St. Louis, Missouri 2023

Cannabis is a capital-intensive game. Get inside the head of an investor to understand the due diligence they do before investing in your company. We will go from a novice in raising capital to an expert in 1 hour. Going forward, investors will be much more demanding of cannabis, CBD, & Hemp startups. They expect better internal controls and better accounting policies & procedures. Investors want to see plans for their audit trail.

It takes a village to raise a cannabis business. But who, and which tools, are a good match for your business? Join Sarah Bantz, an accountant with extensive experience in the cannabis industry, to review tech & institutional partner options to meet your accounting, sales, banking, cash, purchasing, financing, and HR needs. You’ll learn about options that specialize in the cannabis industry as well as those that expressly prohibit involvement. As Missouri’s market matures, new options—and new criteria— are becoming relevant. You’ll gain insights to navigate these options with confidence and learn insider industry context for your business planning.

As cannabis matures, the roles within businesses are evolving, too. The challenges for today’s cannabis CFO are often made more difficult due to the industry’s ongoing lack of available data, the ongoing dearth of access to capital and the difficulty of attracting top talent. In this presentation, Wana Brands’ CFO Sandy Li will provide an overview of how the CFO role has changed in the industry, the biggest financial management challenges and how companies will evolve with industry expansion.

We will cover key points on the different types of business entities and some of the important distinctions between them. The most common thing we hear when we ask how a business is taxed is an “I’m an LLC.” which is not a taxable entity. Education on entity structures can make it easier to secure capital, save on business and personal taxes and reduce or eliminate personal liability for business debts.

Chef Carl Hazel offers expertise in a wide range of culinary methods — including farm-to-table, whole-animal cooking, butchery and charcuterie, confections — as well as experience in cannabis infused creative menu creation.

Carl has honed his skills in a career spanning over two decades, during which he has worked and offered leadership in the kitchens at several of St. Louis’ favorite restaurants such as The Scottish Arms, 1111 Mississippi, Sqwires, Gamlin Whiskey house, and Oakedstl. Throughout his career, Carl has also competed in (and won!) some of the city’s best-known food events, including Taste of St. Louis and RFT Iron Fork (winner, 2011).

Post pandemic, Chef Carl made the decision to work in cannabis kitchens as Edibles Director for the newly commenced Revolt Labs, Housing brands such as Revolt edibles, Plain Jane chocolates, and Heliocentric concentrates.

What can set your company apart from all the rest? How do you minimize risk and maximize profits? How do you successfully market your brand? This panel discussion and Q & A session is focused on how to grow a successful business while also learning about the newest market opportunities and emerging trends. Whether it’s marketing, business strategy, growth, legal or financial considerations, etc this panel can answer those questions from first- hand experience.

Are you a small business owner or entrepreneur looking to market your product or service on a limited budget? In this presentation, we will discuss various DIY marketing techniques that can help you create a strong personal brand, generate engaging content, and build a loyal customer base without breaking the bank.

From chronic pain and cancer, to PTSD and anxiety, Duber Medical physicians are seeing the wide range of ways cannabis can offer relief to patients, without the side effects of traditional medication. Clinical evidence is growing that shows how this complex plant can treat or manage symptoms of those suffering from physical or mental health conditions in ways that current treatment options do not. Join Dr. Morris as she covers the history of medical marijuana, as well as emerging research, personal anec- dotes and her thoughts on the future of medical cannabis for those looking to heal better, naturally.

Marketing cannabis can seem overwhelming if you don’t know what you are doing. This presentation will go over what works, what doesn’t work and what will be a total waste of money. Avoid the pitfalls and shiny objects that end up costing you more than what you see in return. Bring a notebook and ask questions.

A security plan utilizing the minimum technology and operational procedures to meet compliance requirements with regulations should not be mistaken as a security plan designed to protect the people and property within a cannabis facility. No single state’s security requirements meet the physical protection standards utilized by every type of business. Most state requirements include antiquated and misunderstood elements for security compliance or fail to address many areas entirely.

New markets to cannabis can benefit from the mistakes made in the past. Capital needs will exceed projections and good record keeping, internal policies and procedures as well as prudent tax planning can help you succeed during these challenging times. This secession will help you develop best practices so that your company can grow and obtain investor confidence.

Cannabis Insurance? Is it legit? How much it costs? Why do I need cannabis approved insurance? What is required by regulation authorities? How reliable are the insurance carriers?
Common questions that are frequently asked by new and experienced operators, far too often many operations get insurance through “traditional” channels or through insurance agents who have no idea how the cannabis industry works. Learn what is needed and how to scale coverages as you grow.

It’s important more than ever to ensure there is a strong foundation for compliance in place, as newly awarded licensed operators enter the adult-use cannabis market. Whether you have been awarded a license, or are an existing operator or thinking about entering the market, Compliance is one of the most important factors when it comes to running a successful business under the regulatory microscope.

Learn the fundamentals and the pitfalls to avoid in developing a premium exotic flower grow facility and operation. Learn about facility development starting with selecting the correct property, the type of facility to build, how to precisely control the environment, and setting up a perpetual rotation and cultivation program. We’ll cover the (1) Facility (2) Genetics (3) Cultivation. Learn the 3 fundamentals for success in the premium exotic flower niche, the 5 fundamentals to building a premium exotic flower facility, how to set up the facility for perpetual rotation for monthly harvest and how to set up the facility to properly interact with genetics and cultivation.

Learn about the key issues facing cannabis retailers from someone who has been doing this for over 29 years, with a focus on removing as much cash from the equation as possible. Join us for some very “un-varnished” discussion about the options facing the industry today and how business owners can prepare themselves for the future. With Joe’s extensive experience in the payment industry, he will share both facts and his observations of the industry highlighting best practices for payment acceptance.

Cannabis is a capital-intensive game. Get inside the head of an investor to understand the due diligence they do before investing in your comapny. We will go from a novice in raising capital to expert in 1 hour. Going forward, investors will be much more demanding of cannabis, CBD, & Hemp startups. They expect better internal controls and better accounting policies & procedures. Investors want to see plans for their audit trail.