Archives: Seminars
Ownership structures and cap table decisions can make or break a Virginia cannabis license application, but applicants often overlook these details until it’s too late. Vicente LLP partner...
Quality That Pays: How Post-Harvest Excellence Drives Profitability, Consistency and Brand Success
U.S. cultivators face falling wholesale prices, competition, labor challenges and rising consumer expectations. Many focus on genetics and expansion, but post-harvest handling holds untapped...
Lessons Learned for new Cannabis operators looking through a Risk Management lens.
I want to share the lessons we’ve learned from our experience paying claims for Cannabis operators. We’ve paid claims from Fires, Theft, Vandalism, poor packaging, Product delivery,...
Banking Without Banks: How To Use Bitcoin to Escape the Cash Trap
Card networks won’t touch cannabis, and most banks won’t either — leaving an industry running on cash that’s expensive to secure and risky to move. This session gives operators a...
Stop Trying to Win the VA Lottery — Start Trying Not to Lose It”: The Disqualification Traps That Decide Your Odds
Virginia’s cannabis lottery won’t be decided by luck — it will be decided before the draw, at the eligibility and completeness review where inconsistent ownership disclosures,...
Capitalizing On Rescheduling & GMP/GACP
In this talk learn about how to succeed during Rescheduling with GMP/GACP certification, which will become a necessity for many cultivators, processors, and manufacturers. Paritcipants will learn...
Tech Tools You Need to Start a Cannabis Dispensary in Virginia
Launching a cannabis dispensary in Virginia is an exciting opportunity—but the technology you choose can make or break your success. This session is designed for entrepreneurs preparing to open in...
From Start-Up to Growth: Accounting Need-To-Knows
While perhaps the least-glamorous part of business, proper accounting is critical, particularly in the up & coming cannabis industry. Whether you’re still in the start-up trenches or...
The Evolving Cannabis Landscape: Strategies for Sustainable Growth
The cannabis industry is evolving rapidly, with new regulations, tax challenges, and market dynamics reshaping how businesses operate. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the...
Making Scents of Odor Control: Evaluating Mitigation Technologies and Trade-offs
To address cannabis odors, many jurisdictions defer to operators to identify and implement appropriate odor control technologies, yet few comparative evaluations exist. Drawing on six years of...
Capital Is Not Operational Readiness: How to Turn Funding Into a High-Performing Grow
Securing capital and licenses does not guarantee that a cultivation operation is prepared to perform. Many funded projects struggle not because the plan was wrong, but because it was never built to...
Karen’s Crusade for Cannabis, TEAM CENTEX and Healing
Karen’s journey with Cannabis spanning five decades. Karen hopes to empower and encourage others to get involved in the legislative process by sharing her truth and motivations on why she...
Scale Smarter: Choosing the Right Extraction Equipment
Scaling a cannabis extraction operation isn’t just about increasing output—it’s about making the right equipment decisions at the right time. In this seminar, Robert Bonner of Xtractor Depot...
The Automation Trap: Why Most Cannabis Operators Automate at the Wrong Time
Every cannabis operator faces the automation question; usually pitched by a vendor at the worst possible time. Automate too early and you burn capital. Too late and margin compression eats you...
ESOPs in Cannabis: A Tax-Advantaged Exit Strategy for a Complex Industry
Cannabis business owners face a unique set of challenges when planning for growth, liquidity, and succession—limited buyer pools, regulatory complexity, and the ongoing impact of IRS Code 280E. An...
Cannabis in Virginia – the history and where its headed
Discover the captivating history of cannabis in Virginia—Trace the journey through 20th-century prohibition into the modern era: from medical in 2017 to decriminalization in 2020, recreational...
Beyond the Bud Counter: Best Practices for Modern Cannabis Retail
Best Practices for Modern Cannabis Retail is a practical session on how to create cannabis retail stores that are functional, compliant, visually memorable, and built for a better customer...
Beyond the Inspections: Building a Proactive Partnership Between Cannabis Operators and Fire Officials
In the rapidly evolving cannabis market, the relationship between facility operators and fire code officials is often viewed as adversarial—a series of expensive hurdles and red tape. However,...
Using AI to Build Smarter Cannabis Marketing Strategies
As AI tools become more accessible, cannabis businesses have an opportunity to market more efficiently without sacrificing authenticity. This session explores practical ways cannabis brands can...
