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Elevate Cannabis Industry Expo 2024: A Retailer-Led Summit for Canada’s Cannabis Community

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Elevate Cannabis Industry Expo 2024

On Tuesday, November 12, 2024, the Elevate Cannabis Industry Expo returns to Etobicoke, Ontario, bringing together the beating heart of the Canadian cannabis industry: retailers, budtenders, licensed producers, and brand professionals. Hosted at the Mirage Banquet & Convention Centre, this full-day summit promises to deliver an inclusive, solutions-focused experience designed by and for those navigating the real-world challenges of cannabis commerce.

With a mission to create transparency, connection, and collaboration, Elevate 2024 is the only cannabis expo in Canada organized by retailers themselves—an intentional move to reshape the conversation around what success looks like in a post-legalization landscape still filled with growing pains.


A Ground-Level View of Canada’s Cannabis Economy

Unlike large corporate expos that often cater to top-level executives and multi-state operators, Elevate focuses on the front lines of cannabis retail and production. It recognizes the gaps between policy and practice, between compliance and creativity, and between surviving and thriving.

Attendees can expect open dialogue, peer-to-peer knowledge-sharing, and access to solutions from professionals who’ve walked the same path. Whether you’re looking to fine-tune operations, increase budtender engagement, or position your brand for a crowded market, this is your space to ask questions, test ideas, and grow.


What Makes Elevate 2024 Unique?

🔹 Organized by Retailers, for the Entire Industry

This is not a top-down conference. Elevate was created by cannabis retailers who know the pain points of day-to-day operations, from shrinking margins to changing regulations. Their goal is to foster a setting where everyone from new budtenders to legacy LPs can share insight, challenge norms, and elevate together.

By prioritizing honesty, vulnerability, and actionable knowledge, Elevate is building a new standard for what cannabis conferences can achieve.

🔹 A Safe Space for Real Conversations

The cannabis industry has grown fast—but it hasn’t always grown equitably or sustainably. Elevate provides a supportive, judgment-free environment where professionals can discuss challenges and learn best practices without fear of stigma or gatekeeping.

Topics are expected to include:

  • Employee retention and training
  • Building trust between LPs and retailers
  • Supporting social responsibility at the store level
  • Realistic strategies for product sell-through
  • Managing burnout in a high-turnover industry

Event Highlights

📚 Classes & Workshops

Throughout the day, attendees will have access to hands-on sessions led by real operators and educators. These practical workshops cover everything from marketing strategy and product education to compliance updates and in-store sales tactics.

Whether you’re a store owner trying to increase foot traffic or a budtender interested in cannabis science, you’ll find relevant, skill-building opportunities at every level.

🤝 Networking That Matters

One of Elevate’s core missions is to create space for genuine networking and relationship-building. This isn’t about passing business cards—it’s about forming lasting connections that help you collaborate, troubleshoot, and evolve long after the event ends.

The expo floor and breakout areas will offer ample time to meet industry peers, discover new brand partners, and gain insight into what’s working across Canada’s cannabis ecosystem.

🚀 New Product Drops

Stay ahead of what’s trending. Elevate 2024 will feature new product launches, previews, and sampling from some of the most innovative cannabis brands in the market. This is your chance to ask questions directly to reps, explore new formulations, and find fresh products your customers will love.

For LPs and brand teams, it’s an excellent chance to get feedback from the people who actually sell and recommend your products every day.

🌱 Commitment to Social Responsibility

Education goes hand-in-hand with accountability. Elevate is committed to advancing responsible consumption, destigmatizing cannabis use, and promoting inclusion across all segments of the industry.

By equipping attendees with evidence-based cannabis knowledge and tools for consumer education, the summit reinforces the industry’s role in health, wellness, and community engagement.


Who Should Attend?

