The Hamptons has gone to pot.
“Educating people on cannabis investment-wise, health-wise, I just think it’s a great expo to have just for the awareness,” says The Clubhouse events coordinator and co-owner Holly Rubenstein.
Panel discussions on advocacy, legalization and investment strategies included industry heavyweights like Jeff Finkle, Jennifer Drake, David Feldman and even former college basketball great turned cannabis activist and investor Chris Webber who co-heads the WebberWild Fund.
Exhibitors scattered on the back lawn of The Clubhouse included everything from CBD face masks, Caribbean drinks, oils, apparel and, perhaps more significantly, a number of investment firms. Even, yes, Neiman Marcus.
Andrew Cuomo signed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in March, towns and villages across the New York State face a year-end deadline to decide whether to allow dispensaries within their borders or to opt out.
The panels got a land acknowledgement from Shinnecock Indian Nation Tribal Member Chenae Bullock and Shinnecock’s Barré Hamp of Little Beach Harvest, the nation’s planned dispensary, spoke on one of the panels.
Attendees spent $200 to wander the grounds, nosh on brick-oven pizza and bacon-wrapped scallops, have a drink and sit in on the five panel talks.
A few technical glitches and noisy overhead aircraft aside, Bierfriend was pleased.