1 00:00:03,840 --> 00:00:07,080 Welcome to Cannabis School. I'm your host, Jesse Angeles. 2 00:00:07,280 --> 00:00:10,040 And I'm Brandon Elder, and we're here to talk to you about 3 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:13,440 everything pertaining to cannabis from vape, flower, 4 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:16,840 edibles, strains and everything in between. 5 00:00:22,200 --> 00:00:23,840 Welcome, welcome, welcome, everybody. 6 00:00:23,840 --> 00:00:29,840 We are so excited. We have Jess from MJ Bizcon here 7 00:00:29,840 --> 00:00:33,880 with us. We couldn't be more honored and 8 00:00:33,880 --> 00:00:36,360 thrilled at the exact same time. We're going to be able to hear 9 00:00:36,360 --> 00:00:39,520 about so many different things. But before I go really in detail 10 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:43,040 with that one, Brandis give us a proper introduction for Jess. 11 00:00:44,040 --> 00:00:46,920 Oh, proper introduction. Yeah, tell everything, man. 12 00:00:47,560 --> 00:00:50,120 Everything about. I don't know everything about 13 00:00:50,120 --> 00:00:51,760 Jess. That's what she's here for. 14 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:54,560 Her favorite color is what? Black. 15 00:00:54,880 --> 00:00:57,200 I mean, that's like, the best color, OK? 16 00:00:57,200 --> 00:00:59,720 And her favorite food? Chinese food. 17 00:00:59,960 --> 00:01:01,600 There you go. See, now we can go into the 18 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:06,160 proper stuff about business. So MJ Bizcon, Jess, Brandon, 19 00:01:06,160 --> 00:01:09,920 tell us about MJ Bizcon, tell us about Jess, and then let's just 20 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:14,480 get right into the questions. Man, yeah, so this is their 12th 21 00:01:14,480 --> 00:01:19,640 year of MJ Bizcon here. It started back in Colorado. 22 00:01:19,640 --> 00:01:24,240 They had about 400 people. Last year they had over 30,000 23 00:01:24,240 --> 00:01:28,440 people and it's been in Vegas since about 2014. 24 00:01:28,920 --> 00:01:33,200 And this year they have notable guests like Martin Luther King 25 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:38,000 Junior, the 3rd. So they have some I know, I mean 26 00:01:38,080 --> 00:01:39,960 the first one, Scepter and a hat. 27 00:01:40,960 --> 00:01:43,280 I mean, they might make one. That'd be cool. 28 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:45,880 That'd be cool. Specific for MG Biz Con. 29 00:01:47,160 --> 00:01:48,920 That'd be cool. Like a big MJ over there and 30 00:01:48,920 --> 00:01:50,560 it's green. Kind of glistening. 31 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:53,840 That'd be awesome. Don't love it till you try it. 32 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:59,040 Yeah, I know, right? So Jess, you're the CFO? 33 00:01:59,720 --> 00:02:03,400 No. CRO CRO, yeah. 34 00:02:03,400 --> 00:02:10,360 So I oversee the MJ biz brand and specifically the events as 35 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,400 well. So it's the experience Part 2. 36 00:02:14,320 --> 00:02:18,080 So and she you're you're also in charge of the Chief Experience 37 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:20,480 Officer as well, right? Yes, exactly. 38 00:02:20,920 --> 00:02:22,920 Yep. So basically all things MJ biz. 39 00:02:22,920 --> 00:02:25,720 That's probably the best way to put it. 40 00:02:25,720 --> 00:02:30,760 Just all things MJ biz, Yeah? So what inspired the creation of 41 00:02:30,800 --> 00:02:34,360 MJ Biz? You know, it's I love telling 42 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:39,720 the story because the the founders who aren't full time 43 00:02:39,720 --> 00:02:41,960 with the business anymore, but they started it. 44 00:02:41,960 --> 00:02:45,000 Two women, Anne Holland and Cassandra Farrington. 45 00:02:46,200 --> 00:02:50,800 In Colorado and Denver in 2011 and actually we started there 46 00:02:50,800 --> 00:02:54,680 with the publication because they felt like we needed that 47 00:02:54,680 --> 00:02:57,720 they could see the business side coming down the Pike and that 48 00:02:57,720 --> 00:03:01,760 this was a real industry that needed love and attention and 49 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,520 also just the forum for people to get together and you know 50 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:06,960 entrepreneurs to grow their business. 51 00:03:06,960 --> 00:03:10,000 So they started focusing specifically on the business 52 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:12,760 side, you know of course like? High Times was out there. 53 00:03:12,760 --> 00:03:15,960 I mean there are a lot of consumer brands you know for for 54 00:03:15,960 --> 00:03:19,640 media, but they said OK, we want to focus on seed to sale, you 55 00:03:19,640 --> 00:03:23,720 know, cultivation, processing, retail and help people out for 56 00:03:23,720 --> 00:03:25,760 all the things that they might need to run a business and 57 00:03:25,760 --> 00:03:30,160 because they saw it coming. And then sure enough 2012 hits 58 00:03:30,160 --> 00:03:33,560 and you know Colorado legalizes, that's the first year we have an 59 00:03:33,560 --> 00:03:37,040 event and you know it just takes off from there and it's been a 60 00:03:37,040 --> 00:03:40,160 wild ride ever since. That's way cool. 61 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:44,680 I I think about especially when they started out what it was 62 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,280 like for them thinking I mean it's a big bet because even 63 00:03:47,280 --> 00:03:50,960 though it was growing, it's still a big bet and to see where 64 00:03:50,960 --> 00:03:55,320 it's come to now, I mean I can only imagine because they are no 65 00:03:55,320 --> 00:03:58,240 longer into the day-to-day operations kind of sounds like 66 00:03:58,240 --> 00:04:02,280 you know maybe it was a buyout, A merger or whatever was that 67 00:04:02,280 --> 00:04:05,880 happened like I would be hard it would be hard for me to leave 68 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:10,080 that baby. I mean, I I yeah, the founders, 69 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,240 they might, they might think differently of, like how the 70 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:14,160 events are running today as and when they used them. 71 00:04:15,440 --> 00:04:18,399 Yeah, I mean it's they've they've been involved with the 72 00:04:18,399 --> 00:04:20,920 progression. So you know, for them, I think 73 00:04:20,920 --> 00:04:24,520 it's, it's definitely been a, you know, very joyous growth, 74 00:04:24,560 --> 00:04:27,280 but as anyone who's worked in this space knows like. 75 00:04:27,840 --> 00:04:31,160 In cannabis years, you know, 1212 years in cannabis years is 76 00:04:31,160 --> 00:04:33,080 like 35. I swear. 77 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:37,160 I I mean because things are changing and moving so quickly 78 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:40,080 especially if you're you know being a media organization, 79 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:42,400 which we are primarily, we do have the event obviously. 80 00:04:42,400 --> 00:04:46,320 But I mean we're we're turning out Daily News like monthly 81 00:04:46,320 --> 00:04:49,800 magazine and and just keeping up with that and who who's in the 82 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:54,240 space, who's leaving the space. You know it's one year here is 83 00:04:54,720 --> 00:04:57,400 in in cannabis in general. I feel like it's like 5. 84 00:05:00,520 --> 00:05:02,720 They were. They felt like they it was about 85 00:05:02,720 --> 00:05:05,440 time. So we were actually acquired by 86 00:05:05,720 --> 00:05:09,240 a median events company that's headquartered in New York in 87 00:05:09,240 --> 00:05:13,160 January of 22. So I stayed on with the brand to 88 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,760 continue to oversee things and now we have, you know, much 89 00:05:15,760 --> 00:05:19,360 larger support from a bigger parent company. 90 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:22,480 The larger would have been sending more money, right? 