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BCBusiness + O'Cannabiz Conference and Expo Vancouver Event addresses the massive learning curve that everyone now faces regarding cannabis
The O’Cannabiz Conference and Expo Vancouver will be held at the Parq Vancouver Casino Resort from Dec. 9 to 11.
In many ways, Ottawa’s legalization of pot for recreational purposes has generated more questions than answers for potential business investors and others who are curious about participating in this new market—and that’s why the organizers of the O’Cannabiz Conference and Expo Vancouver believe they are staging a must-attend event at the Parq Vancouver Casino Resort from Dec. 9 to 11.
Neill Dixon, owner and founder of O’Cannabiz Conference, points out that he first launched his expo three years ago “when the medical marijuana industry was legal and a business conference was required to get the industry up to speed and dispel misinformation about everything from cultivation to retailing and investing,” he says.
“Now in 2018 with recreational consumers involved, the technology supporting legal and recreational use has suddenly become huge. In short, everyone is faced with a huge learning curve.”
The O’Cannabiz Conference has been structured to give delegates a clear idea of how Canada can retain its first-mover advantage as the emerging world leader in the cannabis market. During the event, more than 100 industry leaders will discuss issues such as tourism opportunities, aboriginal participation, quality control, brand building, workplace issues, corporate strategies and potential mergers.
The conference’s keynote speakers will include actor and former TV personality Montel Williams, who has been a medical cannabis advocate for nearly two decades due to his personal battle with multiple sclerosis. He will discuss his experience as an entrepreneur with Lenitev Scientific, his full-spectrum cannabis company.
Williams will be joined by Rebecca Brown, founder and president of Crowns; Bethany Rae Cornish, founder and CEO of Flower and Freedom Lifestyle; Ian Dawkins, president of the Cannabis Commerce Association of Canada; Abby Eptein and Ricki Lake, producers of Weed the People; and many other speakers.
The large number of informative sessions at the conference will include:
Constructing Your Cannabis Portfolio: Alpha Through the Smoke.
Impacts of Legalized Cannabis in the Hospitality and Tourism Industry.
Soft Sell: Building Your Brand Within Regulatory Limits.
Cannabis and Tech Today: How Innovation is Advancing the Industry.
First Nation Self-Regulation: The Indigenous Cannabis Panel.
Also on the schedule is Cannabis Meets Healthcare, a one-day forum aimed at the medical community looking to expand their knowledge and network. The forum will feature physicians, healthcare specialists, nurses, pharmacists, first responders, and government officials, who will provide information on how to best navigate the options and opportunities for patient care with cannabis.
Additionally, the conference will feature the first annual O’Cannabiz BC Bud Awards, which will showcase industry front-runners who have and continue to cultivate cannabis culture.
Danya Dixon, Vice-president programming at Canadian Music Week and the O’Cannabiz Conference, says that although it’s too early to determine exactly, ticket sales for the event are increasing daily. “We are very excited about the speakers and industry leaders we are bringing to Vancouver to share their expertise with the audience.“
Neill Dixon says: “We think the Conference will be a huge eye opener to many professionals and help give them the tools necessary to consider participating in this industry, which is morphing in very sophisticated and intricate ways.”