Regulatory Whiplash: Hemp Trends, CBD Pathways, and the Road to Rescheduling
The cannabis and hemp industries are navigating a period of rapid and often conflicting regulatory change. Intensifying enforcement around synthetic and hemp-derived cannabinoids, renewed momentum...
Cultivating the Future: Advancing Cannabis Genetics, Breeding, and Sustainability Through Research & Advocacy
The future of cannabis cultivation depends on innovation in genetics, breeding, and sustainable production. This session highlights research on seed germination, seedling vigor, plant resilience,...
Deep in the Heart of DFW: Pioneering the Texas Consumption Lounge
As the legal landscape evolves, consumption lounges are emerging as the next major evolution in the Texas cannabis industry. This session explores the operational, legal, and social hurdles of...
Navigating the Virginia Licensing Process for Retailers & Microbusinesses
Virginia cannabis licensing is right around the corner. Like several other states that have recently legalized, VA is using a qualified lottery process to determine who will receive licenses. 100...
Before You Spend a Dollar : Financial Lessons from Women Cannabis Founders
Before you spend a dollar in cannabis, there are financial realities most founders learn the hard way. This session features women founders sharing real lessons on what went wrong, what it cost...
Is My Business Properly Covered? Protect What I Am Growing!
Cannabis Expo Presentation Guide:
• Property: protect buildings, equipment, inventory
• Product Liability: claims from contaminated/defective products
• General Liability: slip-and-fall,...
Everything You Need to Know to Apply for your Cannabis License in Virginia
Join Dr. Lucas McCann, CSO and Co Founder of CannDelta, for a strategic briefing on Virginia’s 2026 market. With applications opening Sept 1, navigating the licensing process requires regulatory...
How to Win in the Odor Game
What is cannabis odor? What are Terpenes? What are VOC’s? How does odor emanate from a grow facility- open field, greenhouse, and indoor facilities. Why cannabis odor is a flashpoint for the...
PA Adult Use Market Forecast
We’ll be discussing what will be coming for the future adult use market in PA based upon lessons from other states like NJ, NY, and MN all having undergone these changes. We’ll look at...
Biochar as a Multifaceted Solution for a Circular, Low-Carbon Cannabis Industry
The cannabis sector is rapidly evolving, with that evolution comes growing pressure to reduce environmental impacts, cut operational costs, and strengthen sustainable resource resilience....
The Future of Cannabis Finance: Deposits, Lending, and Trust in a Regulated Market
As cannabis markets evolve, financial services will play a decisive role in long-term success. This session examines why deposits remain essential today, how lending and treasury solutions will...
Safety & Risk: Synthetic, Converted, Natural Cannabinoids
Not all cannabinoids are created equal. This session clarifies the differences between naturally occurring, converted, and synthetic cannabinoids — addressing the science, safety data, and...
Master Environment and Maximize Yield
Effective control of your environment is essential for your plants to reach their full potential.
Water plays a pivotal role in each stage of your plants’ growth. We will look at the effect...
Beyond the First License: 3 Systems to Scale Your Cannabis Empire
Many entrepreneurs can open a cannabis business, but few can successfully scale one. Moving from a single location to a multi-state or multi-unit operation requires a total shift in mindset and...
Everything You Need to Pass Your OCM Inspection
Everything You Need to Pass Your OCM Inspection is a high-impact operational briefing built specifically for Minnesota cannabis operators who want zero surprises when regulators walk through the...
Insuring Your Cannabis Business: What to expect when insuring your businesss.
Understand the difference of traditional insurance vs cannabis insurance policies, common claim scenarios and MN State Insurance requriements, common coverage exclusions and insured...
The Fractional Compliance Model
Compliance in the cannabis industry can be make-or-break to maintaining the value of your license and avoiding regulatory fines and delays. The fractional compliance model allows operators to use a...
Building Minnesota’s Cannabis Industry the Right Way
This panel connects the dots between policy creation, regulatory interpretation, cultural roots, & real-world execution. Together, the architects, advocates, operators, & policy insiders...
Minnesota Employment Law
As we step into 2026, it is essential for cannabis businesses to revisit their understanding of MN Employment Laws. Ensuring policies are current, from worker classifications to employee handbooks...
