AGENDA OVERVIEW
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WELCOME & COFFEE
9:00am - 9:50am
CURATED NETWORKING & ROUNDTABLES
10:00am - 12:00pm
The venue will be split into a 'roundtable' setup, with up to 8 tables. Each table will have a facilitator to lead the discussion for 45 minutes. There'll also be speed networking out on the terrace.
EARLY WORKING LUNCH
12:00pm - 12:50pm
OPENING REMARKS
1:00pm - 1:10pm
KEYNOTE
1:10pm - 1:20pm
NAVIGATING REGULATORY & POLICY FLUX: CAN YOU STAY AHEAD OF THE RULEBOOK?
1:30pm - 2:00pm
In New York’s rapidly evolving cannabis market, the only constant is change — from shifting licensing priorities to sudden enforcement pushes and unexpected court rulings. For operators, this volatility can stall growth or, on some occasions, create sudden openings. This session brings together regulatory insiders and experts to explore how to anticipate policy shifts, build adaptable business models around them, and use agility as a competitive advantage.
FUELING GROWTH: FUNDING PATHWAYS FOR NEW YORK CANNABIS COMPANIES
2:00pm - 2:30pm
Access to capital in New York’s cannabis market is complex — from restrictive banking rules to cautious private equity. Yet for well-prepared companies, 2025 offers unprecedented opportunity to secure strategic funding. This conversation brings together investors and operators to discuss how to position for financing, structure deals that protect equity, and tap into alternative funding models such as revenue-based financing, joint ventures, and cross-border partnerships. Whether you’re scaling a single dispensary or expanding multi-state, the right capital strategy could define your market share for years to come.
CAPTURING HEARTS & MINDS: CONVERTING CUSTOMERS FROM THE ILIICIT MARKET
2:30pm - 3:00pm
New York’s illicit cannabis market still commands the majority of sales — but shifting consumer behavior and record-breaking monthly legal sales in 2025 signal a huge window of opportunity. This session explores how forward-thinking brands and retailers are successfully pulling customers from the unregulated space into the licensed market. We’ll look at how competitive pricing, curated product assortments, and exclusive drops can compete with the street; how loyalty programs and subscription models are keeping customers engaged; and how authentic storytelling, cultural alignment, and community presence can build credibility where regulation alone can’t.
FACILITATING GROWTH OF THE MEDICAL MARKET - AND WHY IT'S SO IMPORTANT
3:00pm - 3:30pm
While adult-use captures headlines, New York’s medical cannabis market is quietly poised for renewed growth through expanded qualifying conditions, patient-friendly policy shifts, and product innovation. This session explores how renewed medical demand is such a crucial cornerstone for the whole industry and how it can be renewed amidst a booming adult-use sector.
A RACE TO THE TOP OR A RACE TO THE BOTTOM? SCALING AS LICENSING EXPANDS AND PRICES SHIFT
3:30pm - 4:00pm
New York’s licensing pipeline is accelerating, with hundreds of new dispensaries expected by year-end — just as wholesale prices swing unpredictably. For some, this creates margin pressure and market crowding. For others, it’s the perfect storm for rapid scaling, strategic acquisitions, and capturing market share before the field gets too crowded. This session explores how to move fast, secure supply, and structure deals that turn both expansion and volatility into growth engines.
CRYSTAL CLEAR: TRANSPARENCY AND TRUST AS A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE
4:00pm - 4:30pm
In a crowded market, trust is currency and transparency can be the ultimate brand builder. This session dives into how operators are using real-time supply chain data to prove product provenance, guarantee quality, and deliver radical visibility to regulators, patients and consumers. From track-and-trace to consumer-facing batch reports, learn how tools don’t just tick compliance boxes — they unlock premium pricing, stronger retail relationships, and a loyal customer base that chooses trust over discounts.
CURATED NETWORKING & ROUNDTABLES
4:30pm - 4:50pm
EVENT ENDS
5:00pm