Advocating for Change: How the Cannabis Beverage Industry Can Succeed in California (Panel)

Cannabis-infused beverage is a fast-growing category that is gathering traction with consumers. The Cannabis Beverage Association (CBA) is a California-based trade association that provides a collective voice to the sector and advocates for the sector's unique needs. Come meet key members of the CBA and its allies that are working together in Sacramento to affect the changes that support the infused-beverage industry. Learn about what's been accomplished, what's in progress, and how you can have your voice heard.

PANELISTS:

- Aaron Silverstein - CBA President, VP of Production & BD of House of Saka

- Macai Polansky - CBA Founder, Co-Founder of SpaceStation & Cannagram

- David Quintana - CBA Lobbyist, Founder of Resolute Company

- Political Representative TBD

Building a resilient and agile company in the Cannabis beverage sector

Join Fable CEO Ben Kennedy on the keynote stage for a poignant founder’s story on building and launching a line of premium cannabis cocktails in the midst of major, multifaceted disruption. As the largest global brands struggle to meet changing consumer preferences in the midst of supply chain snafus and labor shortages, how can a startup thrive? Ben will talk about the Fable team’s focus on agility, perfecting the art of the pivot, and maintaining an unbreakable dedication to the customer.

Want to create your own cannabis beverage brand: here's how to do it

Spacestation is the current largest manufacturer of cannabis-infused drinks in the world. Our company is based in Woodland, California, near Sacramento. Spacestation specializes in turnkey contract manufacturing solutions that enable companies of all sizes to effectively develop a cannabis beverage brand and help take their new product to market. In this talk Brad will give you insights on how to start your own cannabis beverage brand.

Tapping in to the untapped market for your cannabis beverage products

The legal market for cannabis products across the US is $10BN, the non-legal or informal market is 7x more than that. In this session we are going to talk about this untapped market, why it exists, why it continues to thrive and what you as an existing brand or upcoming brand can do to ensure you are reaching this market and helping them transition into purchasing your legal product. We will be discussing what you need to know when developing and marketing your brand when you market for the rest of us. We will consider that premium or luxury brands are actually not what the bulk of the existing consumers are looking for in the drinks. Finally we will talk about how beverages can be an equalizer both in quality and in cost effectiveness for the market.

Panel: What Women Want From Their Infused Beverages

Illinois Women in Cannabis (IWC) will host a female focused conversation about what women want from their infused beverages at retail and on-premise, at restaurants and bars. IWC has assembled a powerhouse panel of female executives who will discuss women as consumers of cannabis-infused beverages and drinks, and the implication of portability, palatability and sociability on product development, branding and marketing.

Panelists:

Chelsea Bedard, Chief Revenue Officer, Cann Cannabis-Infused Social Tonics 

Jennifer Owens, Chief Executive Officer, Beverage Solution Partners

Alison Disney, Partner and Business Strategist, Receptor Brands

Laura Yee, Advisor & Trendspotter, USFood and Owner/Operator, Bite This Media

Moderator: Illinois Women in Cannabis

The King of Buzz: Introducing Americans to Cannabis Beverages

As the former head of U.S. Marketing Communications at AB InBev (BUD), Lisa made the pivot from Queen of Beers to The Cannabis Publicist™ in 2018. She founded Trailblaze to bring a more sophisticated, disciplined “big CPG” storytelling approach to the developing cannabis industry. From the High Times to The New York Times, Lisa and her team put next-generation brands on the map with strategic, results-focused communications strategies and targeted mainstream media relations.

Want to create your own cannabis beverage brand: here's how to do it

Spacestation is the current largest manufacturer of cannabis-infused drinks in the world. Our company is based in Woodland, California, near Sacramento. Spacestation specializes in turnkey contract manufacturing solutions that enable companies of all sizes to effectively develop a cannabis beverage brand and help take their new product to market. In this talk Brad will give you insights on how to start your own cannabis beverage brand.

What Cannabis drinks should be stealing from big brands

As a newcomer to cannabis, Rachel recognizes there's a lot the industry can learn from some of her former employers.  There's no need to reinvent the wheel when CPG and alcohol have set up tried and true strategies to steal.  Taking her learnings from adjacent industries and recent experience as PharmaCann's Director of Brand Marketing, she will review what cannabis brands can really implement to drive success and act like a big brand.