Elevate is ideal for:

  • Cannabis store owners and retail managers
  • Budtenders looking to grow their skill set
  • Brand reps and marketing professionals
  • Licensed Producers and craft cultivators
  • Ancillary service providers (tech, packaging, compliance)
  • Advocacy groups and cannabis educators

If you’re part of the Canadian cannabis supply chain and want to build authentic relationships, strengthen your knowledge base, and grow your impact, this is an event you won’t want to miss.


Event Details at a Glance

  • Event Name: Elevate Cannabis Industry Expo 2024
  • Date: Tuesday, November 12, 2024
  • Time: All Day
  • Location: Mirage Banquet & Convention Centre
  • Address: 1917 Albion Rd, Etobicoke, ON M9W 5S8, Canada
  • Admission: Industry Professionals Only (Retailers, Budtenders, LPs, Brand Teams, etc.)

Final Thoughts

In an industry where connection is often lost in the noise, Elevate Cannabis Industry Expo 2024 offers something refreshingly different: a human-first, grassroots-driven space where professionals can learn, connect, and lift one another up.

This year’s summit promises to be more than just another trade event. It’s a movement for collaboration, growth, and long-term success, powered by the people who know the cannabis business from the inside out.

If you believe the future of cannabis is community-led and education-forward, this is your chance to be part of it.

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Cannabis Events

Alternative Products Expo Returns to Miami, Showcasing the Future of Counterculture Consumer Goods

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Alternative Products Expo Returns to Miami

The Alternative Products Expo—the premier B2B trade show for the emerging counterculture market—is returning to Miami this April 3–5, 2025, bringing together some of the most exciting and disruptive forces in the alternative product space. Hosted at the Mana Wynwood Convention Center, the event offers a curated look at the products and trends shaping the future of wellness, lifestyle, and retail innovation.

From CBD and Delta-8 to functional beverages, kratom, and nootropics, this year’s Alt Pro Expo promises a high-energy showcase of category-defining brands, technologies, and wholesale opportunities—all set in the heart of Miami’s vibrant Wynwood district.


A Hub for Innovation in the Alternative Product Industry

As interest in nontraditional wellness and lifestyle products continues to grow, the Alternative Products Expo has positioned itself as the go-to marketplace for buyers, retailers, distributors, and entrepreneurs looking to explore what’s next in cannabis-adjacent and functional goods.

What’s on Display:

  • Cannabinoid-Based Products: Including Delta-8, THC-O, CBD, and hemp-derived THC products
  • Vape Technology: Innovations in disposable vapes, pods, and hardware accessories
  • Functional Beverages and Supplements: Nootropics, energy drinks, and adaptogenic wellness drinks
  • Mushroom-Based Products: Ranging from microdose capsules to infused gummies
  • Kratom and Plant-Based Alternatives: Legal herbal alternatives gaining traction in wellness markets
  • Smoke and Vape Accessories: Grinders, glassware, storage solutions, and more

Whether you’re seeking new suppliers, exclusive distribution deals, or early access to trending products, the expo offers unmatched networking and sourcing opportunities across multiple verticals.


Why This Event Matters

As traditional cannabis industry events become increasingly crowded, Alt Pro Expo stands out by spotlighting niche and emerging product categories that blur the lines between cannabis, wellness, and consumer packaged goods (CPG). This includes non-psychoactive alternatives, functional plant medicines, and legal psychoactives that sit just outside traditional regulatory frameworks.

This intersection of wellness, lifestyle, and retail innovation is creating new revenue streams for distributors and opening up paths for brands that want to reach health-conscious or exploratory audiences beyond dispensary walls.


Key Reasons to Attend Alt Pro Expo – Miami

1. Connect with Top Manufacturers

Meet face-to-face with leading producers and emerging brands in one-on-one settings designed to spark deals, test products, and explore collaboration opportunities.

2. Access Exclusive Trade Discounts

Vendors will be offering show-only pricing on inventory—making it an ideal time for buyers and resellers to stock up or expand their product categories without stretching budgets.

3. Stay Ahead of Market Trends

From legal cannabinoids to adaptogenic blends and digital detox products, this expo provides a real-time look at consumer trends that are influencing the wellness and counterculture retail landscapes.