91 00:05:23,280 --> 00:05:26,640 Yep. Yeah, to put on a better event 92 00:05:26,640 --> 00:05:29,480 for all of you guys, because it's, it's what it's about, 93 00:05:29,480 --> 00:05:31,840 right? It's an experience and I mean, 94 00:05:31,840 --> 00:05:33,440 you've got to be able to fuel that. 95 00:05:33,440 --> 00:05:36,920 And it's so awesome that this company had seen the potential 96 00:05:37,160 --> 00:05:39,080 that this has. They're like, man, we could. 97 00:05:39,400 --> 00:05:41,280 I mean, not to sound like they're a bunch of greedy 98 00:05:41,280 --> 00:05:45,640 bastards, but they are like we could milk this really well and 99 00:05:45,720 --> 00:05:48,360 and really give the audience what they want, give the 100 00:05:48,360 --> 00:05:51,840 consumers what they. Yeah, you know we look at it 101 00:05:51,840 --> 00:05:54,080 every year just kind of like with the MJ Biscon side 102 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:56,280 especially. We sit down and start fresh 103 00:05:56,280 --> 00:05:59,160 every year and you know there is no said it and forget it or 104 00:05:59,160 --> 00:06:03,080 rinse and repeat because we have to look at like what does the 105 00:06:03,080 --> 00:06:06,200 industry need from us. We don't take this, you know, 106 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:10,160 responsibility lightly to where we're trying to help and that's 107 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:12,960 at the end of the day the content and the connections that 108 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:17,000 we're trying to put out there. It's the the medium in which we 109 00:06:17,000 --> 00:06:21,120 do that, you know, changes from print to digital to in person 110 00:06:21,120 --> 00:06:23,040 events. But at the end of the day, we 111 00:06:23,040 --> 00:06:25,960 have the same mission, which is really to help cannabis 112 00:06:25,960 --> 00:06:29,360 professionals and entrepreneurs really succeed in this business. 113 00:06:29,480 --> 00:06:31,720 Would have been some of the biggest like challenges with 114 00:06:31,880 --> 00:06:33,720 putting on a cannabis focused event. 115 00:06:34,720 --> 00:06:37,480 I mean the well, the elephant in the room is, is the legality, 116 00:06:37,480 --> 00:06:40,360 right? Like when you are the large 117 00:06:40,360 --> 00:06:44,040 world's largest cannabis business event. 118 00:06:44,640 --> 00:06:48,200 They're you're under a microscope in a lot of ways and 119 00:06:48,560 --> 00:06:51,960 so we need to make sure that we're doing things the right way 120 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:54,480 to because that that reflects on the industry. 121 00:06:54,880 --> 00:06:59,240 You know, we want to show kind of more that the mainstream 122 00:06:59,240 --> 00:07:05,760 event world and a lot of local and and state government 123 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:09,080 officials that like this is a very professional business and. 124 00:07:09,800 --> 00:07:12,760 It's a fun one, but at the same time like we're here to do 125 00:07:12,760 --> 00:07:16,080 business as well. So the big thing is just making 126 00:07:16,080 --> 00:07:18,840 sure that we're working with all of our partners in Las Vegas and 127 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:20,720 then Clark County where Las Vegas is. 128 00:07:21,400 --> 00:07:23,600 So we have some great relationships there and that's 129 00:07:23,600 --> 00:07:26,320 that's been great. But otherwise it's just it's 130 00:07:26,320 --> 00:07:31,240 moved so quickly, you know, between what's needed and you 131 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:36,360 know, we just with Ohio just legalizing this month, we have 132 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:38,920 really like had to stop and say, OK, well what do? 133 00:07:39,280 --> 00:07:42,560 You know, people who are working in Ohio, what do they need now? 134 00:07:42,560 --> 00:07:45,560 Because this is the new regulation, so do they need 135 00:07:45,560 --> 00:07:47,000 sessions? Do they need meet ups? 136 00:07:47,800 --> 00:07:50,560 So it's just constantly like being on your toes. 137 00:07:50,560 --> 00:07:54,480 And I think that's kind of a little bit more unique to 138 00:07:54,480 --> 00:07:57,480 cannabis than maybe an industry that's a lot more mature. 139 00:07:57,560 --> 00:08:01,240 So you guys more or less act as the liaison and being able to 140 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,960 help these up and coming companies mature with the actual 141 00:08:05,960 --> 00:08:09,240 business because as we know Brad and I both know, we're very 142 00:08:09,240 --> 00:08:10,800 familiar with the cannabis industry. 143 00:08:11,080 --> 00:08:14,400 It's almost like and I don't want to be crass about this, but 144 00:08:14,880 --> 00:08:17,200 it's almost like a bunch of country bumpkin sitting on the 145 00:08:17,200 --> 00:08:20,000 back of the pickup truck paying their guys right out of in cash. 146 00:08:20,000 --> 00:08:22,000 They're like there you go, here you go. 147 00:08:22,280 --> 00:08:25,720 They don't understand that this is a very mature business. 148 00:08:25,720 --> 00:08:29,720 This is like a rodeo Dr. type of business is what we're trying to 149 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:34,280 achieve with it. We want high, high value brands 150 00:08:34,280 --> 00:08:38,080 and not millions of them. We want centralized brands that 151 00:08:38,080 --> 00:08:41,840 mean a lot to the consumer. So it's very young as far as 152 00:08:41,840 --> 00:08:44,400 that part and you guys are integral into that part and 153 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:47,800 helping them to understand that it's not hand to mouth. 154 00:08:48,920 --> 00:08:50,360 Well, you know, we certainly try. 155 00:08:50,360 --> 00:08:54,400 And every year it seems to you can noticeably see the 156 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:59,040 difference between I think as things become taboo, the 157 00:08:59,040 --> 00:09:02,520 stigma's kind of fading away. You also have more people 158 00:09:02,520 --> 00:09:06,120 entering the space from other. Industries and other professions 159 00:09:06,120 --> 00:09:09,080 who were bringing their skill sets that maybe they they had 160 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,720 somewhere else over. And I think one of the I just as 161 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:15,600 an example a couple years ago trying to think probably like 162 00:09:15,600 --> 00:09:21,120 2018 we would have maybe one marketing advertising session 163 00:09:21,920 --> 00:09:24,800 didn't really I mean it had you know decent turn out but it 164 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:26,520 wasn't you know blowing the doors off at all. 165 00:09:27,360 --> 00:09:31,480 Fast forward now, we have a full day dedicated program around 166 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:33,360 marketing and advertising and branding. 167 00:09:33,720 --> 00:09:36,000 We have breakout sessions. There are meetups like and 168 00:09:36,000 --> 00:09:39,720 you're seeing the just the in general the job titles of people 169 00:09:39,720 --> 00:09:43,320 who are registering and coming to the event for marketing 170 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:45,200 specialties is just skyrocketing. 171 00:09:45,200 --> 00:09:48,280 And I think that that in itself is pretty indicative of what's 172 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:52,120 happening with the industry because as you said, like to 173 00:09:52,120 --> 00:09:56,840 have this like you know, Rodeo Dr. Type brands, the the 174 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,800 marketing that goes around that especially with the regulations 175 00:09:59,800 --> 00:10:03,040 still impacting cannabis companies, it's. 176 00:10:04,360 --> 00:10:06,880 You've got to be on your game for it and and the competition 177 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:10,800 is steep so. Yeah, and that's why so many 178 00:10:10,800 --> 00:10:12,920 cannabis brands are here for a minute. 179 00:10:12,920 --> 00:10:16,720 And then they're gone. Yeah, I think, you know, it is 180 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:18,640 still a bit of a volatile industry. 