In the cannabis industry, there’s nothing like in-person events. The crowd is not only highly motivated but spirited in a way that’s unlike other professionals. At events like MJBizCon, it’s a time for cannabis brands across the US to come together and grow together – pun most certainly intended.
Of course, in a highly competitive market with companies needing to squeeze everything they can from their budgets – it’s best to enter the event locked, loaded, and fully prepared. So, if this is your first time attending MJBizCon or you’d like a do-over from your last…this is the guide for you.
Keep reading to learn more about the MJBizCon and get insider tips and tricks from Vape-Jet brands on how to master the event for success.
What is MJBizCon?
Put simply, MJBizCon is like the Superbowl of cannabis events. Annually, it draws over 30,000 cannabis professionals from around the world, transforming Las Vegas into a hub of green innovation for a few days. For 2024, the event will be held December 3-6 at none other than the Las Vegas Convention Center.
Attendees can expect a packed schedule featuring hundreds of exhibitors showcasing cutting-edge products and services across all sectors of the industry. The event offers a diverse lineup of keynote speakers, panel discussions, and workshops covering topics from cultivation techniques to regulatory updates and emerging market trends.
This year, the conference’s theme is “Fuel Your Fire”, and is set to ignite the industry with unparalleled networking opportunities and education. Whether you’re a seasoned cannabis entrepreneur or just entering the field, MJBizCon offers invaluable insights and connections to help navigate the rapidly evolving cannabis landscape.
The Best Practices For Attending MJBizCon
With the comparison to the “Superbowl” in mind, you wouldn’t roll up to this year’s Superdome unprepared, would you? The same should go for MJBizCon. So, here are 4 best practices to help you “win” at the industry’s biggest event.
Make a Plan
“The event can be overwhelming with so many booths and endless opportunities, so it’s important to know which companies you want to connect with beforehand,” explains MJBizCon veteran Triahna Johnston of 3WINCorp, who’s attended the event for seven years.
MJBiz helps make navigating and planning a roadmap for exhibitor stops simple by organizing the vendors in industry classifications. Meaning, the following groups all have their own respective areas in the hall:
- Cultivators
- Processing packaging and lab services
- Business services
- Retail and dispensary
Jesce Horton, the owner of The LOWD, community activist, cultivator with STAYME7O, and 9-year MJBiz attendee, agrees and shares one piece of advice for new attendees: “Make a schedule and prioritize based on your goals.”
On the same note, be sure to add Wednesday’s keynote session, “Empowerment + Innovation: Reshaping the Cannabis Industry While Championing Diversity and Inclusion,” to your “must-see” schedule, where Horton is featured as a speaker alongside Carmelo Anthony and others.
Be Prepared
It’s not just classes and booths you want to visit that you should plan and prepare. It’s what you’ll need on hand to make the day much smoother, too. Johnston shares that she never leaves home without two essentials: her portable charger and business cards.
“You’ll meet so many people, and handing out physical cards helps you stand out and make a lasting impression. The phone charger is essential because between using your phone for emails, appointments, and photos, your battery will drain quickly—so you’ll want to stay powered up throughout the day,” Johnston explains.
Network Everywhere
Johnston goes on to explain the importance of networking, not just with your planned meets, but with nearly any and every attendee you come in contact with. “Don’t forget that a lot of important business happens off the show floor, whether it’s at company events or industry parties. Build relationships and network—you’ll be surprised by how many valuable connections you can make,” she continues.
To do so, be conscious of the exhibitor hall hours, and maximize the time you can spend on the floor to increase the number of potential partners or customers you meet. Or as Horton would say, “It is what you make it.” So, make the most of the time as you can.
Pace Yourself
If there’s one thing Johnston has learned from nearly a decade of attending MJBizCon, it’s the fact that it’s “a marathon, not a sprint.” She goes on to share an extra piece of advice for those attending the event for the first time.
“Keep your evenings open for networking at after-parties or industry events, as that’s often where the real business happens. Staying hydrated and taking breaks are key to surviving the long days,” says the seasoned event attendee.
Connect With Vape-Jet At MJBizCon
Now that you have all the insider tips and tricks you need to make the most of MJBizCon, we’ve got one final tip: make the time to meet with the industry’s leading automatic vape and dab dispenser manufacturer. Luckily, you’re in the right place!
Get in touch to schedule a meeting with the Vape-Jet team, or find us in the exhibitor hall at booth 2438. There, you can get an up-close-and-personal demo of our equipment fleet, boosting productivity (and sales) in facilities across the US.
Not attending MJBizCon? You can check out Vape-Jet anytime by visiting our website or sending a message to schedule a demo.
Our MJBizCon Notes by Year Since 2021
To give you an idea of what to expect on the floor, here is a look back at our notes, memories, and biggest highlights from each year since 2021.
MJBizCon 2021: Vape-Jet Has Entered the Game
MJBizCon 2021 marked a massive milestone for us as we arrived with our very first dedicated booth on the expo floor. Set against the backdrop of nationwide labor shortages and supply chain disruptions, we offered attendees much-needed automation solutions by showcasing the Jet Fueler 2.0, the upgraded Vape-Jet 3.0, and our new Squish-o-Matic 1000 capping machine. It was an incredible opportunity to connect directly with our hardware partners like AVD and BeGreen Supply, and to hear firsthand from dedicated customers about how our machines were actively changing their daily workflows for the better.
MJBizCon 2022: Vape-Jet Has Leveled Up
By 2022, MJBizCon was an absolute powerhouse event with over 30,000 attendees, and the Vape-Jet booth was packed from start to finish. We proudly featured our fully-automatic Vape-Jet cartridge-filling machine and the semi-automatic Jet Fueler, drawing in massive crowds of industry professionals actively looking for ways to scale their production.
This year represented a major shift in our brand’s evolution. CEO Ryan Hoitt recalled that in 2019, our executive team had to smuggle brochures into the event and rely on guerrilla marketing just to get noticed. By 2022, the narrative had completely flipped—attendees were purposefully seeking us out to find solutions for their operations, proving that high-quality automation was no longer just a novelty, but an industry necessity.
MJBizCon 2023: Vape-Jet Returns to the Arena
In 2023, the atmosphere at MJBizCon felt distinctly different. While the overall crowd size was slightly smaller than in previous years, the attendees were highly serious and deeply committed to advancing their businesses. This dedicated environment made it the perfect stage to showcase our latest technological advancements, including the Vape-Jet 4.0, the Jet Fueler 3.0, and our sleek new Flight Deck base cabinets. The undeniable star of the show, however, was the debut of our Dab Dispenser, a machine engineered for ultimate jar-filling efficiency.
The true highlight of the week happened off the expo floor during an after-hours networking event. Embracing our innovative spirit, our team transformed the Dab Dispenser into a one-of-a-kind dab-dispensing slot machine. By retrofitting the machine with a 1960s-era slot arm and custom coding, it became an interactive crowd favorite that perfectly captured the Vegas vibe and sparked conversations all week long.
Looking back, the 2023 convention was a powerful reflection of our growth as a company. As our CSO Devon Reid noted, when we first attended in 2020, we easily blended into the crowd. Three exhibitions later, we found ourselves standing as recognized industry leaders, with some of our earliest skeptics transforming into our most loyal customers.