4. Discover High-Margin SKUs

Alternative products like Delta-8 vapes, mushroom blends, and nootropics often carry strong margins and high turnover—especially when paired with educated marketing and customer engagement.

5. Explore Licensing and White Label Opportunities

For brands looking to enter new categories or scale production, the event offers introductions to contract manufacturers and private-label partners ready to assist with formulation, packaging, and fulfillment.


Event Details at a Glance

  • Name: Alternative Products Expo – Miami
  • Dates: April 3–5, 2025
  • Time: Thursday (12 PM – 6 PM), Friday & Saturday (11 AM – 7 PM)
  • Location: Mana Wynwood Convention Center, 318 NW 23rd St, Miami, FL

Who Should Attend?

The Alt Pro Expo is geared toward professionals involved in:

  • Cannabis retail and distribution
  • CBD and hemp businesses
  • Smoke shops and vape retailers
  • Natural product and supplement companies
  • Convenience and specialty store buyers
  • Wellness entrepreneurs and brand developers

Whether you operate a brick-and-mortar dispensary, a multi-platform eCommerce store, or you’re launching a new wellness brand, this expo provides direct access to the people and products driving innovation across legal and emerging markets.


Miami: The Perfect Backdrop

With its blend of international culture, progressive consumer demographics, and growing cannabis awareness, Miami is an ideal host city for the Alt Pro Expo. The Mana Wynwood Convention Center, located in the heart of the city’s famed arts district, offers attendees not only a central venue but also proximity to hotels, dining, and nightlife—making it easy to mix business with community and culture.


Final Thoughts

As cannabis continues to expand and adjacent markets evolve, events like the Alternative Products Expo provide a vital forum for industry education, deal-making, and trend forecasting. Whether you’re a seasoned buyer or an emerging brand, attending this year’s Miami show is an opportunity to engage directly with the products, people, and innovations shaping the future of alternative wellness.

For brands looking to expand distribution and retailers looking to stay competitive, this expo is more than a trade show—it’s a launchpad for what’s next.

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Token Tuesday Returns to Saskatoon: A Must-Attend Cannabis Networking Event for Prairie Professionals

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Token Tuesday Returns to Saskatoon

The Prairie cannabis scene is coming together this spring for one of its most anticipated industry events: Token Tuesday – Saskatoon. Taking place on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at The Barn at Wind’s Edge, this gathering offers a refreshing, community-driven alternative to traditional trade shows—blending education, connection, and celebration in one immersive evening.

Organized with the goal of fostering collaboration and expanding cannabis industry knowledge, Token Tuesday continues to grow as the premier cannabis networking event in Saskatchewan, attracting licensed producers, budtenders, buyers, and retail staff from across the province and beyond.


What is Token Tuesday?

Token Tuesday is more than just a trade show—it’s a regional industry mixer that creates a welcoming and approachable space for cannabis professionals to talk shop, exchange ideas, and build new relationships. Focused on real-time industry connections, the event provides opportunities for education, product discovery, and professional growth, all in a casual, music-filled setting.

Whether you’re on the floor of a dispensary, behind the scenes with a licensed producer, or part of a cannabis startup looking to grow, Token Tuesday is where industry people meet to spark conversations and community.


Event Highlights

🔹 Buyers’ Hour (6:00 PM – 7:00 PM)

Token Tuesday kicks off with a Buyers’ Hour, giving cannabis retail buyers a quiet window to meet face-to-face with licensed producers. This is the perfect time to:

  • Discuss upcoming product drops and exclusives
  • Explore pricing structures and distribution opportunities
  • Gain early insights into product line-ups ahead of the broader crowd

With the music turned down and the focus on business, this first hour provides serious networking for serious cannabis professionals.

🔹 General Admission (7:00 PM – 10:00 PM)

Once the main doors open, budtenders, store managers, and other retail staff are welcomed to explore booths, engage in educational discussions, and network with peers across the industry.

