, as well as a market expansion service into the Asian markets and was recently acquired by CBD of Denver.

The Master Distribution Agreement is for both companies to launch and distribute dosist health’s award-winning line of high-concentration CBD+ formulas & vape products throughout the UK & Europe. dosist is a globally recognized, modern wellness company empowering people to naturally manage their health & happiness through dose-controlled cannabinoid therapy. dosist is best known for its targeted formulas, proprietary award-winning dose-controlled vape devices, rigorous testing, use of medical grade and recyclable materials, and their obsession with providing consumers with a safe, natural experience, all now available in its CBD products under the brand dosist health.

dosist was named by Time Magazine as “cannabis that could replace pills“, was recognized by Fast Company as a top 10 Most Innovative Companies in the health sector and was named by LinkedIn as the #2 Top Startup on the top 50 list of hottest U.S. companies to work for. dosist health also recently won the ECRM Buyers’ Choice Award for its CBD+ Vegan, Fast-Acting Gummies during ECRM’s Hemp/CBD Health & Beauty Care forum held this past November.

cDistro and Mellow will be distributing dosist health’s complete collection of high-concentration CBD+ formulas & vape products, specifically engineered to target the need-states of sleep, calm, and relief. The dosist health collection features three performance categories including dose drop CBD+ tinctures, a full suite of CBD+ fast-acting topical solutions, and their new rapid onset gummies that are vegan, non-GMO, and made with natural flavors.

MCOA’s Chief Executive Officer, Jesus Quintero, said, “Not only do we have several new exciting distribution brands and products coming down the pipeline in the CBD/Cannabis sector, but we now have the right partner on-point in the UK and European markets with deep distribution and marketing experience to help us ensure success as we actively build up our international distribution product portfolio on behalf of dosist health and their award-winning product portfolio.

“The UK & EU vape/e-cigarette markets and growing extremely quickly and according to Statista are forecast to be valued at $4.2bn and $11bn respectively by 2025, notwithstanding the UK & EU CBD markets are also growing extremely quickly.”, said Paul Gurney, CEO of CBD of Denver.

Gurney added, “As the vape product markets increasingly blend with the CBD market, we are seeing an increase in customer interest and a blending of purchase trends. We are excited to partner with MCOA’s cDistro, to exclusively bring the award-winning dosist brand to the U.K. and European markets. This is a top 3 US brand in the CBD / vape crossover category and allows us to expand our reach to our customers. And the opportunity to distribute the dosist health portfolio offers additional upside to us.”

About Marijuana Company of America, Inc.

Marijuana Company of America (MCOA) operates, invests, and acquires exclusively companies in the cannabis sector. The Company is a multi-state (licensed) operator and the parent company within the cultivation, distribution, and international consumer product sectors.

About Mellow

Mellow group operates as a multi-brand eCommerce Marketplace, a full-service digital & performance marketing agency, as well as a market expansion service into the Asian markets, added to which is its newly formed distribution division, mellow distribution. Recently acquired by CBD of Denver, mellow is playing a key role in expanding the CBDD business revenue streams, as well as diversifying the brand portfolio, as part of a commercial roll-up strategy. With offices in the UK and Switzerland, CBDD is able to offer an end-to-end service proposition for brands wanting to enter and/or operate across the UK / EU markets, including manufacturing, production, supply-chain, distribution, eCommerce, and Marketing.

About CBD of Denver, Inc.

CBD of Denver, Inc. owns 100% of Rockflowr a full-line Distributor of CBD and Cannabis flowers and a producer of a full line of CBD oil and unique products sold in Switzerland and throughout Europe. It also owns 100% of mellow, a distributor and eCommerce technology business in the global CBD and Health & Wellness space.

As a Cannabis Roll-Up company, CBD of Denver, Inc. is focused on using equity to acquire profitable assets at attractive valuations to create value for all our shareholders and is driven by a passion to improve lives and strengthen communities by unleashing the full potential of cannabis.

Through the Rockflowr brand, CBDD has been able to build a very strong European customer base by focusing on top-quality products and meaningful customer relationships.

Thank you for consideration.

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4 Hemp Club was Inspired by Steven Smith’s vision to “Have an older generation 4H Club, where an older community of adults could carry on what the younger 4H Club envisioned. Our 4H Platform Uses HEMP as an Agricultural Focal Point, deserving of research, development and with the 4 Hemp key points being Health Hope and Happiness, thru Hemp“. Cannabis CBD and Me

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#MJBizCon

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DEA Announces How Much Marijuana, MDMA, Psilocyn, LSD, Mescaline, 5-MeO-DMT, MDA, 2-CB Can Be Produced For Research In 2023

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There is a perception that licensed legal cannabis businesses are essentially printing money.

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