Supporting The Surge: The Role of Ancillary Businesses in the Rapid Expansion of Cannabis
Supporting The Surge: The Role of Ancillary Businesses in the Rapid Expansion of Cannabis
Leveraging your ancillary partners to unlock growth and drive bottom line. Operators should be focused on...
Cannabis Workplace Foundations: Sops, Sanitation, and chain of custody
This Minnesota Cannabis College (MNCC) panel session introduces essential compliance and safety practices shared across both retail and cultivation environments. Participants will explore how...
Lessons Learned for new Cannabis operators looking through a Risk Management lens.
As the leading Cannabis Insurance Provider, along with my MN Insurance partner, Cannasure and Lake Group Insurance will educate the newly licensed Cannabis operators on what we’ve seen &...
Using Financials and Inventory Data to Optimize Your Cannabis Business
In an industry where margins are tight and regulations are complex, mastering your numbers can be a game changer. This panel dives into how cannabis operators can leverage inventory data,...
Cannabis Facility Financials
Launching a cannabis business without a financial plan is a gamble. This session covers CapEx to know your required investment and OpEx to control your “burn rate”. We explore how to...
Latest in Cultivation Facility Design and Operation
This presentation distills a decade of global cannabis facility design and operational experience into practical guidance for modern producers. It covers purposeful facility design, cost...
Safer and more secure facilities using attack and bullet resistant strategies
Through many years of providing interior finishes on projects like federal courthouses, banks, law enforcement centers, and private homes, Jason has acquired many different perspectives on personal...
Curing for Quality: SOPs That Protect Terpenes and Prevent Mold
Curing for Quality delivers a practical, repeatable SOPs for commercial cannabis curing, built around water activity, product temperature, ambient conditions and controlled airflow. Learn how to...
Living Soil Systems in Cannabis: Practical Constraints and Real-World Outcomes
Living soil systems offer potential benefits for cannabis production, but scaling them introduces real challenges. This seminar explores the practical constraints of soil-based systems in...
IPM best practices and pest monitoring
Early and accurate pest detection is one of the most overlooked factors in successful indoor and greenhouse cultivation. Many growers rely on reactive spraying instead of proactive monitoring,...
Medicine, Evolved: The Science of Cannabis Care
Dr. Morris will cover the science of cannabis as medicine, how it works, the body’s endocannabinoid system, as well as talk about the forms of administrations such as topicals, tinctures and...
Leveling Up Your Digital Presence in Restricted Markets
Marketing a counter‑cultural business isn’t just challenging — it demands courage, clarity, and a strategy more intentional than what unrestricted brands rely on. When platforms regulate,...
Keep Calm and Audit On: Turning Compliance Checks into Confidence
Calling all cannabis operators! Join us for a pivotal session that delves into the intricacies of audits and examinations, offering valuable perspectives on their distinct purposes, scopes, and...
The Evolving Cannabis Landscape: Strategies for Sustainable Growth
The cannabis industry is evolving rapidly, with new regulations, tax challenges, and market dynamics reshaping how businesses operate. This session will provide a comprehensive overview of the...
Investment Opportunities in Distressed Cannabis Sphere after Initial Licensing Rush and Early Investor Enthusiasm
As an emerging cannabis market matures beyond initial licensing euphoria, savvy investors are discovering compelling opportunities amid cannabis facility failures and consolidation. This...
Making Scents of Odor Control: Evaluating Mitigation Technologies and Trade-offs
To address cannabis odors, many jurisdictions defer to operators to identify and implement appropriate odor control technologies, yet few comparative evaluations exist. Drawing on six years of...
Tech Tools You Need to Start a Cannabis Dispensary in Minnesota
Launching a cannabis dispensary is exciting—but the tech you choose can make or break success. This session is for entrepreneurs 1–3 months from opening in Minnesota who want a reliable,...
Trademarks 101
An overall crash-course in trademarks. In this presentation, the following items are covered: trademark basics, the importance of registration of trademarks with the United States Patent and...
Decoding the Language of Business: Accounting for Cannabis Entrepreneurs
Accounting might not be everyone’s passion, but it’s the language of business. In this session, we’ll turn complex concepts into practical “ah-ha!” moments. Learn the basics, then dive into cost...
Cannabis Without the Complaints: Zoning, Odor Control, and Sustainable Industry Growth
As the cannabis industry expands, cities must balance economic growth while minimizing community impacts. Drawing on our experience consulting with municipalities on development of their cannabis...
