A Look Back at 2024 Cannabis Events

Written by Rose Finlay

With busy season for industry events coming to a close, there are some significant things to highlight. First and most importantly, inclusive change is happening within the cannabis industry and it' s time for us to work together to further this movement. Diversity and inclusion can sometimes be overlooked as a pivotal factor in sustainability for any industry, which is why we ' re so passionate about creating the changes necessary to survive as a professional sector It gives us hope to know that many of our industry leaders have acknowledged that this is a crucial talking point and one that needs more exposure in the coming years.

With that said, unfortunately one of the biggest challenges with hosting events, is finding spaces that are already accessible, or that can be easily made accessible with reasonable investment

At this stage in the game, we are past the point of needing to make a case for why physical access is so vital. We are now at the stage where we need to come together as a community and actually prioritize addressing these issues and come up with creative solutions.

Lamentably, on a corporate level, we are still putting profits over people more than what' s ethically acceptable. I' m hopeful that by exploring the right channels, even corporate cannabis can begin to see the value in an industry that' s welcoming for all.

"It' s not in the budget" just simply cannot be tolerated as an excuse in 2025!

Now with all of that said, there are some very important honourable mentions from this year ' s events!

The Lunar Mixer - an event co-hosted by High Moon Magazine and The Dope Creative Club, will always be accessible and inclusive of everyone. With both our inaugural voyage in March and second blastoff in September, we were thrilled to welcome guests from all across the country and from all walks of life.

The folks behind BudBash have consistently done a great job at making sure their space is barrierfree while still maintaining the party vibe! We love to see it! It' s always a great time in the heart of Toronto sponsored by some of the brands we know and love from Aspire Infusions, Pistol and Paris, and even our friends from Partake! Recently, BudBash threw their second annual Halloween soirée BooBash following up on the day ' s excitement from Karma Cup It was great to see some new event sponsors like Ono and Wyld in this space as well.

As many of our readers know and experienced firsthand, day 1 of KIND Summer Fair was anything but Kind to anyone in the city. We received record flooding in Toronto that day, which forced the organizers to cancel the event. In an attempt to make it up to day one ticket holders, day two was broken up into two groups It made for a very long day but it was a very unique experience. Woefully, KIND Summer Fair still needs much improvement to make their event safe and accessible. We are looking forward to seeing how the new venue space for Winter Fair accommodates those of us with disabilities! All hope is not lost

A huge shoutout to Jeff Tseng and his team at

Ono Cannabis for coming in clutch to make the most of Toronto Floodgate 2024. After the cancellation of KIND, this team expediently put together a fantastic evening of entertainment with the ability to consume and stay dry!

What a surprise for them when someone in a wheelchair arrived at the venue which had a few steps! Kudos and thanks once again for rolling with the punches and being so accommodating.

StatCann Media & Events hosted Growing Relationships in Ottawa this summer and High

Moon Magazine was privileged to be in attendance David Brown and his team went above and beyond to make sure that this event was not only accessible physically but even accommodated dietary restrictions. This level of gracious hospitality should be exemplary for anyone hosting an event at the corporate level. It was both a pleasure and an honour to be able to participate in conversations and offer my expertise for how we can make impactful changes to help consumers with disabilities gain access to the plant. I feel very strongly that events like this will make the biggest waves in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Cannabis Industry. You can subscribe to their newsletter through their website at www.StratCann.com or give them a follow over on LinkedIn, to stay updated on dates and locations for next year ' s coast to coast events. They also share a variety of invaluable industry news and information

Our friends at Marigold Marketing were incredibly kind in extending the invite for their Tether event which was hosted following Growing Relationships Marigold has been and continues to be a very people centric organization and we are genuinely grateful to have them as strong advocates for inclusion and diversity. With their upcoming dates for Radicle Femmes, there' s never been a better time to connect with this community all across the country with events happening in Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver. You can find all the details for Radicle Femmes here. With great sponsors and a dedicated team that goes above and beyond, we look forward to big things in 2025 from Marigold

In closing, High Moon Magazine remains devoted to building community spaces that support everyone. It has been a year with many ebbs and flows but with a lot of passion for the plant This is what binds us As we move into the darker months with fewer events to connect, tap into online resources like social media or zoom rooms! Highly recommend, scheduling zoom seshes with your pals! Stay cosy and stay lifted, friends!