If you’re a cannabis aficionado or industry insider, odds are the NECANN Syracuse event on October 25th and 26th made your calendar. This year’s gathering, hosted in Syracuse at the expansive NY State Fairgrounds, showed off the charm and momentum of the Empire State’s thriving cannabis culture.
The venue itself was a sprawling space with tons of room for the event to expand – proving that NECANN is not just dialed in with the industry, but inclusive to the full-spectrum range of brands and businesses showcased at the conference.
The NECANN events mark a steady progression for this NorthEastern Cannabis Conference as they grow and adapt, slowly and purposefully building their footprint across established cannabis markets in the U.S. By adding new destinations in 2025, like Vermont and Maryland, they’re leaning into regional hotspots and bringing their mix of panels, exhibitions, and networking sessions to the communities driving the industry forward.
The 2024 NECANN Conference in Syracuse showed why this networking event works: it focuses on the local scene and brings people together, and the rest naturally follows.
Panel Spotlight: Weird Brains Science & Advocacy
NECANN is known for having inspiring panel discussions hosted and led by top entrepreneurs, CEOS, executives, and thought leaders in the industry.
One of the absolute standout moments was a panel discussion titled Weird Brains – a dynamic cannabis science panel featuring Dustin Powers from Good Life Gang, Dr. Riley Kirk and Dr. Miyabe Shields Ph.D of the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy, and Kate Avruch from Operator Academy.
Moderated by Cat Sidman from Good Life Gang, who expertly guided the conversation down the curious journey, the panel explored how cannabis interacts with the brain and advocated for better science communication in the industry.
Other panel topics of the weekend included “From Cure to Consumption: The Science & Technology Powering Plant-Specific Storage,” and Challenging 280E: Justification and Strategies for Amending Tax Returns.
A Growing Landscape of Cannabis Businesses
NECANN is notable for hosting a solid lineup of exhibitors and cannabis brands that represent both established and emerging companies in the local cannabis industry. This NECANN brought together the businesses that make up the New York cannabis industry, connecting like-minded cannabis enthusiasts to grow and deepen business opportunities and partnerships.
Many of this year’s NECANN in New York included booths that showcased the future of cannabis tech and products. Companies like DIME Industries and Sorting Robotics attracted curious attendees exploring the exhibitor halls with their innovative machines, showcasing how automation solutions simplify processing tasks.
As New York’s cannabis industry continues to thrive and expand, NECANN Syracuse is set to become even more dynamic and bigger each year.
Beard Bros. Afterparty at Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards
If there’s one thing you can count on in the cannabis world, it’s that the Beard Bros know how to throw a legendary afterparty.
This time, we teamed up with Good Life Gang and Future4200 to take the post-NECANN celebrations to the iconic Beak and Skiff Apple Orchards.
Sponsored by Solvent Direct, this event had all the right ingredients for a full-spectrum cannabis experience – a diverse community of those in the NY cannabis scene, quality cannabis from the state’s finest farmers, sweeping views of the upstate NY valley, and delicious products made from freshly picked apples!
As a 1,000-acre, fifth-generation family farm, Beak and Skiff set the scene with its mix of apple, hemp, and alcohol-based products, all cultivated right on their farm.
A whole mix of industry leaders and NY cannabis culture pushers gathered around the party after a successful NECANN event.
The Beard Bros team stayed at two of Beak and Skiff’s AirBnB houses, where we had the full upstate New York experience. We sparked up a couple of seshes overlooking the best view of upstate’s rolling hills and autumn foliage, right on the back porch.
Legacy Growers Afterparty at the Rail Line
On day two, the legendary Rail Line restaurant and bar kept the afterparty vibes going with an event that catered to both legacy growers and industry pioneers. With a garden growing on the rooftop of the building, the venue environment embodied sustainability and authenticity, reflecting what New York’s cannabis industry stands for.
Legacy growers happily shared flowers and concentrates from their latest stash, engaging in relaxed conversations that weaved together the classic and new elements New York’s industry carries.
Building the Future of New York’s Cannabis Market
For those who were there, NECANN Syracuse wasn’t just another cannabis conference – it was a celebration of New York’s cannabis culture. The weekend hosted a place where legacy growers, new brands, and industry enthusiasts shared ideas and insights, weaved connections, and planted seeds for future growth in the industry.
What stood out to us during the conference and especially this afterparty event, was that compared to the early days of the California market, the legacy operators and newer business owners didn’t shy away from connecting. It was their passion to exchange insights and updates on the industry with one another, which many from legacy California days know wasn’t always the case. To our team, that’s a testament to New York’s growing cannabis scene – it’s about community, collaboration, culture, and not competition.
As the cannabis industry grows across the North East, so will NECANN, and the Beard Bros team is stoked to be a Media Partner along for the ride.
Stay tuned for the next chapter in NECANN’s journey – catch the conference at two new locations in Vermont and Maryland in 2025!
Isabella DeChard is a writer & Certified Ganjier on a mission to advocate, educate, and elevate the power of the plant – to the cannabis community and its consumers alike. She offers creative content and writing that ignites the celebration and diversity of cannabis and everything it offers.
She is a proud digital marketer, writer, stoner, and creative artist under @btchyhippie.
You can find Isabella on her website here.