181 00:10:18,640 --> 00:10:21,600 You know, I would love to see things kind of mature in that 182 00:10:21,600 --> 00:10:26,640 way, where they're able to, you know, be a little bit more 183 00:10:26,640 --> 00:10:28,920 stable throughout the year, I mean for for them. 184 00:10:30,520 --> 00:10:34,520 It is interesting too that I know several people that are on 185 00:10:34,520 --> 00:10:37,480 my exhibit floor that they started the first year they 186 00:10:37,480 --> 00:10:39,840 came. They they were an attendee and 187 00:10:39,840 --> 00:10:41,440 they said, you know, I just really want to get into the 188 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:42,560 space. I want to see what it's all 189 00:10:42,560 --> 00:10:45,120 about. Then they come back the second 190 00:10:45,120 --> 00:10:48,080 year and they're like, OK, I have my business plan, I am 191 00:10:48,080 --> 00:10:51,160 looking for capital, looking for funding this year, then they 192 00:10:51,160 --> 00:10:53,440 come back the third year and they're like, all right, I have 193 00:10:53,440 --> 00:10:54,840 backing. I have investors. 194 00:10:54,840 --> 00:10:58,560 I'm ready to go now. And then to see them, then they 195 00:10:58,560 --> 00:11:01,440 buy a booth, like a 10 by 10 booth and then to see them kind 196 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:05,920 of grow up with us and have these like really big impressive 197 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:10,000 footprints on our show floor. It's, it's been pretty cool, you 198 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:13,080 know, to to celebrate that with them because we've grown 199 00:11:13,080 --> 00:11:16,120 together. You know, the MJ Biz was at a 200 00:11:16,120 --> 00:11:18,840 hotel and then we outgrew the hotel and then we moved to the 201 00:11:18,840 --> 00:11:21,400 Convention Center and like keep adding more space there. 202 00:11:21,400 --> 00:11:23,560 So it's. There are, there are definitely 203 00:11:23,560 --> 00:11:26,360 a number of people that we've we've grown up in this industry 204 00:11:26,360 --> 00:11:28,800 together. Yeah, it creates almost like a 205 00:11:28,800 --> 00:11:30,280 family, 'cause you're always there. 206 00:11:30,280 --> 00:11:36,120 And if you're growing at each stage, yeah, I know. 207 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:38,360 I just, you know, and and knowing a lot about the 208 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,720 convention space as well, like, it's not cheap to play. 209 00:11:42,000 --> 00:11:44,600 It really isn't. And you have to think about it 210 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,640 like I've worked with smaller cannabis brands on the marketing 211 00:11:47,640 --> 00:11:51,400 side for branding and messaging and they've got these like, you 212 00:11:51,400 --> 00:11:54,120 know, oh, it's cannabis. It just prints money. 213 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,240 Not so, not so at all. And when they get into that 214 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,400 mentality, it's like, OK, well what are you looking to invest, 215 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:06,000 have to really grow this because it's not just I have plants for 216 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:12,120 sale, it's you have to really put yourself as an outlier and 217 00:12:12,120 --> 00:12:15,600 being able to attend an event like MJ Bizcon as an up and 218 00:12:15,600 --> 00:12:17,800 coming company. I like how you said, like they 219 00:12:17,800 --> 00:12:20,320 come check it out and then they go, yeah, I'm looking for 220 00:12:20,320 --> 00:12:24,640 funding because they realize they're like, Oh my $5000 a 221 00:12:24,640 --> 00:12:28,160 month marketing spend is peanuts compared to what these guys are 222 00:12:28,160 --> 00:12:30,760 spending. I need to be in involved with 223 00:12:30,760 --> 00:12:33,880 that, which forces them to create a real business plan 224 00:12:33,880 --> 00:12:37,400 other than let's just sell, sell stuff that we think is cool. 225 00:12:37,600 --> 00:12:39,800 Brian and I ran into one, like I'm not going to throw the guy 226 00:12:39,800 --> 00:12:42,360 underneath the bus, but it was a product that he had. 227 00:12:42,360 --> 00:12:46,200 He had was at this tiny little event here in Utah and it was 228 00:12:46,200 --> 00:12:49,520 for like a dab rig station and it had all this. 229 00:12:49,960 --> 00:12:51,200 It it just looked like something. 230 00:12:51,200 --> 00:12:53,760 I'm like, that sounds like a lifestyle thing like you do on 231 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:55,880 the weekend. Like, that's that's cool for 232 00:12:55,880 --> 00:12:59,360 you, bro. But you're not going to be 233 00:12:59,360 --> 00:13:01,000 making millions. Nobody's going to beating down 234 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:03,680 your door for that. And I love that. 235 00:13:03,680 --> 00:13:07,640 It's just such a a transition for them to understand that it's 236 00:13:07,640 --> 00:13:09,400 like going to the pro leagues, right? 237 00:13:09,560 --> 00:13:12,880 Coming to your event is going to like the Super Bowl of of 238 00:13:12,880 --> 00:13:15,600 cannabis. So you're like this is what's 239 00:13:15,600 --> 00:13:17,040 going on. These are the play by play. 240 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,640 You want to play in this game and get the ring, going to have 241 00:13:20,720 --> 00:13:22,000 to play with the big boys, right? 242 00:13:22,000 --> 00:13:23,560 So that's that's cool. I like it. 243 00:13:23,560 --> 00:13:25,640 I'm going to, I'm going to start using that. the Super Bowl of 244 00:13:25,640 --> 00:13:27,120 cannabis I love. I love it. 245 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:31,800 I mean it is, it does feel like the the kind of culmination of 246 00:13:31,800 --> 00:13:33,160 the year. You know, we're always, you 247 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:37,720 know, that November time frame and what I love about it is 248 00:13:37,760 --> 00:13:40,440 whether you've had a great year, you've had a bad year, like you 249 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:44,480 want to come to Vegas and you know, close out your year that 250 00:13:44,480 --> 00:13:45,560 way. And so it's, you know, 251 00:13:45,560 --> 00:13:49,800 celebration, it's commiseration and sometimes and then it's just 252 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:54,240 like setting you up for like, OK, it's a fresh start for 2024 253 00:13:54,240 --> 00:13:57,520 and we're going to, you know. Figure out what partners we need 254 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:00,200 or what we need to buy or, you know, insert whatever. 255 00:14:00,200 --> 00:14:03,000 But it's that's one of the things I love about it. 256 00:14:03,000 --> 00:14:06,000 And I get jazzed because I get to see, you know, all these 257 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:08,600 people that I just adore and, you know, get to see them once 258 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,840 or twice a year. So it's a lot of fun for us too. 259 00:14:12,040 --> 00:14:14,480 Brandon, you were touching on something right before we got 260 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,480 on. I'm talking about her personal 261 00:14:17,480 --> 00:14:20,200 cannabis shoes, and from what I understand, you're late to the 262 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,520 show. Like me, you just showed up 263 00:14:22,520 --> 00:14:25,600 late. Yeah, well, better late than 264 00:14:25,600 --> 00:14:28,880 never, right? So how has that transition been 265 00:14:28,880 --> 00:14:33,040 and and what was that event? Was it working at NJ Biz Con or 266 00:14:33,040 --> 00:14:36,440 was it before that? You know, it was, it was right 267 00:14:36,440 --> 00:14:40,600 around that time, I think I just, you know, hadn't hadn't 268 00:14:40,600 --> 00:14:42,760 had a lot of exposure to it I guess. 269 00:14:43,400 --> 00:14:46,760 And then once I I came over here, I had a. 270 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:50,720 An event background and I knew the the founders of MJ biz for a 271 00:14:50,720 --> 00:14:53,160 while before actually coming over. 272 00:14:53,160 --> 00:14:56,800 And as the event was getting bigger they they thought I could 273 00:14:56,800 --> 00:14:59,840 help them out and luckily like you know, they thought so. 274 00:14:59,840 --> 00:15:04,000 So once I started here and I started getting to read the news 275 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,280 all the time getting to really understand the industry and you 276 00:15:07,280 --> 00:15:10,720 know honestly for me even that you know, stigma like started to 277 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:12,600 fall away. That thing, you know, I grew up 278 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:14,880 in. You know the 80s, nineties time 279 00:15:14,880 --> 00:15:18,640 frame you know and I like I remember the the DARE campaigns 280 00:15:18,640 --> 00:15:23,240 and you know all those things. So getting to like actually see 281 00:15:23,240 --> 00:15:25,720 the research, see what's happening on the business side, 282 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,600 meet the people who were actually making these products 283 00:15:29,600 --> 00:15:32,280 and getting this to understand it better. 