Attendees can expect:

  • Interactive brand booths
  • Product education sessions led by LP reps
  • Complimentary appetizers
  • A cash bar serving a curated selection of non-infused drinks

This segment of the evening emphasizes learning and collaboration, offering plenty of opportunities to ask questions, compare notes, and explore innovations in the Canadian cannabis landscape.

🔹 Networking Cocktail Party (10:00 PM – Midnight)

As the formal programming winds down, the Networking Cocktail Party kicks in. Featuring a live DJ, snacks, and a vibrant social atmosphere, this final portion of the night is designed to celebrate the community that keeps the cannabis industry thriving.

Bring your business cards, unwind with colleagues, and continue building relationships that go beyond the showroom floor. This is where small talk becomes collaboration and casual chats turn into strategic partnerships.


A Focus on Community and Charity

Token Tuesday isn’t just about business—it’s about giving back to the communities that support cannabis every day. All proceeds from ticket sales are donated to local charities, reinforcing the event’s commitment to social responsibility and impact.

This charitable approach aligns with broader goals across the cannabis industry to promote local reinvestment, health, and inclusion, and sets a positive tone for meaningful engagement throughout the evening.


Who Should Attend?

Token Tuesday – Saskatoon is open exclusively to individuals 19 years and older working within the legal Canadian cannabis sector, including:

  • Budtenders and dispensary staff
  • Retail buyers and managers
  • Brand ambassadors and LP representatives
  • Cannabis marketers, educators, and sales teams
  • Product developers and cannabis entrepreneurs

Whether you’re a seasoned industry veteran or just getting started, Token Tuesday provides a grassroots-level networking experience with real business value and a relaxed, community-forward vibe.


Important Notes for Attendees

  • Event Date: Tuesday, April 8, 2025
  • Time: 6:00 PM – 12:00 AM
  • Venue: The Barn at Wind’s Edge, Ballroom, Site 515, Comp 13 RRS STN MAIN, Saskatoon, SK
  • Age Restriction: 19+ only
  • Consumption Guidelines: To comply with LGCA regulations, attendees are asked to avoid mixing cannabis and alcohol during the event.

The venue is spacious, stylish, and easily accessible, making it an ideal backdrop for industry interaction and product exploration.


Final Thoughts

As Saskatchewan’s cannabis market continues to evolve, Token Tuesday – Saskatoon offers a valuable opportunity for cannabis professionals to reconnect, share knowledge, and strengthen their place in the industry. With a mix of buyer engagement, peer networking, and community giving, this event stands as a true celebration of Prairie cannabis culture.

For anyone looking to elevate their brand presence, expand their network, or simply learn more about the ever-changing cannabis space, Token Tuesday is the event to circle on your calendar.

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Cannabis Hospitality Summit Comes to Vancouver: Exploring the Future of Elevated Experiences

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Cannabis Hospitality Summit Comes to Vancouver

The convergence of cannabis and hospitality is gaining momentum—and this March, that intersection takes center stage at the Cannabis Hospitality Summit, a three-day event designed for entrepreneurs, professionals, and creatives interested in redefining the guest experience through cannabis innovation.

Held from March 14–16, 2025 at the iconic New Amsterdam Café in Vancouver, this summit invites attendees to explore the business and cultural potential of cannabis-friendly events, cafes, lounges, restaurants, and tourism destinations.

With cannabis normalization accelerating across Canada and globally, the summit arrives at the perfect moment to inspire new models of legal, immersive, and socially responsible hospitality rooted in plant-forward living.


A First-of-Its-Kind Gathering for Cannabis Lifestyle Leaders

The Cannabis Hospitality Summit isn’t just another industry expo—it’s a highly curated experience designed to ignite creativity, support collaboration, and explore what it means to welcome guests into cannabis-centered environments.

Whether you’re looking to open a cannabis café, develop a THC-infused tasting menu, or incorporate plant-based wellness into boutique hotel services, this summit brings together experts, innovators, and trailblazers who are already working at the forefront of this cultural evolution.


