CannaDataCon

Why does nirvana look like for hemp and cannabis regulations? Watch Eric Berlin, Ian Dominguez, Brandon Harshbarger, Benjamin Larson, and Aaron Nosbisch discuss this and more from CannaDataCon 2024. #cannabisindustry #hemp #cannabisbusiness #hempbeverages #cannabisevents

I am back yall. After a little bit of a break and likely altering my content slightly I am back. I LOVE shooting events. There's just something about a conference/trade show that has people buzzing. There's an energy that's hard to put into words. Especially when there's a collective mission of the attendees. And CannaDataCon 2025 was no different. These are some of the people pushing to build an industry that is very much still in the first inning. The candid moments, seeing collaborations in real-time, the panels, and simply just floating around - these make for the true essence of an event. Yes, there is the shot list - you need to get those macro and detail shots, venue shots, people who ask for posed pics, and more. These are definitely important as they set the stage. But the raw moments that's the where the magic happens and I love that about shooting events. If I can essentially be a fly on the wall and capture that authenticity - that's a successful event in my eyes. Thank you Ian Dominguez and Delta Emerald Ventures for letting me tell the story of CannaDataCon 2025. It was truly an honor and my pleasure. It was also amazing getting to meet so many people in person finally!

A few weeks ago at CannaDataCon, Ian Dominguez discussed the potential growth of the THC category, using current results to highlight just how large this market can become. Following that conversation, we analyzed THC penetration in our stores. Despite our success—nearly 15% of our sales over the past couple months—fewer than 1 in 5 of our customers have purchased a THC product in the past year. Now, imagine the impact when we grow that number to 50%. At Top Ten Liquors, we've seen a direct link between education and category growth. Over 99% of our employees have completed our THC education course, helping both staff and customers navigate THC products safely and confidently. So the questions now are: How long will it take to reach the point where half our customers shop the category? What strategies will drive that growth? How do we partner together to make it happen? Let’s build this opportunity together.

I was fortunate to spend part of last week at Delta Emerald Ventures excellent CannaDataCon. This was my second time attending and I was once again impressed by my fellow attendees and the great content presented by Ian Dominguez, Trist'n Joseph, David A Campos, and Abdul Ahad Ahmad. I enjoyed catching up with Andrew Lowitz, Joe Khoury, Tyler Klimas, Shahbaaz Kara-Virani, Steven Kemmerling and Christopher Violas. I also got to meet lots of new people like Brandon Lewis, Silas Collins, Christopher Lackner, Michelle Bodian, Brandon Bobart ?? and many more. And a big thanks to Eric Meth for orchestrating another Surfside Running Club event. It's way nicer running in 70 degree weather than the 16 degrees at home!

The Trail Magic Minnesota team had such an incredible time at CannaDataCon in Miami last week. It’s so inspiring to see how explosive this industry has been in such a short amount of time. I’m very grateful to be involved in the beginning of something this impactful. As consumers are looking for something beyond alcohol, I think it’s important that we offer options for every single person that sits down at the bar. Whether that’s additional N/A or THC skus, my time in Miami reminded me of the importance of low dose THC beverages. We cannot minimize the possibility of people’s interest to try these on a night out when they can’t be hungover the next morning, or if they’re just looking for a smaller social buzz. The future is very much green, and I’m looking forward to expanding my knowledge and footprint wherever I’m able. Cheers!

Hats off to Delta Emerald Ventures for another fantastic CannaDataCon! This is one of the rare conferences where you’re guaranteed to walk away smarter than when you arrived. Huge thanks to Ben Larson and AnnaRae Grabstein for expertly moderating our panel and podcast on the regulatory convergence of cannabis and hemp. It was a pleasure sharing the stage with Michelle Bodian and Darwin Millard—great insights all around! #CannaDataCon #Cannabis #Hemp #Regulations

Last week, I had the opportunity to attend CannaDataCon in Miami, where this year’s focus took a significant shift toward the Hemp category, specifically Hemp beverages. Once again, Ian Dominguez did a fantastic job bringing together thought leaders from across a growing variety of industry segments. One of the highlights for me was seeing the legacy Alcohol & Beverage professionals approach the category with such reverence. Hearing industry veterans like Jon Halper, Rebecca L. Maisel, Stephen Jabour, and others discuss the space—and their recognition of the need for education throughout the supply chain—was incredibly reassuring. As we continue expanding our support for top retailers and brands in the hemp space, one big question remains: Where does this leave the traditional cannabis market? My take? This is the wake-up call the industry needs. If dispensaries don’t prioritize value-driven retail experiences—through education, curation, and engagement—customers will explore other options. If I owned a dispensary, I’d be laser-focused on creating an experience that excites and engages true cannabis consumers. That means: ?? Elevating education ?? Strengthening connections between brands and consumers ?? Turning novices into aficionados The 80/20 rule applies across industries—investing in the right areas drives real revenue and profitability, as Seth highlighted below. Traditional retailers, if they continue to educate, seem poised to have success with more casual cannabis consumers. But If you’re feeling uncertain about the future of your dispensary, shoot me a DM. I’d love to share why I’m optimistic about both Hemp and traditional THC thriving together.

