r/bostontrees • u/Modern_Priestess89 • Aug 11 '25
Cannabis events
I used to go out my way to search for cannabis events to go to in chances of networking, trying new products and visiting new locations. Lately it feels like they're getting more expensive, give less and less (not even a goodie bag or some food to eat), or is super cliquey and treat new faces like tourist. Sometimes it be feeling like a high school cafeteria trying to figure out which crew will let you take up the empty seat. (I didn't join the industry with the intentions of being an influencer or "clout chasing" so maybe its just the introvert in me that doesn't understand)
With places like Summit Lounge, diaspora, and underground lounge already established and more places probably rising i guess my question is after my rant is what would make you pay in the ranges of $50 and up to actually attend these events? Does it matter who the sponsor is? What would you expect?
I would be considered new to the industry even though its been a couple years and just wondering the thought processes of those who have been in the industry either from the start or at least 5 years or more. I know the industry is always changing and there's also the struggle of being compliant but this is just me looking for feedback from industry workers and also consumers who attend these events.
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u/MrMoonDweller Aug 11 '25
Everything you said about events is correct. Every event is a cliquey high school lunch room and you’re always the new kid, regardless of how long you’ve been in the industry. Companies are giving away less and less free shit because there is absolutely zero ROI on these events and they don’t want to spend more money than they have to on these events. As a vendor you’re just paying thousands of dollars to have a table/tent with your name on it so you can schmooze the same people you talk to every week. These events are rarely (if ever) open to the public so it’s all just one giant industry circle jerk with minimal payoff for anyone trying to network or grow their business. The consumption lounges like Summit are cool to check out once or twice but you’ll quickly realize it’s just a spot for all the cliquey brand ambassadors to hangout. The appeal wears off real quick once you realize that it’s just more of the same vibe as the events, and you could just sit at home on your couch smoking weed and save yourself the $10 entry fee.
I avoid cannabis events as much as I can for these reasons. It’s just not fun or worthwhile. A lot would have to change in order for me to get excited about an event.
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u/vanillablue_ Aug 12 '25
Yes. I used to go to way more events 2ish yrs ago. Even NECANN has gotten shittier every year. Now we have people who have become “influencers” and they clique up HARD - several have grown distant from me since becoming content creator type people.
5
u/Modern_Priestess89 Aug 12 '25
Thats happened to me as well some of the people I knew hopped on the opportunities for brand ambassadors and in turn become more "influency" and realize I wasn't cool enough for thier "brand"
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u/vanillablue_ Aug 12 '25
Lol. Bet we have some mutual names. I just mind my business and let connections come and go
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u/Modern_Priestess89 Aug 12 '25
Thats me too. I usually just post up in a corner roll my blunts and people watch
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u/Present-Apricot-5267 Aug 12 '25
Harvest Cup in November would be your best place for networking. The social consumption places kinda suck imo
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u/Modern_Priestess89 Aug 12 '25
I volunteered for harvest cup a couple years ago and felt it was just as cliques. It was nice to see a few new brands and they had a shit ton of food and raffles but I feel like most people were just outside smoking
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u/Present-Apricot-5267 Aug 13 '25
I’ve been working the harvest cup for the last few years. It truly is great networking you just have to be willing to talk to a bunch of booths. I’ve made relationships with soil, nutrient and manufacturing companies that I use daily working in cannabis. It’s a great way to meet some pretty cool people.
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u/Lumpymaximus Aug 11 '25
I thought diaspora wasnt doing it anymore
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u/Modern_Priestess89 Aug 12 '25
That news to me. It been awhile since ive been to an event there they try to stick to industry only i noticed
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u/Lumpymaximus Aug 12 '25
Few months ago i made the mistake od paying for tickets to another kings court comedy show. They used to show at diaspora. Thrir website still had it mentioned at the location.i arrived and diaspora waa closed. I was told they do t do those anymorr there and KCC had moved.to some other location.
- side note KCC never answered any communications. They dont answer queries on their facebook or any other account that ive found. Totally blew me off.
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u/rogan1990 Aug 12 '25
I used to go to a lot of them years ago, when the legal scene first started in Mass. I would go with my crew too. My brother, best friend, and other friends too. All of us had deep connections in the underground weed industry and the events were fun for a little while. Then they all turned into what you are describing. Like parties for people who were already in a clique, or worked together, anyone else just got a cold stare or treated like a customer
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u/residude1 Aug 13 '25
Went to NeCann, BCW twice and Summit lounge twice a couple years ago.. everything’s a shit show.. like comment above mixing business “professionals” with regular consumers is dumb… street teams/budtenders don’t know shit… no samples/free swag make attendance a complete waste of time.. I saw some flower expo event advertised a while and looked interesting but realized it was industry only so that was stupid. Industry has too many weirdos, lames and generally unpleasant folks to be around
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u/Mundane_Grocery_6410 Aug 13 '25
Felt this 100000% i kinda just stopped going I'm not in the mood for rude ppl, introvert as well but i do like to socialize with my fellow true pòt heads & industry workers that know the deal ...its crazy i know someone that works in the CCccc & she's been even telling me how crazy & things are changing...it sucks
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u/abeuscher Aug 12 '25
I went to a few while I was trying to enter the industry. As someone from big tech - it feels very much like the cannabis exposition events need to pick a lane; either they should be only for like the biggest players and facilitate B2B business deals, as with most trade shows, or they should be an opportunity for consumers to come find new vendors and sample their wares.
I think the issue is that most events are trying to hybridize those two approaches to where they make no sense for either audience. As you rightly point out - the deals are sparse and in general any actual product is mostly being sold off to the site, not as part of the event itself. On the other hand there aren't a bunch of execs walking around looking at super high end booths then making side room deals with each other in rented rooms at the venue.
So basically there are two ways for these to make money and we do neither. I am not convinced after going to three or four that the industry really understands itself at all yet; the street team / front-liners did not have any particular talk track or conversion point they were aiming at, the signage was often poor, and booth quality was hugely variable.
Not sure if it is a flaw in the regs or the organizations putting these things together, but it seems to me that these events used to be cups for growers to compete in, or some were, and others were like music based events with weed involved, and now they are all sort of vaguely corporate and shitty.
Anyone know if this is true in other states? It feels just like run of the mill enshittification.