Riding high from sold-out and rave-review-receiving events in New Jersey, Chicago, California, and most recently in Ohio, the highly insightful IgniteIt: Market Spotlight touches down in Washington, D.C., on November 17th, 2025, for a one-day B2B networking and educational session just steps from the National Mall at the Hilton at 480 L’Enfant Plaza.
Pulling up to the nation’s capital for the first time in the history of the Market Spotlight series, this event is being dubbed as the “Cannabis Capital & Policy Summit”, and true to form when it comes to legalized weed, there will be a heavy dose of law and money talk.
Sure to be a hot topic for discussion will be the ongoing obstruction occurring in neighboring Virginia, where the state passed a law to legalize the possession of recreational cannabis, as well as legalize the home growing of cannabis, with instructions to lawmakers to establish a regulated commercial recreational cannabis market asap. Officials in the state have, so far, twice presented the governor with their plans for such a framework, and every time they do so, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R-VA) vetoes the plan.
This aligns with the Conservative gov’s anti-cannabis stance, but comes to a clash this year as Virginians will be voting for a new governor, and Youngkin isn’t in the race. His Lt. Governor Winsome Earle-Sears, also a Republican, is running in his stead and vows to keep killing all efforts to stand up a taxed and regulated cannabis market, calling the plant a “gateway drug” that “decimates communities”.
Clearly, change cannot come soon enough in Virginia, and when it arrives, it will certainly have an impact in D.C., Maryland, and beyond.
A pressing issue, to be sure, but far from the only industry-relevant topic that will be taken on at Market Spotlight: Washington, D.C., presented by IgniteIt. In fact, this one-day banger of an event will offer 15+ keynote speeches, fireside chats, and moderated discussion panels covering the full spectrum of cannabis news, culture, business, and innovation.
A few talks we are looking forward to include:
- Rescheduling Playbook: How Top Brands Are Staying Ahead of Risk & Scaling for What’s Next
- Capital in Transition: How Investors Are Positioning for Cannabis’ Next Wave
(This talk features a friend of Beard Bros Pharms, Seth Yakatan, who is one of the only heads we know that spends as much time on the front lines as we do!) - The Grand Bargain: Solving the Farm Bill Loop Hole Debate With a Focus on Safety & Responsibility
More than 50 of the brightest minds in business and cannabis have been tapped to take the mic and tackle these timely topics, representing all facets of the industry.
As promotional partners, our team at Beard Bros Pharms is proud to support the effort and the vision that IgniteIt brings to maturing and established cannabis markets across the country. Like many who will be in attendance, Beard Bros Pharms is a multistate brand, and even though we pull double duty as the industry’s most trusted media source as well, we always walk away from IgniteIt events with a fresh take on where things are at, and more importantly, where they are headed.
Decimate? No, Cannabis BUILDS Communities and IgniteIt Market Spotlight: Washington, D.C. Offers a Blueprint
The entire event runs from 7:30am to roughly 5:15pm, including an hour for lunch, with a cocktail party then kicking off and running until around 6pm. The full schedule is packed with activations that are sure to intrigue connoisseurs and entrepreneurs alike. Of course, this is a non-consumption event, but the night will be young once the crowd hits the town.
If you are interested in learning more about this event and future IgniteIt Market Spotlight events, visit https://www.cannabismarketspotlight.com/ often to see which cannabis market will be next in the spotlight!