Greener Pastures: Maximizing Opportunity in Minnesota’s New Adult-Use Cannabis Market
2026 marks a pivotal year for Minnesota’s cannabis entrepreneurs, operators, and investors. The state’s adult-use market has finally launched, opening new opportunities for business. Leading...
Creating a thriving cannabis facility workforce & planning for the unknowns
Stabilizing your facility workforce, tools/resources to create a thriving workforce, planning on the unknown production surges, transformational onboarding verses transactional, combatting...
5 Ways to Market Your Dispensary Like a Fortune 100 Enterprise
Learn how to market your dispensary like the country’s biggest retailers. This session breaks down five proven strategies Fortune 100 brands use to drive growth: like data-driven decisions,...
Empowering Growth: Financial Inclusion in Cannabis Banking
Explore how financial inclusion can drive sustainable growth in the cannabis industry. Erica El Hilali shares strategies for becoming more bankable, navigating compliance, and building strong...
Why Traditional Security Measures Are Not Enough
Learn how the shortcomings of traditional security measures
are negatively impacting the cannabis industry and discover
the most effective strategies to safeguard your business
investment using...
Market Specific Genetics, Breeding Advancements and Sustainable Cultivation
Take a deep dive into why stable & exotic genetics are so important! What is tissue culture and how can I take advantage of it. This will educate & teach growers how to achieve frosty...
Craft Cultivation Facility Design Considerations
In this seminar, Jennifer will go.over key considerations in designing efficient and easy-to-use indoor cultivation operations. She will describe how to proportion the plant rooms, how to ensure...
The CPA’s Blueprint for Building a Scalable Cannabis Business
This session offers a strategic framework for cannabis operators who want to build their business on a solid financial & operational foundation. The presentation lays out the essential...
Benefits of Microbial Metabolites in Cannabis Production
The importance of a biological interface to reduce abiotic stress, increase nutrient uptake and drive all phases of plant production systems. Cannabis grown indoor/outdoor/ soil, hydroponic are...
Protecting Your Cannabis Business: Physical Security Strategies for Compliance in Minnesota
As Minnesota’s cannabis market takes shape, licensed businesses are facing new compliance requirements that demand thoughtful, proactive planning. This session will walk you through the physical...
The Hemp Playbook: How Savvy Cannabis Brands Are Diversifying
As cannabis markets evolve, savvy operators and brands are building resilience with hemp lines. This session reveals:
– Unlocking new revenue streams
– Real Case studies of established Brand...
Protect yourself and your customers from emerging threats: Cyber Security Basics and Best Practices for you and your customers.
Learn how to protect your cannabis business and your customers from today’s most common cyber threats. This session breaks down essential, affordable cybersecurity best practices—no tech jargon...
The Future of Supply Chains: How Track-and-Trace Technologies Create Safer & More Secure Markets
Post-pandemic, govts worldwide realize that long-established constructs of the global supply chain infrastructure are vulnerable. How can we make supply chains more secure? For the US cannabis...
Before You Can Operate: Lessons Learned from Other States on Operational Pitfalls to Avoid
New cannabis license holders must address numerous factors before establishing a successful cannabis business. This session will cover lessons learned from other states regarding pitfalls to...
Our journey with AI
Learn how AI helps us run a smoother dispensary—no more constant staff retraining, confusing answers for customers, or social media headaches. From marketing content and SEO to secure, accurate...
How to Vet a CFO for your Cannabis Company
I will discuss the unique financial challenges that exist in the Cannabis Industry and the importance of a strong Fractional CFO. I will discuss the responsibilities of a CFO in relation to the...
State vs. Federal Taxation: Navigating the Complex Landscape for Cannabis Entrepreneurs
This presentation will provide cannabis business owners with a clear understanding of the complex tax landscape they face, focusing on the conflicting regulations between state and federal tax...
Cannabinoid Skincare
Join Mandy Lile, founder of Potency No. 710 and a seasoned aesthetician with over 20 years of experience working with nature-derived ingredients, as she delves into the role of cannabinoids in...
Keys to Raising and Deploying Capital in Cannabis
Gain vital insights into cannabis capital raising. This presentation reveals top investor concerns, legal and funding structures, and the five keys to securing capital. Learn to craft a compelling...
Minnesota Cannabis Institute’s Overview of the Regulatory Environment
Discussion of what stands out above the Minnesota Cannabis Industry vs. other places in the United States.
