{"id":24448,"date":"2023-12-04T13:51:36","date_gmt":"2023-12-04T18:51:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cashcolorcannabis.com\/?p=24448"},"modified":"2023-12-04T19:32:14","modified_gmt":"2023-12-05T00:32:14","slug":"rolling-through-mjbizcon-2023-the-highs-the-hustle-and-the-handshakes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cashcolorcannabis.com\/2023\/12\/04\/rolling-through-mjbizcon-2023-the-highs-the-hustle-and-the-handshakes\/","title":{"rendered":"Rolling Through MJBIZCON 2023: the Highs, the Hustle, and the Handshakes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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I inhaled fresh vibes all last week! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone from everywhere in the cannabis industry was in Sin City for the 12th MJBizCon.<\/a> The annual event is the #1 global cannabis business conference and trade show, a week-long combination of expo, breakout sessions, parties, podcasts, and award shows. <\/p>\n\n\n

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The pulse of the industry boasts over 30,000 attendees, so my goal was to shake hands, high-five, and show my face. The importance of ancillary services is vastly underrepresented, so MJBizCon is an opportunity for anyone from anywhere to cultivate business connections.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I wanted to share my first time with the national landscape opening up and Georgia\u2019s growing interest in medical cannabis. So I hope this helps people of color in cannabis discover the best way to dominate all five conference days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dollars and Sense: Is MJBizCon a Wise Investment?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

It depends. The best time to consider attending the next MJBizCon (December 3-6, 2024) is now. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Before you blink, it\u2019ll be Halloween. The sooner you decide, the more you can save on conference tickets. For example, you can grab a conference and expo ticket for $399 or just attend the expo for $99 – if you buy them early.<\/p>\n\n\n

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To be transparent, I bought an expo-only ticket for $150 because I went to the Cannabis Marketing Summit<\/a> earlier in June. I wanted to follow up with people I met there and meet people I\u2019ve reached out to on LinkedIn or through cold email. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

My approach was casual, see who I could meet at the expo. But I did have an idea of who I wanted to speak to. You have to decide what is best for your cannabiz. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

A Brotha\u2019s First and Last Impressions  <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The line for MJBizCon exceeded my highest expectations. My first thought when I saw all the people waiting to enter North Hall on the first day was a flashback to Denver in 2014. The first day Colorado went recreational, there were hundreds of people waiting in line. The atmosphere wasn\u2019t quite the same, but the feeling in the air was indescribable. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Getting my badge was super easy; I scanned a QR code, and a nice black lady from Denver handed it over with the warmest smile I\u2019ve ever seen. Then I headed to the first-timer\u2019s open house (free event). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

I saw the Simple Pure New Jersey<\/a> Owner, Tahir Johnson, but didn’t get a chance to talk to him. I got my breakfast, did client work, and prepped until the expo opened. <\/p>\n\n\n

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For the next three days, I walked the expo floor. All communities were well-represented, but I will always advocate for more diversity, inclusion, and representation. The conference and afterparties did have:<\/p>\n\n\n\n