As the industry heads into the biggest conference of the year, make sure your MJBizCon schedule includes the NCIA community, including our advocates, leaders, and members who are driving the future of cannabis. This year’s event brings together innovators across cannabis, hemp, psychedelics, finance, compliance, retail technology, and emerging global markets. Below is your streamlined, chronological guide to every NCIA member-powered session you’ll want on your calendar. And if you haven’t already registered, claim 15% off with our promo code PRT77.

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Tuesday, December 2

9:50 – 10:30 AM – Launching Legally: Licensing, Compliance, and Capital for Cannabis Startups
Chelsea Haskins & Angelica Sanchez (Perfect Union), Justin Pilgrim (KeyPoint Credit Union), and Thomas Andersen (CannabisCPA.Tax) break down the essentials for launching a compliant, well-funded cannabis startup.

10:35 – 11:15 AM – Understanding the 2025 Cannabis Consumer – Who’s Buying & Why?
Liz Stahura (BDSA) reveals the evolving motivations and demographics driving next year’s cannabis demand.

11:20 AM – 12:00 PM – Continuing Credit Stress: Restructuring Debt in a Post-280E World
Jeffrey Schultz (Foley Hoag) and Frank Colombo (Viridian Capital Advisors) explore how operators can navigate debt restructuring as tax landscapes shift.

2:30 – 5:30 PM – Associations Day
Brooke Gilbert & Michelle Rutter Friberg (NCIA) will be available to discuss why membership is so important during this critical time for our industry.

2:30 – 3:10 PM – The Cannabis Startup Guide to HR, Payroll & Accounting Success
Raymond Guns, CPA (Dope CFO) highlights foundational financial and HR systems every cannabis startup must master.

3:15 – 4:00 PM – How Will Industry Consolidation Happen with Hemp and Cannabis?
Frank Colombo (Viridian Capital Advisors) discusses the forces shaping mergers and acquisitions across hemp and cannabis.

3:15 – 4:00 PM – When Will Cannabis Brands Finally Get Holiday Marketing Right?
Katie Mattox (Spherex) shares why brands struggle seasonally and how they can finally win the holidays.

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Wednesday, December 3

2:00 – 2:40 PM – Bridging the Marijuana and Hemp Divide
Adam Rosenberg (Vlasic Labs), Eric Berlin (Dentons), and Michelle Rutter Friberg (NCIA) explain how the two sectors are finding a unified voice.

2:50 – 3:30 PM – Indigenous Cannabis: Sovereignty, Regulation & Economic Opportunity
Andrew Livingston (Vicente) examines how Indigenous nations are shaping cannabis regulation and commerce.

2:50 – 3:30 PM – Next-Gen Infusions: Innovation, Compliance & the Future of Cannabis Beverages
Diana Eberlien & Harold Han (Vertosa) explore breakthroughs in beverage science and regulation.

2:50 – 3:30 PM – Global Cannabis Outlook: Trends, Policy Shifts & Market Opportunities
Jamie Pearson (New Holland Group) provides a world-tour of emerging global markets.

3:40 – 4:20 PM – State of the Market: What the Data Tells Us About the Coming Year
Karson Humiston (Vangst) and Frank Colombo (Viridian Capital Advisors) dissect the latest MJBiz Factbook data and its implications.

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Thursday, December 4

10:00 – 10:40 AM – From Battlefield to Breakthrough: Veteran Advocacy Driving Psychedelic Reform
Jason Moore-Brown (WeedMaps) spotlights the veterans accelerating psychedelic policy change.

10:50 – 11:30 AM – Charting a Profitable Path in an Era of Balkanized Cannabis Policy
Michelle Rutter Friberg (NCIA) helps outline survival strategies for navigating fragmented state-by-state regulation.

10:50 – 11:30 AM – How Unchecked Credit and Poor Collections Are Strangling the Cannabis Supply Chain
Adam Stettner (FundCanna) and Jun S. Lee (Nabis) unpack the financial pitfalls tightening the industry’s margins.

11:40 AM – 12:20 PM – Midwest Momentum: Navigating Cannabis in Ohio & Michigan
Emilie Ramach (Beneleaves) covers the Midwest’s rapid regulatory and market evolution.

11:40 AM – 12:20 PM – The Intersection of Cannabis & Psychedelics: Synergies & Challenges
Shanetha Marable-Lewis (Veterans 22) & Scheril Murray Powell (The JUSTÜS Foundation) examine the growing overlap between the two emerging industries.

2:50 – 3:30 PM – Retail Tech & Payments: Cashless Transactions, POS Innovations & the Future of Cannabis Sales
Aubrey Amatell (PayRio) explores how payments innovation is shaping cannabis retail.

2:50 – 3:30 PM – Land of 10,000 Lakes and Legalization: Minnesota’s Cannabis Industry in Transition
Jen Reise (NorthStar Consulting) & Jason Tarasek (Vicente) break down Minnesota’s path from legalization to implementation.

3:40 – 4:20 PM – Navigating the Legal Labyrinth: Compliance, Ethics & Psychedelic Practice
Joshua Kappel (Vicente) discusses the legal frameworks emerging around psychedelics.

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Friday, December 5

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Lounge Ready: Mastering Cannabis Hospitality
Dale Sky Jones (Oaksterdam) takes a deep dive into the future of consumption lounges and hospitality design.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM – The New Era of Cannabis Delivery: Creating Loyalty Beyond the Transaction
Matt Krishnamachari (Purple Lotus) closes out the week providing insight into cannabis delivery trends.

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If you plan to walk the Expo floor, make sure to visit National Cannabis Industry Association members below: 

Abstrax (booth #C20911)

Accounting Buds (#C25232)

Apex Trading (#C25113)

Baker Perkins (#C23707)

Bankcard International Group (#C26422)

Beaker & Wrench (#C23529)

Boveda, Inc. (#N14807)

Canna Carton (#C23629)

Gamut Packaging (#C21032)

Hanwha Vision (#C26817)

KayaPush (#C25509)

Linde Gas & Equipment Inc (#N13917)

Paragon Payroll (#C25830)

Prairie Island CBH Inc (#N15732)

PreRoll-Er (#C22018)

Proteus420 (#C25507)

Purpl Scientific Inc. (#N13819)

RollPros (#C20914)

Royal 4 Systems (#C26622)

CCELL (#C25417)

Sweed (#C27421)

Taylor (#C21536)

Urban-Gro (#N14306)

WECO (#C25511)

Across finance, compliance, retail innovation, policy, plant science, and psychedelics, our members help deliver a comprehensive look at the forces shaping cannabis in 2025. From consolidation and credit stress to Indigenous sovereignty and global expansion, attendees will walk away with a thorough understanding of where the industry is heading next.