Few industries are primed for explosive growth like the cannabis drinks industry is. In its infancy, the cannabis-infused drinks sector is exploring innovative methods for creating palatable drinks that are infused with CBD and/or THC in various measurable dosing increments and ratios, each of which has different physical and psychotropic attributes. Drinks range from fizzy low-dose seltzers to dealcoholized then canna-infused wines, spirits, and beers, alongside fruity and floral mixers and libations.

The 2021 Cannabis Drinks Expo San Francisco and Chicago brought together influential speakers in the sector and dozens of key vendors ranging from the technical side of the business to marketers, public relations, distributors, and product producers.

The Cannabis Drinks Expo is for anyone in the Cannabis consumption and lifestyle sphere from producers to consumers, legal advisors and public relations or marketers, to developers, scientists, medical professionals, writers, educators, and related ancillary industries. The conference and expo were brimming with Canna-Curious people sharing a wealth of information along with their business cards, in the hopes of furthering and supporting the cannabis business across the United States, and beyond.

The annual Cannabis Drinks Expo is the place where Canna-Conversations are happening. It is the best place to network with industry pioneers, influencers, powerhouses, and trendspotters while listening in on insightful conference sessions and sampling wares along the way.

Highlights included a mixology demonstration by best-selling Canna Cocktails author Jamie Evans, an insightful panel detailing What Women Want from Their Infused Beverages, led by Amor Montes de Oca, and Tara Rozalowsky’s talk on mood management around the clock with specialty CBD-THC combinations to provide focus, relaxation, engagement, and post-workout recovery.

One theme ran through the conference: cannabis for wellness, health, and peace of mind. As a low to no sugar option, cannabis drinks are poised to steal market share from alcoholic beverages as cannabis can be formulated to be a healthier base product: low cal, low to no sugar, and hangover free. Who doesn’t love that?

While every speaker had great things to offer, wellness is the space for cannabis drinks. This is the pathway in and onto restaurant beverage lists. This is the avenue into the mainstream. Everyone at the conferences and in the expo halls is anticipating the future as legalization takes hold state by state, and eventually, federally. Everyone is getting ready. Once the regulations are in place and legalization is gained, the explosion is going to ignite quickly. Will you be ready?

San Francisco

Morning Sessions

Baden Room	Oyster Point Room
Why Cannabis Will Steal Share From the Alcohol Occasion Tracey Mason	Contract manufacturing for Cannabis-Infused Beverages Rick Gillis
How to Effectively Launch and Scale Your Cannabis Beverage Brand Judy Yee	Water-Compatible Cannabis Extract Nanoemulsions: Benefits, Formulation Development, and Production Methods Dr. Alexey Peshkovsky
Cannabis Drinks: Secrets to Crafting Infused Beverages at Home Jamie Evans	Working with Distributors Joy Hudson
Cannabis Beverages: Current Trends & Future Predictions Jocelyn Sheltraw	Self Distribution, Managing Sales Teams, and Supporting Retail Partners Ave Miller

 

Afternoon Sessions

Baden Room	Oyster Point Room
Building Memorable Cannabis Beverages That Actually Taste Like Cannabis  (Not Candy) Warren Bobrow	Panel: Advocating for Change: How the  Cannabis Beverage Industry can Succeed in California Aaron Silverstein, Macai Polansky, and David Quintana
How Does Cannabis Education Attract Customers? Anna Symonds	Building a Resilient and Agile Company in the Cannabis Beverage Sector Ben Kennedy
Key Regulatory Questions for Cannabis Beverages Michael Cooper	Want to Create Your Own Cannabis Beverage Brand? Here’s How to Do It. Chris Weaver
Effective Ways to Market Your Cannabis Beverage Brand From Dispensary to Internet Josh Lizotte	Tapping into the Untapped Market for Your Cannabis Beverage Products Christine de la Rosa

Chicago Conference

Morning Sessions

Grand Ballroom	Midwest Ballroom
Working with Distributors Joy Hudson	Product and Consumer Trends within the Cannabis Drinks Space  Bethany Gomez
Water-Compatible Cannabis Extract Nanoemulsions: Benefits, Formulation Development, and Production Methods Dr. Alexey Peshkovsky	Key Regulatory Questions for Cannabis Beverages Michael Cooper
A New Sip on Wellness: Mood Management with Cannabis Beverages Tara Rozalowsky	The Future of Hemp and Cannabis Consumption: Fate Onset Water Soluble Beverage Kenneth Vandervrede
Why Cannabis Will Steal Share From the Alcohol Occasion Tracey Mason

 

Afternoon Sessions

Grand Ballroom	Midwest Ballroom
Panel: What Women Want from Their Infused Beverages Amor Montes de Oca Chelsea Bedard, Jennifer Owens, Alison Disney, Laura Yee	Advocating for Change: How the Cannabis Beverage Industry can Succeed in California Aaron Silverstein, Lauren Barrett, and Brian Beck
The King of Buzz: Introducing America to Cannabis Beverages Lisa Weser	Effective Ways to Market Your Cannabis Beverage Brand from Dispensary to Internet Josh Lizotte
Want to Create Your Own Cannabis Beverage Brand? Here’s How to Do It. Bradley Mora	Trends in Canna Edibles and Beverages: Where are the Next Opportunities? Laurie Parfitt
What Cannabis Drinks Should be Stealing From Big Brands Rachel Boykins

Both conferences have been recorded and will be available soon at the Beverage Trade Network YouTube channel and on the website. Details about the 2022 conferences and expos will be available soon. See you next year!

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Written by: Simone FM Spinner, writer, editor, and educator