284 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:36,040 I think it was just a, you know, a great door that had been 285 00:15:36,040 --> 00:15:39,000 opened for me. I wish my my journey wasn't like 286 00:15:39,000 --> 00:15:40,200 that. Brandon just brought me into the 287 00:15:40,200 --> 00:15:41,680 fold. It was just like, hey dude, this 288 00:15:42,080 --> 00:15:44,960 is going to help you in a month. I don't know about that. 289 00:15:46,720 --> 00:15:49,680 Now here and here we are. So clearly, clearly goes on to 290 00:15:49,680 --> 00:15:51,240 something. Yeah absolutely. 291 00:15:52,280 --> 00:15:55,440 No, it's it's I think that's one of the things, the reasons why 292 00:15:55,440 --> 00:15:58,560 we've loved being able to create this podcast for our audience is 293 00:15:59,000 --> 00:16:02,240 our goal is to be able to reach new consumers, consumers that 294 00:16:02,240 --> 00:16:05,840 are sitting right on the fence and you know thinking about MJ 295 00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:08,080 Bizcon and all these companies over there and what they're 296 00:16:08,080 --> 00:16:10,720 trying to do. We we created it for the the 297 00:16:10,720 --> 00:16:14,200 fact to be able to one and inform customers and entertain 298 00:16:14,200 --> 00:16:16,760 them in a sense. But at the same time being able 299 00:16:16,760 --> 00:16:20,040 to give a gateway to these brands saying hey, you know 300 00:16:20,040 --> 00:16:22,880 there are a lot of consumers out there that are looking for you 301 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,840 and being able to find the right ones to partner with. 302 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,400 I think that's been the most difficult for us as as you 303 00:16:28,400 --> 00:16:31,800 probably seen that there are a lot of cannabis companies, but 304 00:16:31,800 --> 00:16:34,760 there are a lot of just pretenders. 305 00:16:35,080 --> 00:16:38,040 People are going to be here for maybe a year or two when they're 306 00:16:38,040 --> 00:16:40,080 out because they think that's either going to be a buyout or 307 00:16:40,080 --> 00:16:41,400 they're just going to run out of money. 308 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:44,760 Like they're going to have more plants than people to buy. 309 00:16:45,040 --> 00:16:47,480 And they're like, I don't know what to do here or they have 310 00:16:47,480 --> 00:16:50,000 products that nobody wants. Brandon and I have gone through 311 00:16:50,000 --> 00:16:53,080 a dozen products that are just horrible. 312 00:16:55,080 --> 00:16:58,480 What what tips do you guys have for like a first time Comer to 313 00:16:58,480 --> 00:17:02,600 MJ Bizcon? Oh, I love this question 314 00:17:02,600 --> 00:17:06,359 because. It's it's really exciting for me 315 00:17:06,359 --> 00:17:08,920 when I get to see somebody who's there for the first time and 316 00:17:08,920 --> 00:17:13,079 like their eyes get really big. And I think the general 317 00:17:13,079 --> 00:17:17,280 consensus is that I hear the most is we didn't know it was 318 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,160 this big. And I mean that's just like, 319 00:17:20,160 --> 00:17:22,240 it's a proud moment for us, but it's a proud moment for the 320 00:17:22,240 --> 00:17:25,119 industry to say like, yeah, I know this, like this, this is 321 00:17:25,119 --> 00:17:29,320 huge, so. The the tips I usually give 322 00:17:29,480 --> 00:17:32,760 first timers. So first of all that the really 323 00:17:32,760 --> 00:17:36,280 easy one is wear really comfortable shoes because it is 324 00:17:36,360 --> 00:17:40,840 a it's a really big show floor and you're you're going to be on 325 00:17:40,840 --> 00:17:43,160 your feet. So that's the first one that I 326 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:46,320 always give people. But secondly and we do a first 327 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:50,040 timers orientation the morning that the event opens so that you 328 00:17:50,040 --> 00:17:52,720 can meet our staff, ask any questions, things like that. 329 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:55,760 But the thing that I would tell everybody is. 330 00:17:56,760 --> 00:18:02,480 Make a plan The The biggest mistake I see people make is if 331 00:18:02,480 --> 00:18:04,920 they just show up and think, OK, it's three days, I'll figure it 332 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:08,280 out between. It is so fast and furious that 333 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:11,680 like, you know what sessions you're going to go to know who 334 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:13,680 you need to meet, what exhibitors you need to go see on 335 00:18:13,680 --> 00:18:17,320 the floor, and even down to like what what after parties are you 336 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:19,200 going to? Because there's so many every 337 00:18:19,200 --> 00:18:22,400 night. I mean, it's just impossible to 338 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,960 get to everything. So it's it's super fast 3-4 339 00:18:25,960 --> 00:18:28,960 days. And so just like, show up with 340 00:18:28,960 --> 00:18:32,120 like all of that outlined and then, you know, just away you 341 00:18:32,120 --> 00:18:35,440 go, 'cause it's, it goes by super fast. 342 00:18:36,240 --> 00:18:40,040 I can imagine with over 30,000 people there last year, how many 343 00:18:40,040 --> 00:18:42,720 vendors are like booths do you guys have there last year? 344 00:18:42,760 --> 00:18:47,200 Right around 1400 companies that are exhibiting on the show floor 345 00:18:47,800 --> 00:18:52,160 and and it varies every year. We do have a number of first 346 00:18:52,160 --> 00:18:55,360 time companies every year which that's always great because you 347 00:18:55,360 --> 00:19:00,600 can see like here's what's new but and they they go all out. 348 00:19:00,600 --> 00:19:03,000 So there's a lot of really cool stuff on that floor. 349 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:05,080 It's. It is segmented now. 350 00:19:05,080 --> 00:19:07,560 It wasn't for a while, but in the past couple years we started 351 00:19:07,560 --> 00:19:11,280 segmenting it by. Just general product category 352 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:14,440 more or less so like cultivation services or processing and 353 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:18,280 packaging or retail and dispensary and business 354 00:19:18,280 --> 00:19:20,240 services. So we try and do that so that 355 00:19:20,240 --> 00:19:23,040 it's a little bit easier to to kind of find what you need and 356 00:19:23,040 --> 00:19:26,200 where you're going. Yeah. 357 00:19:27,240 --> 00:19:29,240 In the beginning, you know, we just were the way we were 358 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:31,840 growing it just, you know, all of a sudden one day it was like, 359 00:19:31,880 --> 00:19:35,360 oh man, like I'm tired. I grow bullets to get around 360 00:19:35,360 --> 00:19:37,800 this floor because it's just a lot. 361 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:40,480 Just get you like a. Segway or something, Yeah. 362 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:45,000 Yeah, exactly so. Little pulp art Mall cop hat. 363 00:19:45,000 --> 00:19:46,680 There you go. You you might. 364 00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:48,120 See me. So if you see somebody zipping 365 00:19:48,120 --> 00:19:50,560 around on there, it's probably me. 366 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,560 It's just. Make sure you wave, they just 367 00:19:53,560 --> 00:19:56,200 need to put a little harness on. Her and then have something 368 00:19:56,200 --> 00:19:59,360 hanging from there and they just yank her up every once in a like 369 00:19:59,360 --> 00:20:03,080 spider man and then they just plop her down in another area 370 00:20:03,240 --> 00:20:06,120 just because of how it is. I don't know. 371 00:20:06,200 --> 00:20:08,200 I don't know. I might be out if that happens. 