“Every event will be a cannabis event,” said moderator Jim Lewi, the seasoned executive who has been involved in ventures at the intersection of cannabis and the live industry including the Emerald Cup and Aspen High Summit.
Today, cannabis is legal for medical use in 37 states and for recreational use in 18 states, with 60 percent of Americans approving of both medical and recreational use of the substance, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center study.
“This is a moment in time where as cannabis policy is advancing, there’s somewhat of a first mover advantage for promoters and venues that are willing to embrace this,” said Dustin Moore, co-founder and chief strategy officer of cannabis retailer and concessionaire Embarc.
Among those first movers: the state of California itself, by way of the California Exposition and State Fair, an independent state agency.
“California State Fair has been in operation for 167 years – only stopped in times of war and coronavirus.