Cannabis World Congress and Business (CWCB) Expo returned to the Javits Center in Manhattan at a very decisive time for New York's cannabis industry.
New York state legalized adult-use cannabis in 2021, and coveted retail licenses are poised to be issued within months, which amped up the excitement at CWCB Expo for those aspiring to sell cannabis in New York state.
"We're seeing a lot of new entrants, we're seeing people interested for licensing, especially because they'll be licenses being offered," Christine Ianuzzi, the CWCBExpo CEO and show director, said.
In spite of pandemic-related setbacks, CWCBExpo has grown since its inception in 2015. In 2022, Ianuzzi said organizers expect 190 exhibitors and some 10,000 attendees in search of education, exposure, and networking. The conference also boasts a high-profile roster of speakers including New York City Mayor Eric Adams, Chair of the NYS Cannabis Control Board Tremaine Wright, Weedmaps CEO Chris Beals, and rapper and producer Redman, among others.
"This is an opportunity for those who were left behind to really participate in this industry. And we want to be clear, the magic term is 'equity.' Of those who were impacted by heavy-handed policing and had their lives destroyed, we need to make them whole," said Mayor Adams, commenting on New York's market during special remarks on Friday at the conference.
In a conversation with Gia Moron, the president of the cannabis networking organization Women Grow, Wright offered insight into conditional cannabis cultivation licenses.
"There is no cap. So, we're very clear in New York state that we are not trying to work from a place of scarcity. This is about opportunity," she said.
Wright also updated the timeline on the retail license application and distribution process, saying the state is "probably looking at mid-fall to begin accepting applications."
Something that Ianuzzi said sets CWCB Expo apart from other conferences in the space this year is the Women Grow Pavilion. Cannabis networking organization Women Grow invited about 30 women-run businesses to set up at the pavilion at no cost to them.
"Most of the women here are bootstrapping their own businesses and to participate in a trade show like this would be a lofty expense. So what's really fantastic is we donated our space to these women so that they can have access to all of the information and all of the resources that a trade show like this provides," said Tanya Osborne, Women Grow director of community.
One such business is Amagram Farms, which offers supplies and training for cannabis home grow.
"I'm getting much more visibility and, honestly, it has increased the amount of sales that I've also got, as well, because it's the only way that I can advertise my product," said Amagram Farms CEO and owner Ambra Melendez.
Another interesting feature is the education pavilion, where schools like Cornell University, Farmingdale State, and the University of Rhode Island can advertise their cannabis higher education programs.
Carlyn Buckler, associate professor at Cornell University's School of Integrative Plant Science said she still encounters people who don't know students can study cannabis in school.
"Cornell University came out with the first master's of professional studies in cannabis in 2019. And we were the first in the United States to do it. We are arguably the best plant department in the United States," she said.
CWCB Expo runs through Saturday, June 4, at the Javits Center.
