Since recreational cannabis was legalized in Massachusetts in 2016, the state has quickly developed a cannabis culture that is warm, welcoming, and focused on wellness.
Additionally, there is an awareness of the advocacy and social equity needed to correct the racial injustice in the cannabis space. You can see it in local dispensaries as well as at cannabis industry events.
This year, there will be several cannabis events held in Massachusetts, but this blog will highlight three especially notable events that speak to Massachusetts’ cannabis culture.
New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN)
The New England Cannabis Convention (NECANN), also referred to as “The Annual Meeting of the East Coast Cannabis Industry” – will be in Boston on March 10-12. This convention actually tours throughout the eastern United States, stopping in Connecticut, Vermont, Illinois, Maine, New Jersey, and New York.
The exhibit hall will be packed to the brim with hundreds of companies in the cannabis and hemp industry, and over 120 guest speakers will be featured. If you are looking to learn, there are five full programming tracks across all three days that you can choose from.
If that’s not enough, ticketed workshops, after-parties, and networking events will keep you occupied all weekend long.
Additionally, the New England Cannabis Community Award Show, held on Friday, March 10, will honor individuals and organizations that have been working to make the New England cannabis community and industry a better place to be.
Past awards have included: Champion in Corporate Social Responsibility, Champion in Diversity & Inclusion, Scientific Achievement, and Healthcare Professional of the Year.
NECANN Boston – 2023 New England Cannabis Convention, March 10-12
Waiting to Inhale: Cannabis Legalization & the Fight for Racial Justice
The MIT Libraries will be inviting authors Akwasi Owusu-Bempah and Tahira Rehmatullah to sit down with host and Restorative Resolution Coordinator in MIT’s Institute Discrimination and Harassment Response Office, Nina Harris, to discuss the fight for racial justice in the cannabis space.
Owusu-Bempah and Rehmatullah co-wrote Waiting to Inhale: Cannabis Legalization & the Fight for Racial Justice — an anthology of stories focused on individuals and communities affected by the War on Drugs, as well as the victims, legal and political activists, and cannabis entrepreneurs who are fighting back.
This free event will dive into the tangible changes that can (and must) be made in order to reverse the detrimental impact of the War on Drugs. If you can’t make the event in person, no worries – the event will also be available on Zoom.
New Opportunities in Cannabis Industry Hiring & Networking
Networking events are a great way to get your foot in the door in any industry, and the cannabis industry is no different. Luckily, there is a series of networking events this year that are specific to the cannabis industry.
Make note of the following dates and locations:
- Thursday March 23rd, 2023, 6-10 pm at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA
- Thursday June 1st, 2023, 6-10 at the Mass Mutual Center in Springfield, MA
- Thursday September 7th, 2023, 6-10 pm to be determined in Taunton, MA
- Thursday December 1st, 2022, 6-10 pm at the Boston Winery in Boston, MA
This networking series aims to create opportunity in areas disproportionately impacted in Massachusetts and is available for both businesses and individuals alike. This is a great way to make connections in the cannabis space while expanding your horizons in the industry.
Want to learn more about what makes Massachusetts dispensaries so great? Check out our previous blog about why Capeway Cannabis is Massachusetts’ best, and join the wave!