We also discuss challenges in this emerging marketplace and the key role Social Equity...
Kentucky Hemp Regulations
Kentucky has implemented new rules regarding hemp retailers, manufacturers, and distributors. They have implemented fees for each of these categories. There are also specific details that must be...
Advocating for Cannabis Reform
I will be showing a presentation on how to help change the cannabis laws. My goal is to educate and inspire attendees to take action and support cannabis law reform. The presentation will cover the...
Pitfalls to Avoid When Designing and Launching Your Cultivation Project
A new cannabis cultivation facility comprises hundreds of moving parts, each playing a crucial role in its success. This presentation will delve into the key areas that can make or break a...
Plants are not people: HVAC designed for Indoor Agriculture
Avoid mold, mildew and profit loss with your HVAC. Many of today’s indoor facilities focus on logistical layout in the design phase, with HVAC design being an afterthought. For performance...
Free money: Reduce cap-ex & op-ex with rebates
This seminar will examine why cultivators should pursue comprehensive energy rebates and incentives. Not only do rebates reduce businesses’ capital expenditure, they also limit operational costs...
Designing the Future: How Today’s Design Decisions Shape the Future of Indoor Cannabis Cultivation
In the rapidly evolving cannabis industry, cultivation facility design is increasingly essential to operational success. Bruys Henderson, an experienced designer, will share insights on optimizing...
The Role of Ancillary Businesses in the Rapid Expansion of Cannabis
As the cannabis industry evolves, ancillary businesses are increasingly pivotal in driving innovation and shaping the market. This session will explore how these companies, particularly in...
Navigating MN Labor Law and Preventing Labor Trafficking
Minnesota’s Department of Labor and Industry and Department of Health will provide new cannabis industry employers information about recent labor law changes, including sick leave, wage payment...
Connecting Inventory Control and Accounting through a Regulatory Lens
As the regulatory framework is being built in Minnesota, it is time to think about running a compliant cannabis business. Inventory control and accounting cannot be avoided, and this presentation...
Banking for Cannabis
Navigate the challenges facing the cannabis industry in lending, raising capital, payroll and deposit banking. Learn what to expect, and best practices when seeking a new Financial Institution...
7 Keys to Keeping Your Workers, Property and Business Reputation Safe & Secure
Simon is a former Director of Risk and Compliance, having worked for three of America’s largest financial institutions: Wells Fargo, US Bank, and Equiniti Trust Company. He is the author of two...
Microcloning Tools Every Grower Can Use to Make Vigorous Clean Clones For Massive Flowering, Storage, and Transport
Bill presents a simplified propagation system that every vertically-propagated cultivation can use to make all of the fresh pathogen-free clones they need and more without the resources given to...
Ensuring Your Cannabis Clears Regulatory Tests and Standards
Cannabis cultivation is tough, especially with safety and regulatory standards getting stricter every day. As the industry booms—and federal legalization seems inevitable—the call for clean,...
Ensuring Quality and Safety in Cannabis Products through Microbial Contamination Testing
Microbial contamination testing is essential for the cannabis industry, impacting product quality, brand reputation, health risks, and regulatory compliance. This presentation will explore key...
How AI is Personalizing the Cannabis Shopping Experience for a New Era of Retail
The cannabis industry, absent legacy tech infrastructure, is an ideal landscape to build and implement new technologies. The industry is well poised to be a leader in AI innovation, where the...
Post Harvest Environments – Busting Myths, Taking Control, And Improving Profitability
Post harvest is often an afterthought when planning a new facility and working in existing spaces. We struggle with variable climates and seasonal shifts. The key to controlling post-harvest is...
How To Prepare Now For A Strong Cannabis Brand in Minnesota
Although license winners are still being decided, the work on your brand and marketing starts now. In this workshop, cannabis marketing and branding experts guide you through the proper timeline...
Cannabis Is Real Medicine
Dr. Morris is a long-time proponent of medical marijuana and was an early supporter of California’s Proposition 215, which first legalized medical marijuana treatment for patients in 1996. Now in...
Odor Control Plans That Work: Essential Strategies for Cannabis Operators and Regulators
Odor control is a critical challenge for cannabis cultivation, affecting both business viability and community relations. With local jurisdictions prioritizing odor abatement for permits, cannabis...