I hearby declare CannaDataCon to be renamed CannaBevaCon! This now annual pilgrimage to Miami Beach has become a mainstay in my conference schedule, and it has yet to disappoint. Incredibly well-curated panels, guest list, and weather (we’ll give em the credit for that) paired with a never ending flow of infused beverages. It’s one of the few conferences I wish was longer so I could have time to see all the talks and meet with all the attendees. Well done, Delta Emerald Ventures team, and thank you for allowing Vertosa to support the cause. Already looking forward to next year! Huge shout out to our beverage partners for helping keep the conference hydrated and throwing one heck of a happy hour and closing beach party! ?? FIND WUNDER, Flowerboy by Loverboy Inc., Flyers Cocktail Company, GRAV?, Houseplant, High Rise Beverage Company, Keef Brands, Lolli Soda, Louie Louie, PAMOS BEVERAGE CO., Sweet Justice, Trail Magic, Uncle Arnie's, and Calmezzi and Five Flowers by Drink Modern Technologies ????

CannaDataCon 2025 Wrap-Up: A Crystal Ball for Cannabis Tech & Market Trends Another incredible year at CannaDataCon! This conference isn’t just an event—it’s like looking into a crystal ball that lets you see a year and a half into the future of the #cannabis and now #hemp industries. The conversations here don’t just reflect where we are today; they predict where the market will be before most even realize it’s shifting. With even more markets and perspectives in the mix this year, the insights were sharper than ever. Here are some of the key takeaways from this future-focused gathering: Key Takeaways from the Show: The Resilient Remain The cannabis industry isn’t for the faint of heart. The ones still pushing innovation forward in this space are a rare breed—navigating uncertainty with passion, adaptability, and sheer persistence. It’s not getting easier, but the resilient aren’t going anywhere. New Markets = New Tech Stacks Emerging markets like NY and NJ aren’t following the same SaaS stacks as mature or national markets. These states are building from scratch, meaning new cannabis tech opportunities are everywhere for those who can meet market-specific needs. Local & Community-Centric Tech Wins New markets = rapidly changing regulations = bespoke tech needs. Operators often prefer partners who live and breathe their market’s challenges over broad, one-size-fits-all solutions. (Shameless plug: CannabisRegulations.ai helps businesses keep up with evolving compliance!) Seeing new markets with tech stacks that are unlike the macro tech stacks. Delta-9 & Hemp Are Reshaping the Industry Hemp-derived cannabinoids are changing the game for regulated THC in ways that can’t be ignored. Some of these shifts favor consumers, some benefit hemp operators, and some challenge licensed cannabis businesses. Either way, the industry is evolving fast. Consumer Education is a Growing Challenge More cannabinoids, more products, more regulations—and a consumer base struggling to keep up. Educating customers is no longer just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a must for brands looking to build loyalty in an increasingly complex market. #CannabisData = The Ultimate Competitive Advantage With regulations, banking, and e-commerce constantly shifting, data is the key to navigating uncertainty. Those who embrace data-driven decision-making will be the ones steering the industry, while others are left scrambling to react. This year’s CannaDataCon was once again the best place to get ahead of the curve—a real-time look at where the market is headed before the rest of the industry catches up. The conversations, the connections, and the contagious innovation made this another unforgettable datacon. Kudos to Ian Dominguez and all of Delta Emerald Ventures for putting on such a great conference! Cheers to so many new and old friends we were able to connect with! I need to take better and more pictures!

?? The future is here and now in the form of hemp-derived THC beverages. ?? It was so refreshing to speak at Delta Emerald Ventures' CannaDataCon 2025 put on by Ian Dominguez and his razor-sharp team. It feels like the old cannabis industry in the early days - the difference is that we can get to CPG scale in an all gas, no brakes fashion given the (relative) lack of federal roadblocks. The team at Frontier Risk was privileged to be amongst so many friends, clients, and colleagues talking about our unique insurance solutions and expertise for cannabis and hemp-derived THC beverages. We're able to be great risk advisors because we've manufactured those beverages ourselves, so we know where things can go wrong (and right). Especially great seeing: AnnaRae Grabstein Jason Dayton Haiva Marks Dennis O'Malley Ben Larson Jon Halper Christopher Violas Krista Raymer Shahbaaz Kara-Virani Craig (Lewie) Lewis ???? Diana Eberlein Aaron Nosbisch Barnaby J Hawken Brett Gelfand Ty Gilmore Theo Terris Lisa Hurwitz Joseph Reynolds Eric Becker Jennifer C. Alexi Chialtas Matt Skinner Niall Little Danielle Bernstein Colby Watkins Ryan McFarland Brandon Lewis Kyle Cooke Brad Nichols Luke Macfarlan Cameron Clarke Justin Crouch Ken Daley Let's build some infrastructure together. cc: the best cannabis risk advisors Isaac Bock Eric Schneider, MBA, MS Max Meade, CICS Xan Cuevas Peter Berg