CannabisNewsWire Recaps NCIA’s 7th Annual Cannabis Business Summit & Expo

To great acclaim, the National Cannabis Industry Association (“NCIA”) held its 7th Annual Cannabis Business Summit & Expo at San Francisco’s Moscone Center on December 15-17, 2021. As the oldest and largest trade association representing legal cannabis businesses, NCIA gathered together more than 125 expert speakers in over 80 educational sessions, as well as hundreds of exhibitors from across the cannabis ecosystem, for the industry’s most influential B2B event and trade show. Attendees from across the country were welcomed by San Francisco Mayor, London Breed. Her opening address honored the 30th anniversary of the Proposition P ballot initiative, which was instrumental in legalizing the use of medical cannabis in San Francisco. “I’m thrilled to see the industry return to San Francisco, where the movement for medicinal cannabis use began,” stated Mayor Breed. “I’d like to thank NCIA for welcoming me to the stage and for hosting their annual Summit here in San Francisco. Their events help advance our industry in a myriad of ways across social equity, policy, and other important issues while helping connect industry leaders from across the globe.” As part of its speaker line-up, NCIA’s 7th Annual Cannabis Business Summit & Expo presented two high-profile keynote sessions focusing on the future of cannabis and essential issues. The first session featured Troy Datcher, CEO of The Parent Company. In conversation with Adrian Farquharson, founder of MARY Magazine, Datcher shared his personal stories while enlightening attendees on his work to make an impact within the sector. The second keynote showcased a round-table discussion with entrepreneur Jim McAlpine moderating elite athletes Calvin Johnson Jr., Rachael Rapinoe, Anna Symonds, and Marvin Washington. As former members of the NFL, NCAA, European Professional Soccer League, and Women’s Premier League Rugby, the group provided insights into the headline-making question, “What is the role of cannabis in professional sports?” This year’s event also marked the debut of BLOOM: A Cannabis Brands Experience, showcasing a uniquely immersive sensory exploration. For the first time at Cannabis Business Summit & Expo, attendees were able to see, touch, and smell products from a national selection of cannabis brands specializing in flower, pre-roll, oil, edibles, and more. BLOOM allowed licensed retailers and infused product manufacturers to discover some of the most exciting cannabis brands currently on the rise. Looking back on this highly-anticipated, successful event, Aaron Smith, Co-Founder, and CEO of NCIA, provided the following comments: “In a word: amazing. I am truly amazed at the show of support from cannabis leaders from across the country over the last three days,” said Smith. “Attendance exceeded expectations, and never have we hosted such an esteemed group of speakers and exhibitors on the leading edge of this booming sector.” For more information on NCIA and upcoming events, visit the following website: https://cannabisbusinesssummit.com.