There’s no doubt the cannabis community loves to come together. Whether it’s a low-key sesh, a raucous concert, or a business-focused trade show, there are plenty of reasons to gather.
With nearly a month of 2024 already behind us, it’s time to start marking the calendar for the cannabis events on deck. These 15 conferences, festivals, and competitions are among the can’t-miss for the Year of the Dragon thanks to their killer line-ups, heady offerings, and high vibes.
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Hall of Flowers
Ventura, CA – March 13 & 14; Toronto, ON – June 4 & 5; Santa Rosa, CA – Sept. 27 & 28
The ultimate cannabis event for brands, buyers, and press, Hall of Flowers is truly unique thanks to its pro-consumption policy and on-site dispensary. Attendees can interact with product and discover the latest market innovations. A chill open-air layout, food trucks, and Iconoclasts speaker series make Hall of Flowers one of the hippest shows on the scene.
Spannabis
Barcelona – March 15 through 17
Known by many as the World Cup of Weed, Spannabis is one of the biggest cannabis events on the planet. Bringing tens of thousands of plant enthusiasts to historic Barcelona, Spannabis is part festival, part conference, and part sesh. The festivities are not limited to the sprawling Fira de Cornellá grounds but expand to every corner of the city at Barcelona’s legendary cannabis clubs.
NECANN
Boston, MA – March 22 & 23; Baltimore, MD – May 3 & 4; Chicago, IL – May 31 & June 1; Burlington, VT – June 14 & 15; Atlantic City, NJ – Sept. 6 & 7; Hartford, CT – Oct. 4 & 5; Grand Rapids, MI – Sept. 20 & 21; Syracuse, NY – Oct. 25 & 26
NECANN is one of the foremost business-to-business events for the cannabis industry. What started as a way for New England weed professionals to network evolved into a thriving conference series extending up and down the East Coast and as far West as the Windy City. The Boston flagship show is the first on the docket and will kick off a robust event schedule throughout 2024.
MJ Unpacked
Atlantic City, NJ – April 9 through 11
Attracting retailers, brands, investors, and media, MJ Unpacked is where cannabis business gets done. Focusing on high-impact programming, networking, and generating deal flow, this event is incredibly curated to provide maximum value. A unique experience hall allows brands to activate and attract potential partners—a gong on the wall rings out every time a deal is made, reverberating a message of “spark your expansion.”
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Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference
Hollywood Beach, FL – April 16 & 17
Centered on the ever changing world of cannabis investing, Benzinga events offer the latest updates from publicly traded marijuana firms, government officials, analysts, and market insiders. The conference attracts some of the biggest names in the business for two days of rapid-fire dealmaking and networking opportunities.
National Cannabis Festival
Washington, D.C. – April 19 & 20
Celebration the rich culture of Mary Jane, the National Cannabis Festival is an epic two-day experience full of music, art, and advocacy. Founded in 2015 as a way to honor the legalization of adult-use weed in D.C., the event soon became one of the premier 4/20 festivals in the nation. This year’s headliners include Wu-Tang Clan and Thundercat, promising to bring the smoke.
Lucky Leaf Expo
Minneapolis, MN – April 26 & 27; Albuquerque, NM – Sept. 27 & 28
Boasting dozens of exhibitor booths, expert speakers, and even infused cooking demos, Lucky Leaf Exop is a B2B cannabis industry show at the forefront of the market. The organizers emphasize education, designing an agenda specifically aimed at helping veteran entrepreneurs grow their businesses and newcomers enter the industry.
The Emerald Cup
Oakland, CA – May 4 & 5
Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, The Emerald Cup is California’s pre-eminent cannabis competition. The event began as a way to mark the harvest in the Emerald Triangle and soon grew to become the state’s most respected industry contest. Awards are given in 40+ categories, and the two-day celebration also features live music, dynamic speakers, and a bustling cannabis farmer’s market.
BottleRock
Napa Valley, CA – May 24 through 27
This three-day music festival may be focused on wine (hence the name), but adding a cannabis garden a couple of years ago has seen many a stoner gravitate toward the BottleRock grounds. Attendees can explore activations from a variety of California weed brands and place an order to be picked up right outside the festival gates. BottleRock is also known for its gourmet food stands, making visiting the cannabis section even more pleasurable.
The Flower Expo
Greenfield, MA – June 5 & 6; Allegan, MI – Aug. 7 & 8
The Flower Expo may be about business, but the vibes are higher than all else. It is the premier destination for East Coast and Midwest cannabis brands to connect with buyers and press. Attendees can sample the latest and greatest while enjoying an atmosphere conducive to connection. The after-parties are known to get rowdy and shouldn’t be missed.
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Mary Jane Berlin
Berlin – June 14 through 16
As Germany’s biggest cannabis event, Mary Jane brings business and culture together in a big way. As whispers of legalization have spread throughout the country, the show has expanded to become an important stop for industry professionals and advocates alike. The 2024 event is likely to be the largest yet, finding a new home at the spacious Messe grounds in the heart of Berlin.
Northern Nights Music Festival
Piercy, CA – July 19 through 21
Lighting up the mighty redwood forests of NorCal, the Northern Nights Music Festival is a nonstop party you have to see to believe. With a huge cannabis section, tons of trippy art, and beats lasting all night long, this festival is a go-to for the Emerald Triangle weed community and beyond.
Outside Lands
San Francisco, CA – Aug. 9 through 11
Another music fest with a cannabis twist, Outside Lands provides everything the Bay Area is best known for: iconic music, Michelin-rated foot, wine country libations, and plenty of weed. The sprawling Grass Lands area features numerous cannabis brands selling their wares, while a mini-stage poking out of a vintage VW bus provides plenty of entertainment for attendees seshing between main stage performances.
Legacy Cup
Minneapolis, MN – TBD Fall 2024
The biggest cannabis event in Minnesota, Legacy Cup is a hybrid contest, festival, and market. Much like its West Coast predecessor, the Emerald Cup, this Bold North weed event is setting the standard for the cannabis culture in the Midwest. While a date has yet to be set for the 2024 Legacy Cup, organizers are surely planning big things after a record-setting turnout in the fall of 2023.
MJBizCon
Las Vegas, NV – Dec. 3 through 6
If Spannabis is the World Cup, then MJBizCon is the Super Bowl. Bringing tens of thousands of cannabis professionals to Sin City, the annual trade show is one of the longest-running plant-based conferences in the space. In addition to the dizzying amount of attendees, even more people come to Las Vegas just to network and party. It’s truly a spectacle everyone working in weed should see at least once.
From coast to coast and around the globe, these cannabis events provide plenty of fun, camaraderie, and deal-making. Whether you’re a canna-curious wine drinker or a career cannabis professional, there’s something smoking for you.