372 00:20:09,400 --> 00:20:11,320 They get to go. Hey, Jess, real quick. 373 00:20:11,320 --> 00:20:13,840 We need you to look at this. And they bring out this harness 374 00:20:13,840 --> 00:20:15,200 and it's all connected to the ceiling. 375 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:17,480 You're like, I'm out. Hey, you know what? 376 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:19,480 I appreciate it. I'm done guys. 377 00:20:19,840 --> 00:20:21,160 I can't do this. Anymore. 378 00:20:22,720 --> 00:20:24,920 No, that is so. That is so cool. 379 00:20:24,920 --> 00:20:29,240 I love that detail that you really take care of them, not 380 00:20:29,240 --> 00:20:33,960 only as a vendor, but as a as a visitor as being able to come 381 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,040 see the show. It's that exact same feel like 382 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:41,560 it's like you said, three days, four days like that, gone. 383 00:20:41,600 --> 00:20:44,800 And you're like, yeah, I've lost 6 lbs. 384 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:48,080 I don't even think I eat. And because you just want to see 385 00:20:48,080 --> 00:20:51,400 everything, Yeah, it's man, it's it's super fast. 386 00:20:51,400 --> 00:20:53,400 I know. I sleep for like a solid 12 387 00:20:53,400 --> 00:20:57,600 hours afterwards. Yeah, like I'm just people out. 388 00:20:57,600 --> 00:21:01,240 I need to do my own thing and chill, decompress, you know, I 389 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:04,640 always, I compare it to like if you're, if you're a runner and 390 00:21:04,680 --> 00:21:07,360 like a marathon training. So like for us, you know, we're 391 00:21:07,360 --> 00:21:10,560 training all year to get ready for this event and then you get 392 00:21:10,560 --> 00:21:13,400 on site, that's our race and your adrenaline's carrying you 393 00:21:13,400 --> 00:21:15,160 through. And then, you know, afterwards 394 00:21:15,160 --> 00:21:17,920 you have that runner's high at first where you're like, I am 395 00:21:17,960 --> 00:21:21,120 ready to do this again, like now, like, and then all of a 396 00:21:21,120 --> 00:21:27,680 sudden it's OK, I need a nap. Pass out for 36 hours, get back 397 00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:29,920 up and do it again. Yep, exactly. 398 00:21:30,320 --> 00:21:32,920 Just. Running IV therapy like she gets 399 00:21:32,920 --> 00:21:36,560 back, she just gets mainline with all this essential 400 00:21:36,560 --> 00:21:39,360 nutrients. Everything she needs is coffee. 401 00:21:39,680 --> 00:21:40,760 Yep. Yeah, there you go. 402 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:42,440 That mainline coffee? There you go. 403 00:21:42,840 --> 00:21:45,080 That's so neat. We should have a reality show 404 00:21:45,080 --> 00:21:47,400 that, you know, follows us around like the behind this 405 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:50,360 scene. I think that would be pretty 406 00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:52,680 entertaining. Oh yeah. 407 00:21:53,200 --> 00:21:55,680 I could make that happen one day, Might as well. 408 00:21:55,720 --> 00:21:58,360 You know it's pre season stuff. It's a show. 409 00:21:58,360 --> 00:22:01,040 It gets everyone excited for next season's drop, right? 410 00:22:01,160 --> 00:22:05,400 So with the. Show What's the biggest change 411 00:22:05,440 --> 00:22:09,200 that people can expect this year Change. 412 00:22:09,200 --> 00:22:12,160 I think it's not so much a change as every year we're 413 00:22:12,200 --> 00:22:16,840 adding to the event. So we have some new things that 414 00:22:16,840 --> 00:22:19,480 we're doing this year that I'm I'm pretty excited to share. 415 00:22:21,040 --> 00:22:24,080 First one is let's see no particular order. 416 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:29,080 We are partnering with Thrive Dispensary, which is one of the 417 00:22:29,080 --> 00:22:35,560 Nevada brands and they are going to have a an activation or a 418 00:22:35,560 --> 00:22:39,120 lounge on the show floor where you can meet with some of the 419 00:22:39,120 --> 00:22:40,800 brands that they have in their dispensary. 420 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:45,480 And then you can do online ordering like through a kiosk 421 00:22:45,480 --> 00:22:47,800 and we have shuttle buses running you, you know, down the 422 00:22:47,800 --> 00:22:51,280 street to their actual. Dispensary. 423 00:22:51,280 --> 00:22:54,600 Their actual dispensary, so you can pick everything up and and 424 00:22:54,600 --> 00:22:57,440 then not have to be. Because if unfortunately, you 425 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,520 know, with the way that the law reads, we cannot have 426 00:22:59,520 --> 00:23:02,240 consumption or, you know, actual cannabis products at the 427 00:23:02,240 --> 00:23:06,240 Convention Center, that's not an MJ biz thing, that's a that's a 428 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:08,880 local and, you know, regulation issue. 429 00:23:10,040 --> 00:23:12,760 That hopefully one day, you know we might see some change there, 430 00:23:12,760 --> 00:23:15,560 but for right now we have to you know be good partners and and 431 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:19,520 follow the law. But this way we're actually 432 00:23:19,520 --> 00:23:22,080 providing that transportation to try and make that a little bit 433 00:23:22,080 --> 00:23:26,240 easier. Likewise, we also did, we're 434 00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:28,920 taking over the Lexi Hotel, which if you're not familiar 435 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:33,880 with that, it'll reopen this year as Las Vegas's first 436 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:38,880 consumption friendly hotel. And so in the, the guest rooms 437 00:23:38,880 --> 00:23:42,520 there, you can, you can smoke in your room totally OK there. 438 00:23:42,880 --> 00:23:45,840 And where, 'cause you know if most of the Las Vegas hotels 439 00:23:46,360 --> 00:23:48,880 don't permit that. So that's pretty cool. 440 00:23:48,880 --> 00:23:51,800 And we have several brands that are doing takeovers and 441 00:23:51,800 --> 00:23:54,880 activations parties at the pool and the bar. 442 00:23:54,880 --> 00:23:57,040 And so that's going to be going on during the week too. 443 00:23:57,800 --> 00:24:01,120 So like those types of things we're just trying to to add to 444 00:24:01,120 --> 00:24:05,440 the event to try to have you know, just just make it a little 445 00:24:05,440 --> 00:24:07,640 bit more enjoyable because we're all there to do business, but we 446 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:09,560 also, you know, want to have a good time as well. 447 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:12,400 That's cool though. Yeah, I. 448 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:14,560 Like that. It's like a Disneyland feel. 449 00:24:14,560 --> 00:24:17,880 Oh, do you want to go get corn dogs and Turkey legs? 450 00:24:20,080 --> 00:24:21,720 Oh yeah, mate, we're going to go over there. 451 00:24:21,720 --> 00:24:23,640 We're going to get smoshed. We're going to come right back. 452 00:24:23,640 --> 00:24:24,800 We're going to have a great time. 453 00:24:25,280 --> 00:24:27,040 Like, that sounds awesome. It sounds like that thing you're 454 00:24:27,040 --> 00:24:30,720 talking about in in Denver where you drive around and they had 455 00:24:30,720 --> 00:24:32,440 dabs and all. Oh. 456 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:37,680 Yeah, it was the dab bus. I went to 420 out in Denver 457 00:24:38,960 --> 00:24:40,320 years ago. Years ago. 458 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:41,800 Was that? I don't know. 459 00:24:41,960 --> 00:24:44,440 Yeah, it was when I cut the tips of my fingers. 460 00:24:45,240 --> 00:24:48,480 Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. I had a table saw accident and 461 00:24:48,480 --> 00:24:51,520 like sliced the three of these little middle fingers pretty 462 00:24:51,520 --> 00:24:54,760 good. Yeah, and then there was AI, 463 00:24:54,760 --> 00:25:00,760 think it was called the dab bus and it was $10 or $15.00 for an 464 00:25:00,760 --> 00:25:03,600 unlimited night pass. And they were driving around 465 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,240 Denver and they had dab rigs on it you could smoke, they were 466 00:25:07,240 --> 00:25:09,680 passing around joints. Everyone brought their own 467 00:25:09,680 --> 00:25:11,720 stuff. There was like chalkboard walls, 468 00:25:11,720 --> 00:25:13,800 all the on the inside, and people were drawing. 