As the year draws to an end, the MJBizCon is once again in full swing at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The international cannabis industry has flocked the largest cannabis industry event, where professionals can be seen walking through the different halls and aisles of the venue.
© Priscilla Heeffer | MMJDaily.com
The show kicked off with the State of the Industry session, where the MJBiz team and guest editors from Fat Nugs Magazine and GreenState walked through the biggest themes shaping the market. From policy changes and rescheduling talk to capital flows and consumer behavior, the message was clear enough. The industry is at a turning point and unity will matter more than ever.
On the floor, the mood reflected a market that is still large and still growing, but also more disciplined than it once was. The United States remains one of the most dynamic consumer sectors anywhere, with demand climbing as new adult use programs appear across the East Coast and Midwest. On the other hand, newer cannabis states are taking a more cautious approach, hoping to avoid the mistakes and shortcomings we've all seen at the dawn of the legal cannabis industry. Such an attitude can also be seen in mature markets as they attempt to rebalance supply and demand by, for instance, reducing license counts. In other words, growth continues, but the room for error is much smaller.
© Priscilla Heeffer | MMJDaily.com
Cultivators have been living with price compression for a while now, and it continues to shape almost every strategic move. Many growers are tightening their operations through better environmental control, HVACD improvements, LED conversions, and leaner post harvest workflows. Others are reducing labor with more automation, dialing in crop steering, and chasing higher grams per square foot rather than larger facilities. On the product side, the push is split between premium lines with differentiated genetics and value tier offerings needed to keep velocity. Across the board, cultivation is becoming a data driven, manufacturing style business where consistency and cost control decide who stays in the game.
© Priscilla Heeffer | MMJDaily.com
Walking through the booths and eavesdropping a little, it's hard to miss the interest new markets such as New York, Ohio, and Minnesota continue to draw. Even mature states like California and Michigan are seeing operators double down on quality to stay competitive. Hemp THC drinks were another talking point, with retailers across the mainstream embracing them fully, even as the federal hemp THC ban approaches in late 2026.
Attendance on day one felt steady, with exhibitors hoping for even heavier foot traffic on the second day of the event. Despite the pressures in the market and the more cautious environment, MJBizCon remains the largest gathering in the sector in North America, and many were simply glad to reconnect, compare notes, and take the pulse of an industry that continues to evolve at high speed.
© Priscilla Heeffer | MMJDaily.com
Stay tuned for our update tomorrow!
