The much-anticipated 2024 Ohio Cannabis Health and Business Summit wrapped up earlier this month and attendees are still buzzing from the experience.
The two-day trade show put a spotlight on the excitement of newly legalized adult-use (non-medical) cannabis in the Buckeye state.
More than 5,000 investors, industry experts, growers, business owners, patients, consumers, and other stakeholders flocked to the Cleveland I-X Center from October 4-5. Attendees had the chance to learn, network, and browse the 100+ exhibitor show floor with the latest products, technologies, and solutions in the market.
Dynamic Workshops and Panel Discussions
OCHBS Founder & CEO Lenny Berry, along with the help of cannabis marketing pro Cassie Tomaselli, thoughtfully constructed the schedule of workshops and panel sessions to blend takeaways for both B2B and B2C attendees.
The unique lineup of workshops and panel sessions provided the opportunity to deepen industry knowledge and engage in hands-on learning experiences for participants. Whether a working professional in the industry or a general consumer, the wide variety of topics had something for everyone.
Highlighting the need to expand production capacity to prepare for the demand stemming from legalization, Jeremy Shechter of Bickel Consulting, led his workshop titled How to Retrofit or Expand Your Cultivation Facility (While You Continue Operating).
Additional sessions included topics such as marketing compliance, the investment landscape, securing proper licensing for production, branding and marketing, and how to navigate IRS tax code 280E in this still federally illegal market.
Patients and consumers had the opportunity to sit in on panel discussions such The Art of Cooking with Cannabis which explored the intersection of cannabis and culinary arts with Stacy Primack of Elevated Fork and Joel Fink of Fantasy Candies. Another popular panel was Growing Your Own Cannabis Plants Outdoors or Indoors, which featured lessons from some of the industry’s most knowledgeable commercial growers and breeders such as Christine DeJesus of Galenas, Demetrius Harrington of Ascension BioMedical, Joshua Daniel Rutherford of Regenerative Seed Co. and Dutch Blooms, and Nick Risden of Lyme Rising Farms.
Networking After Party
Work hard, play hard–as they say. As the sun set on Day 1 of the summit, the networking heated up at the world renowned Rock & Rock Hall of Fame where OCHBS and Green Tie Affair hosted the event’s sold-out afterparty.
With lines wrapped around the building to get in, you could feel the energy radiating through the crowd while inside appetizers were shared, DJs played music, celebrities made guest appearances, and conversations were inspiring after a long day of learning.
The party’s impactful mix of industry professionals and cannabis enthusiasts from all over the country made it a night to remember.
Ohio’s Spotlight
The OCHBS couldn’t have happened at a better time given that Ohio is on the brink of being a powerhouse in the Midwest Cannabis market now that adult-use sales officially went into effect on August 6, 2024.
Ohio also has a strong competitive advantage in the Midwest given that the majority of its bordering states (with the exception of Michigan) are still medical-use only. It is projected that the market hits $1 billion in sales in the near term, with the expectation to become a $4 billion market in years based on an analysis by industry data provider Headset.
By uniting individuals from all corners of this burgeoning field, the OCHBS 2024 served as a Midwest cornerstone event to understand the state of the national cannabis industry while building on the momentum of a strong start to adult-use legalization in Ohio.
OCHBS is returning to Cleveland from October 3-4, 2025. For exhibiting and sponsor opportunities, contact Lenny Berry at lenny@ochbs.com.
Written by By Lisa Wilson
Featured Image courtesy of Raquel Cianci (LinkedIn)