469 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:16,600 And then there was like an old school Nintendo set up at the 470 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,840 back and it just cruised around. Denver made, Yeah, I haven't 471 00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:21,800 seen that. Yeah, it was wild. 472 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:24,440 That's some crazy Tijuana. I don't know. 473 00:25:24,440 --> 00:25:28,080 How legal it is? I'm pretty sure it's not, but 474 00:25:29,320 --> 00:25:35,160 yeah, I'm not sure it is. Either, but that was way like 475 00:25:35,600 --> 00:25:38,800 early times in Denver. So yeah, it's gotten a little 476 00:25:38,800 --> 00:25:43,520 bit more, I guess, like more. I don't know the right word. 477 00:25:44,440 --> 00:25:48,640 Maybe main, mainstream or or just control, I guess, yeah. 478 00:25:48,640 --> 00:25:51,120 Control. Definitely like a noose around 479 00:25:51,120 --> 00:25:52,440 it. Like it's just running around 480 00:25:52,440 --> 00:25:55,240 wild, Lawless. That's where it gives. 481 00:25:55,240 --> 00:25:58,000 This, these types of conventions, a bad name if you 482 00:25:58,000 --> 00:25:59,680 did that. So that's really cool that you 483 00:25:59,680 --> 00:26:02,640 guys are offering at this year to be able to go, hey look, you 484 00:26:02,640 --> 00:26:05,960 know, not only you can go over there and see dispensers, we'll 485 00:26:05,960 --> 00:26:07,600 take you right there so you can consume. 486 00:26:07,600 --> 00:26:10,760 But that hotel, that's bomb. Yeah, that's cool. 487 00:26:10,760 --> 00:26:13,000 That's cool. They've done a great job with 488 00:26:13,000 --> 00:26:14,640 it. You must have an. 489 00:26:14,640 --> 00:26:19,600 Amazing ventilation system I I would guess I you know, I don't 490 00:26:19,600 --> 00:26:23,080 know personally but they yeah they they've done a great job. 491 00:26:23,080 --> 00:26:25,840 It was formerly the Artisan Hotel and then new ownership 492 00:26:25,840 --> 00:26:28,680 took over and it reopened over the summer. 493 00:26:29,720 --> 00:26:33,160 So and they've been fantastic partners and they are very 494 00:26:33,160 --> 00:26:34,960 supportive of the industry which is great. 495 00:26:36,640 --> 00:26:39,440 That's dope. Now I'm looking it up because 496 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:43,520 I'm curious what it looks like. Sounds cool, dude. 497 00:26:43,520 --> 00:26:46,240 I mean, you come in and it's not going to look stonery at all. 498 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:49,160 It's just going to be awesome. They'll have bongs in the room, 499 00:26:49,200 --> 00:26:50,480 you know that. Like it's cleaned. 500 00:26:51,560 --> 00:26:55,640 Inside looks super unique. Yeah. 501 00:26:55,760 --> 00:26:57,680 Well now we have to go down and check it out. 502 00:26:57,840 --> 00:26:58,720 That's so. Cool. 503 00:26:58,720 --> 00:27:03,560 So more more attention to making sure that the that the 504 00:27:03,560 --> 00:27:07,080 attendees, both exhibitors and attendees are are being able to 505 00:27:07,080 --> 00:27:10,600 really feel more of a concierge type feel. 506 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:13,000 For this event, that's that's way cool. 507 00:27:13,880 --> 00:27:17,480 Yeah, and now I feel like I'm going to have to bring Crocs 508 00:27:20,840 --> 00:27:23,840 Ugly ass shoes. You'll be comfortable. 509 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:27,160 Oh yeah, I know. Just tape a pillow. 510 00:27:27,160 --> 00:27:29,320 To my ass. And then I'll just take a seat 511 00:27:29,320 --> 00:27:31,200 once we get back up. That'd be perfect. 512 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:33,760 I support that. It's a good way to do it. 513 00:27:34,280 --> 00:27:36,440 Pillows all around. Awesome. 514 00:27:36,720 --> 00:27:40,120 What's been one of your least favorite trends in cannabis that 515 00:27:40,120 --> 00:27:49,880 you've seen least favorite Oh well you know I would say least 516 00:27:49,880 --> 00:27:53,520 favorite is you know our our hearts definitely go out to any 517 00:27:53,520 --> 00:27:57,120 of the brands that you know are are struggling this year. 518 00:27:57,800 --> 00:28:02,040 I think in the you know just the the wave that this industry has 519 00:28:02,040 --> 00:28:05,480 been through a lot of UPS. You know of course for the for 520 00:28:05,480 --> 00:28:07,760 many years we were all in that upward trajectory. 521 00:28:07,760 --> 00:28:12,320 And I think in the past year or so like there have been more 522 00:28:12,320 --> 00:28:16,080 businesses impacted by more of an economic downturn or you know 523 00:28:16,200 --> 00:28:19,240 over saturation and just consolidation in general. 524 00:28:19,240 --> 00:28:23,240 So I think that's you know that's been tough to see. 525 00:28:23,240 --> 00:28:27,520 I'm definitely very hopeful and I'm hearing good things that you 526 00:28:27,520 --> 00:28:31,080 know, hopefully by next year we'll start to see that upward 527 00:28:31,080 --> 00:28:35,200 movement again. So for everyone, if they can, 528 00:28:36,000 --> 00:28:39,640 you know, hang on, get through it now, I think they'll be in a 529 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,320 a much better place come come next year. 530 00:28:43,520 --> 00:28:46,400 I thought she was going to go into I can't stand seeing 531 00:28:46,880 --> 00:28:50,360 scantily dressed cannabis brands with their women around the the 532 00:28:50,360 --> 00:28:53,800 booths just wearing bikinis, 'cause that irritates the shit 533 00:28:53,800 --> 00:28:55,920 out of us 'cause it's like that, right? 534 00:28:55,960 --> 00:28:58,280 Remember that? Remember that 420, the the Latin 535 00:28:58,280 --> 00:29:00,040 girls over there going, oh how do you doing? 536 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:04,400 You know, it're just like no and and that is something actually 537 00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:08,040 you know we do, we do address it you know with the show 538 00:29:08,040 --> 00:29:11,600 specifically because there is a certain amount of 539 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:14,640 professionalism that we want to exude and that we want to be 540 00:29:14,640 --> 00:29:18,080 part of our brand, you know and also just to help the industry 541 00:29:18,080 --> 00:29:20,720 mature and move things along faster. 542 00:29:20,720 --> 00:29:25,640 So we definitely have policies around what is permitted at the 543 00:29:25,640 --> 00:29:31,000 event and it is designed to, you know, keep it focused on 544 00:29:31,040 --> 00:29:34,720 business, keep it focused on what really matters and what's 545 00:29:34,720 --> 00:29:37,480 really going to elevate everyone. 546 00:29:38,360 --> 00:29:43,040 And to your point, there are certain certain behaviors or 547 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:46,400 things that you can see at maybe some other events that you won't 548 00:29:46,440 --> 00:29:49,600 see at ours. We won't complain. 549 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:53,960 About that, yeah, that's OK. Yeah, I mean, you know, it just 550 00:29:53,960 --> 00:29:55,760 kind of, it just cheapens the brand. 551 00:29:55,760 --> 00:30:00,080 It really cheapens the brand. And yeah, we don't respect that. 552 00:30:00,120 --> 00:30:04,680 Like when we we were at this tiny little 420 thing and like a 553 00:30:04,680 --> 00:30:07,840 lot of the boots were very respectable, like they're hey, 554 00:30:07,840 --> 00:30:09,400 this, we weren't tell you about our business. 555 00:30:09,680 --> 00:30:12,720 But then there's just one where, you know, I I just remember and 556 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:15,040 and people will know they're going to be hearing this or 557 00:30:15,040 --> 00:30:17,240 they're watching it right now. They're going to be like you had 558 00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:21,000 this, like this woman over there who's dressed in a bikini. 