What to Expect at the Cannabis Hospitality Summit

Set against the historic and community-rooted backdrop of Vancouver’s New Amsterdam Café, the summit blends keynote presentations, panel discussions, interactive workshops, and exclusive networking sessions—all within a relaxed, inclusive atmosphere.

🟢 Key Focus Areas:

  • Cannabis Lounges and Public Consumption Models
  • THC and CBD Culinary Innovation
  • Cannabis-Infused Events and Experiences
  • Legal Compliance in Hospitality Spaces
  • Tourism & Destination Development
  • Wellness Integration and Spa Services
  • Customer Experience Design in Cannabis Environments

This is where the future of hospitality is being imagined in real time, offering insights not only for cannabis entrepreneurs, but also for restaurant owners, hoteliers, wellness professionals, and event planners looking to embrace cannabis as part of a premium, purpose-driven guest experience.


Who Should Attend?

This summit is ideal for professionals across a wide spectrum of industries:

  • Cannabis entrepreneurs looking to expand into hospitality
  • Hospitality executives and consultants exploring cannabis service models
  • Restaurateurs and chefs interested in infused dining
  • Event planners creating cannabis-friendly experiences
  • Wellness leaders and spa developers integrating cannabinoids into services
  • Brand builders and marketers focused on lifestyle and tourism
  • Policy professionals navigating compliance and zoning

Whether you’re launching a new concept or scaling an existing idea, the Cannabis Hospitality Summit offers tactical insights and visionary inspiration.


Why Vancouver?

Vancouver is a natural home for this emerging conversation. As a city with deep cannabis culture roots, progressive regulatory frameworks, and a dynamic tourism economy, it offers the perfect environment to explore responsible hospitality innovation.

The choice of New Amsterdam Café—one of Canada’s most iconic cannabis-friendly venues—adds historic and cultural depth to the event. The café has long stood as a symbol of advocacy, accessibility, and cannabis community-building, making it the ideal host for a summit focused on inclusion, creativity, and mindful entrepreneurship.


More Than a Conference—It’s a Movement

The Cannabis Hospitality Summit is not just about business. It’s about building a culture of intentional, elevated experiences that respect the plant, honor community, and reflect the shifting demands of today’s wellness-savvy, curious, and conscious consumers.

Attendees will engage in practical discussions around zoning, ventilation, and service models, but also in philosophical explorations of what cannabis hospitality could mean in a future where cannabis is as common as craft cocktails or wellness supplements.


Event Details at a Glance

  • Event Name: Cannabis Hospitality Summit
  • Dates: March 14–16, 2025
  • Location: New Amsterdam Café, 301 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC
  • Time: Begins at 8:00 a.m. Friday and concludes at 12:00 a.m. Sunday
  • Format: Keynotes, panels, workshops, networking, on-site activations

This is a 19+ event. Cannabis consumption will be permitted in designated areas where legally allowed.


Key Themes That Will Shape the Summit

🔹 Experience Design

What does a luxury cannabis lounge look like? How do you design for diverse audiences—curious first-timers and seasoned connoisseurs alike? Expect sessions on lighting, layout, scent management, and ambiance.

🔹 Education & Training

How do you responsibly train staff to serve cannabis in a hospitality setting? Dive into service protocols, menu curation, dosing education, and liability management.

🔹 Community & Culture

What does it mean to create inclusive cannabis spaces? Sessions will spotlight Indigenous-led projects, queer-owned businesses, and BIPOC leadership shaping cannabis hospitality from the inside out.


Final Thoughts

As more jurisdictions explore cannabis consumption lounges, infused dining, and on-site hospitality licensing, the Cannabis Hospitality Summit is timely, vital, and ambitious. It brings together visionaries and realists—those who believe cannabis is more than a product; it’s a social catalyst and cultural connector.

For anyone serious about shaping the future of cannabis-friendly tourism, events, or lifestyle experiences, this is the summit to attend. Expect big ideas, deep insights, and meaningful conversations that will help define the next phase of hospitality innovation.

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