Sin City Hosts Marijuana Business Conference

From hand-held marijuana breathalyzers to a “Shark Tank”-style pitch session hosted by Ben & Jerry’s co-founder Ben Cohen, entrepreneurs and private equity bigwigs gathered to show off the latest innovations and gadgetry in the burgeoning pot industry at the National Marijuana Business Conference and Expo. Hosted in Las Vegas, the industry-insider show sold out, drawing more than 2,000 attendees.

Billed as “America’s First and Largest Cannabusiness Show,” the conference presenters sought to provide “models for developing authentic, honorable and accountable companies associated with the marijuana industry.”

Initially estimated at 1,500 attendees (for invited professionals only), the third annual show surpassed its expected ticket sales to entrepreneurs and major private investors from more than 30 U.S. states and 10 countries. The dynamic event ranged from presentations regarding how to “better market to women and Baby Boomers” — a profitable and currently overlooked group of consumers — to the looming “invasion by Big Pharma, tobacco and alcohol industries.”

Sessions also included the nuts and bolts of the administrative side of the marijuana business, at times more challenging than traditional commercial ventures with its distinctive legal constraints surrounding funding, insurance, security, banking, taxes and legal representation.

Although the federal government has yet to catch up with legalized pot, the business sector has spoken—cannabis has arrived. The next Marijuana Business Conference and Expo is scheduled to take place in Chicago May 19-21, 2015.

Please visit mmjbusinessdaily.com/conference for more information about the Chicago event.

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