559 00:30:21,000 --> 00:30:25,440 It's all black hair done and she's got her kid hanging here 560 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,920 off of her hip. And the kids just looking around 561 00:30:27,920 --> 00:30:30,920 with the bottle in his mouth and you're just like, this isn't 562 00:30:30,920 --> 00:30:34,560 really what I want to see here. Like I learn about your. 563 00:30:34,560 --> 00:30:37,520 Brand these brands like you, we had talked about the first like 564 00:30:37,680 --> 00:30:40,440 in order for you to be able to be a long lasting brand, you 565 00:30:40,440 --> 00:30:43,880 have to be taking yourself very, very seriously, absolutely. 566 00:30:44,280 --> 00:30:45,960 And that's not. The market, that's not the 567 00:30:45,960 --> 00:30:47,920 future market. It's a small segment of the 568 00:30:47,920 --> 00:30:51,040 market even. Yeah even down to like what you 569 00:30:51,040 --> 00:30:54,960 know name nomenclature for for different strains and things. 570 00:30:54,960 --> 00:30:58,080 You know like you know I've definitely seen some out there 571 00:30:58,080 --> 00:31:02,200 that are you know less than than reputable and I think you know 572 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:05,720 to your point about how they're they're portraying their brand. 573 00:31:06,200 --> 00:31:09,120 You know if if we say that there's when we're trying to go 574 00:31:09,120 --> 00:31:14,360 after a larger market you know consumer market you and the in 575 00:31:14,360 --> 00:31:18,360 many years we had you know the the two ends of the spectrum. 576 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,960 So you had, you know, the very, the medical patient side and you 577 00:31:21,960 --> 00:31:24,520 had the true, you know, enthusiast side. 578 00:31:24,960 --> 00:31:27,640 But there's this like Grand Canyon in the middle of people. 579 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:32,040 And you know, what about the the mom who just, you know, after a 580 00:31:32,040 --> 00:31:34,760 really long day gets home, makes dinner and then just wants to 581 00:31:34,760 --> 00:31:38,520 relax and doesn't want to, you know, pour that glass of 582 00:31:38,520 --> 00:31:41,240 Chardonnay, right. I mean that's that's obviously 583 00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:43,600 an unfair stereotype in a lot of ways. 584 00:31:43,600 --> 00:31:47,400 But at the same time, there are all these people that you want 585 00:31:47,400 --> 00:31:50,440 to you want it to be inviting to them and you want to appeal to 586 00:31:50,440 --> 00:31:55,480 them as well and make it something that seems good to 587 00:31:55,480 --> 00:31:59,480 them and comfortable And and the more we can do that and by 588 00:31:59,480 --> 00:32:02,160 eliminate you know how we portray brands, I think that 589 00:32:02,240 --> 00:32:04,760 that's going to help a lot because we missed the. 590 00:32:04,760 --> 00:32:08,480 Mark, a lot of the time when we are showing up with those types 591 00:32:08,480 --> 00:32:12,640 of things and it's like it's not the, it's not what the industry 592 00:32:12,640 --> 00:32:15,440 is. It's just a certain demographic 593 00:32:15,440 --> 00:32:17,960 of it and what's been portrayed for the longest time. 594 00:32:18,320 --> 00:32:22,680 And so that like Stoner culture or that takes away from a lot of 595 00:32:22,680 --> 00:32:25,320 the business side of it as well because there are so many 596 00:32:25,320 --> 00:32:30,200 functional, just everyday people who use. 597 00:32:30,200 --> 00:32:33,680 Cannabis like a normal thing and instead of it being something 598 00:32:33,680 --> 00:32:37,120 that, you know, like the Nancy Reagan era, that it fries your 599 00:32:37,120 --> 00:32:40,560 brain and makes you really stupid, can be a tool or a 600 00:32:40,560 --> 00:32:43,480 catalyst for many people. So. 601 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:46,320 And it's. Educating on that sense too. 602 00:32:46,320 --> 00:32:49,720 It's it's coming into it with both eyes open instead of just 603 00:32:49,720 --> 00:32:53,680 an assumption, which is how cannabis has been portrayed for 604 00:32:53,680 --> 00:32:55,360 so long. It's just an assumptive that 605 00:32:55,360 --> 00:32:57,280 you're a loser. It's a something that you're 606 00:32:57,280 --> 00:32:59,320 never going to do it. But then if you go through the 607 00:32:59,320 --> 00:33:03,080 line of very successful people in the world, I would say most 608 00:33:03,080 --> 00:33:06,000 of them, if not all of them, are consuming cannabis in one form 609 00:33:06,000 --> 00:33:09,360 or another because they see the benefits and. 610 00:33:10,160 --> 00:33:13,360 Having conferences such as like this been the world's largest 611 00:33:13,360 --> 00:33:16,720 and and being able to attract the brands, reputable brands all 612 00:33:16,720 --> 00:33:19,720 goes back to that one. You can't just be, I mean maybe 613 00:33:19,720 --> 00:33:23,920 you could but it would be it would be such a short lived 614 00:33:24,240 --> 00:33:26,280 brand. If you just come with the 615 00:33:26,280 --> 00:33:29,160 assumptions that these are all the things like attending, I 616 00:33:29,160 --> 00:33:32,120 would say that to to up and coming companies that are 617 00:33:32,120 --> 00:33:36,080 thinking about like what what do I really want for my cannabis 618 00:33:36,080 --> 00:33:38,160 brand is to attend an event like this. 619 00:33:38,640 --> 00:33:41,920 To be able to see what's out there, competition, but more or 620 00:33:41,920 --> 00:33:44,480 less like how are they presenting themselves instead of 621 00:33:44,480 --> 00:33:48,160 just having a cannabis brand. Brandon and I, we were part of a 622 00:33:48,160 --> 00:33:51,320 grow years ago. That's kind of how we got into 623 00:33:51,320 --> 00:33:54,640 all of this and that was some of the things that we had talked 624 00:33:54,640 --> 00:33:59,320 about really want to get rid of the the common misconception of 625 00:33:59,320 --> 00:34:03,280 people who use cannabis. We want people who are my age 626 00:34:03,280 --> 00:34:05,800 and older who are like, yeah, like. 627 00:34:06,160 --> 00:34:08,400 I mean, we just had a podcast this morning with this awesome 628 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:12,239 guy and he what, what, how old was Pat in his 60s? 629 00:34:13,639 --> 00:34:16,560 Yeah, and. And he's just he's he's so 630 00:34:16,560 --> 00:34:19,600 excited to bring his friends over that he goes cycling with 631 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:23,400 and he's going to introduce them into some of the awesome plants. 632 00:34:23,520 --> 00:34:27,520 So it's just so cool, Very cool with that. 633 00:34:27,520 --> 00:34:31,040 I I kind of want to you know as we're as we're wrapping this up 634 00:34:31,480 --> 00:34:34,760 I just want to know like what are the things that. 635 00:34:36,920 --> 00:34:39,320 You would like. To see personally because you've 636 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:44,360 seen so many brands, so many businesses come and go, when 637 00:34:44,360 --> 00:34:46,600 you've seen some of the most successful ones that keep 638 00:34:46,600 --> 00:34:50,239 showing up every single year. Can you give our listeners this 639 00:34:50,639 --> 00:34:54,600 idea of what are the, the, the things that you see that make a 640 00:34:54,600 --> 00:34:59,040 successful cannabis brand To be successful in this industry, I 641 00:34:59,040 --> 00:35:02,160 think you you've got to have a really solid leadership team. 642 00:35:02,160 --> 00:35:05,720 I will start with that. I think you know to have a 643 00:35:05,720 --> 00:35:10,800 successful brand it's it's about manage manage the business and 644 00:35:10,800 --> 00:35:14,280 you know we're we're in it because we we love what we do we 645 00:35:14,280 --> 00:35:16,560 love the industry like don't ever lose that. 646 00:35:16,560 --> 00:35:20,280 However make sure that you're also taking care like treating 647 00:35:20,280 --> 00:35:23,640 it like a true business and and running you know being you know 648 00:35:23,640 --> 00:35:27,040 more conservative with your your financials let's say or you 649 00:35:27,040 --> 00:35:31,520 know, making sure you hire the right people And the right 650 00:35:31,520 --> 00:35:34,520 people can look a lot like a lot of different things in this 651 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,920 space depending on what it is. And I know I've seen people 652 00:35:37,920 --> 00:35:42,800 coming over for you know, so let's say you know the example 653 00:35:42,800 --> 00:35:44,760 from earlier marketing. So let's say you're a marketer 654 00:35:44,760 --> 00:35:49,840 for you know a a fortune 1000 brands and then you come over to 655 00:35:49,840 --> 00:35:52,400 cannabis and all of a sudden it's like OK well the marketing 656 00:35:52,400 --> 00:35:54,400 principles still apply. You still have the skill sets 657 00:35:54,400 --> 00:35:58,320 and now you just got to learn how to, you know, Bob and weave 658 00:35:58,320 --> 00:36:02,040 pretty much in in cannabis. But the ones I've seen that are 659 00:36:02,040 --> 00:36:04,720 really successful do a great job of managing that. 660 00:36:05,800 --> 00:36:11,760 And then when it comes to brands in terms of like how they're 661 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:16,360 perceived with I guess the consumer audience, the ones that 662 00:36:16,360 --> 00:36:20,640 do really well, I think it comes down to how professionally they 663 00:36:20,640 --> 00:36:24,240 manage their brand, what relationships they have to get 664 00:36:24,240 --> 00:36:28,680 in what stores. And there it's a very much a 665 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:32,000 relationship driven business still at this point. 