rehashed
By WES ABNEY | PHOTOS by DANIEL BERMAN
Tacoma, WA Aug. 14-17, 2014
BUSINESS CLASS
T
housands of ambitious business owners, investors and Cannabis enthusiasts gathered last month at the Tacoma Dome for the debut of CannaCon, the first true business expo for the Cannabis trade. The event was limited to business owners on the first two days. It allowed for relaxed business-to-business connections before the final two days that saw entry by the public, bringing a lively mix of attendees to the 180 booths at the event. Founder Bob Smart of Everett said the event met his principal goal: Make business happen. “It’s been amazing to see how many business owners and 502 licensees came out for this event,” he said. “We had over 6,000 business owners alone show up. There were over $5 million in business deals landed on Saturday alone, with a total economic
20/sept. 2014 FACEBOOK.COM/NWLEAF
At CannaCon, smoking or vaping wasn’t allowed, making for the kind of professional, business-oriented Cannabis industry networking the Northwest has needed for years.
impact of between $6 million and $8 million in sales facilitated by the event.” Bob said the days of pot-smoking-themed expos are fading into the past. Vendors were required to follow rules about what they could display. And with no complaints heard, people said they loved it. “This event was professional, and it was great as a business owner. There were no street kids walking around selling brownies in picnic baskets and stoned attendees wandering aimlessly through booths,” said Ian Bolyard, owner of NW ATM Services, based in Lacey, Washington. “People who attended were really wanting to do business and looking to make connections. You saw real investors, real business plans that would normally be associated with the mainstream business world. The Cannabis world has now entered the real business world.”
The 134 vendors included growing equipment providers, high-end packaging solutions for Cannabis, software tracking systems, insurance and financial solutions, and more than one eager venture capitalist. One of the biggest hits of the weekend was the Magic Butter cooking demonstrations, which showed how the machines could be used to make infused products. The company sold out its units the first day. For Daron Coon, a sales representative for the medible company Cheeba Chews, the opportunity to meet new contacts in a smoke-free space was crucial. “It was a phenomenal event and opportunity to meet business people and begin building relationships for the future,” he said. “This was directed to the business community, not people looking for free samples. You got