666 00:36:32,800 --> 00:36:34,320 So I can't emphasize that enough. 667 00:36:34,320 --> 00:36:36,760 And that's where things like you know, self promotional plug 668 00:36:36,760 --> 00:36:40,800 here, but MJ Viscon coming there, you never know who you're 669 00:36:40,800 --> 00:36:43,680 going to meet in the line at Starbucks or you know coming 670 00:36:43,680 --> 00:36:46,960 onto the show floor. And that serendipitous 671 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:50,160 connection you know, is going to turn into, you know, a future 672 00:36:50,160 --> 00:36:53,120 business partner or you know someone that's going to help you 673 00:36:53,120 --> 00:36:55,840 out down the line. So I definitely go to events 674 00:36:55,840 --> 00:36:59,080 like that as much as you can, yeah. 675 00:36:59,200 --> 00:37:01,720 Every year MJ Biscon, make sure you're there. 676 00:37:02,360 --> 00:37:03,560 Well, yeah, I. Mean. 677 00:37:03,600 --> 00:37:05,760 And it goes to that one. It's always who you know. 678 00:37:05,760 --> 00:37:09,080 It's not what you have. It's not how cool your tech is 679 00:37:09,080 --> 00:37:11,360 or how awesome your extracts are. 680 00:37:11,360 --> 00:37:14,320 It's it's all about those connections, making those solid 681 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:16,560 connections because they'll take you a long way, like the 682 00:37:16,560 --> 00:37:20,040 opportunities for funding a bigger brand could see this up 683 00:37:20,040 --> 00:37:23,160 and coming one going. We should just, we should 684 00:37:23,160 --> 00:37:24,440 purchase them. Those things. 685 00:37:24,440 --> 00:37:25,960 I guarantee those things have happened. 686 00:37:25,960 --> 00:37:27,240 Those decisions have been made right. 687 00:37:27,240 --> 00:37:30,760 I are on that floor. Oh, so many, so many. 688 00:37:31,240 --> 00:37:34,680 I've heard a lot of stories just from from people I know that 689 00:37:34,680 --> 00:37:39,040 that's that's where the deals get done, you know, and it's 690 00:37:39,040 --> 00:37:40,400 because of who they know they're. 691 00:37:40,400 --> 00:37:42,560 It's because of how they represented their brand, what 692 00:37:42,560 --> 00:37:46,720 the reputation is in the industry and but yeah, a lot of 693 00:37:46,720 --> 00:37:48,360 that. I have heard many stories of 694 00:37:48,360 --> 00:37:52,760 that happening at MJ Biscon. I want to know I'm excited to 695 00:37:52,760 --> 00:37:56,240 see what what we hear this year at the event because there's 696 00:37:56,240 --> 00:37:58,320 always something, right? There's always a story, there's 697 00:37:58,320 --> 00:38:02,120 always some breaking news. So I'm I'm interested to see 698 00:38:02,120 --> 00:38:04,400 what it is. We're partnering for the first 699 00:38:04,400 --> 00:38:08,560 time this year with Fairchild Events who were doing the MJS 700 00:38:08,560 --> 00:38:10,440 which are International Cannabis Awards. 701 00:38:11,160 --> 00:38:15,800 That'll be Thursday night at the Palms Hotel and that's a really 702 00:38:15,800 --> 00:38:18,640 cool event that we're going to be able to give out tons of 703 00:38:18,640 --> 00:38:22,080 awards for people who are doing amazing work in cannabis. 704 00:38:22,080 --> 00:38:25,000 And it spans the whole, you know, it's not just brands, it's 705 00:38:25,000 --> 00:38:28,080 also, you know, across the entire ecosystem. 706 00:38:28,960 --> 00:38:31,400 And then there's a really fun after party that that's going 707 00:38:31,400 --> 00:38:34,280 along with it. So that'll be new this year and 708 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:36,800 that's that's pretty cool. International. 709 00:38:37,000 --> 00:38:41,600 So that's like all the global is that research as well or yeah. 710 00:38:41,760 --> 00:38:46,640 And you know the the cool thing about MJ Piscon is just how much 711 00:38:46,640 --> 00:38:52,280 it is a global meeting point. I think, you know at at peak 712 00:38:53,000 --> 00:38:57,800 we've been around 78 countries represented at the show, which 713 00:38:57,800 --> 00:39:00,800 is just huge when you think about like what legalization in 714 00:39:00,800 --> 00:39:03,960 the world actually looks like. So that's a lot of people who 715 00:39:03,960 --> 00:39:08,880 are driving things for. We're surprised when we pop up 716 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:12,080 in like the top charts in all these random countries and we're 717 00:39:12,080 --> 00:39:14,720 like. They're listening, yeah. 718 00:39:14,720 --> 00:39:19,080 Nigeria, Spain, you know, all throughout Europe, like all 719 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:22,440 these countries listen to us and we're like in their top ten of 720 00:39:22,440 --> 00:39:25,920 their alternative health podcast is because it's really starting 721 00:39:25,920 --> 00:39:28,480 to take a hold. Spain has been coming up like 722 00:39:28,480 --> 00:39:31,240 constantly in there, so yeah. Italy. 723 00:39:31,720 --> 00:39:33,120 Italy as well. Italy, Yeah. 724 00:39:33,120 --> 00:39:33,840 Oh. Yeah, Italy. 725 00:39:34,040 --> 00:39:35,400 Their laws have changed. Crazy. 726 00:39:35,400 --> 00:39:39,480 You know how, man, this is so cool. 727 00:39:39,480 --> 00:39:41,800 OK, well, MJ Bizcon. What? 728 00:39:41,800 --> 00:39:44,320 What are the dates? How long is it going from? 729 00:39:45,080 --> 00:39:48,560 We're kicking off November 28th and we're going through December 730 00:39:48,560 --> 00:39:51,240 1st, so just a couple weeks away. 731 00:39:51,240 --> 00:39:55,440 So for those celebrating Thanksgiving, yeah, those 732 00:39:55,440 --> 00:39:59,160 celebrating Thanksgiving in the US, it's right after that. 733 00:39:59,160 --> 00:40:03,200 And just you'll be able to hop on a plane to Vegas, Yeah? 734 00:40:03,240 --> 00:40:06,200 We'll have the link down below where you can go and buy tickets 735 00:40:06,200 --> 00:40:10,680 directly there, so follow the link and get a ticket and show 736 00:40:10,680 --> 00:40:12,840 up there. Because you know, you might see 737 00:40:12,840 --> 00:40:15,720 us there, guarantee we're going to be there, we are. 738 00:40:15,720 --> 00:40:17,280 We're making sure that we're going to be there. 739 00:40:17,280 --> 00:40:18,760 You guys are going to be able to see us. 740 00:40:19,080 --> 00:40:21,480 We are so enthusiastic about the plan. 741 00:40:21,480 --> 00:40:24,440 We are grateful for our audience and how much you could do. 742 00:40:24,880 --> 00:40:28,520 Everybody go down there, click on the link, make sure that you 743 00:40:28,520 --> 00:40:32,240 get your tickets 28 to December 1st. 744 00:40:32,240 --> 00:40:34,400 That's a lot. Plus, you got to think about all 745 00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:37,600 those after parties. And how many dispensers are 746 00:40:37,600 --> 00:40:39,520 going to be around there? How many products are you going 747 00:40:39,520 --> 00:40:43,120 to be wanting to check out right away, Go there, attend. 748 00:40:43,480 --> 00:40:45,800 We we can't. We can't stress that enough. 749 00:40:46,880 --> 00:40:48,720 Yeah, Thanks for jumping on Jess. 750 00:40:48,840 --> 00:40:51,360 It was great chatting. Thanks for having me. 751 00:40:51,360 --> 00:40:53,200 I'll see you guys in Vegas. Yeah. 752 00:40:53,320 --> 00:40:56,160 We're super excited. All right, everybody, take care.