CBDEXPO EAST

10:15 am – 11:00 am – Labeling Checklist: What You Can & Can’t Say

With various levels of legalization taking place nationwide, ensuring that your messaging falls within legal guidelines is crucial. From packaging and advertising content to marketing initiatives and sales collateral there are a number of pitfalls CBD companies are liable to make when discussing the plant and its products. One incorrectly used word could potentially result in fines, shutdowns, and more. While clever packaging can help firms effectively deliver messages while ensuring product integrity and safety. Here, we give you the ins and outs of precisely what can and cannot be said in your messaging, packaging, and branding. Stop having to worry about whether or not you are in compliance by listening to what the experts have to say.

11:15 am – 12:00 pm – Labelled for Success: Examining Packaging & Manufacturing

Continued success in an expanding industry demands attention on every level. A critical component to attracting customers and securing ongoing profits is packaging and manufacturing considerations. When it comes to cannabis products, rules and regulations alongside evolving demographics create unique and challenging factors in relation to how to design and display your products. This panel will take an in-depth approach to addressing all aspects of packaging and manufacturing as it relates specifically to CBD and cannabis-based products. You want to stand out but you need to do it effectively. Here we will highlight trends, tips, and techniques to accomplish that and much more.

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm – LUNCH BREAK

12:30 pm – 1:15 pm – IP Freely: Protecting Your Intellectual Property

In the same way that we take steps to protect and safeguard our personal property — homes, vehicles, jewelry, etc. — so too must we protect and safeguard our intellectual property. In the rapidly-expanding CBD marketplace, it’s more important than ever to ensure that your valuable ideas are not vulnerable to those looking to take advantage. In this panel, we will examine effective methods for safeguarding intellectual property, in addition to examining why this is such a worthwhile endeavor. Avoid becoming the Nikola Tesla of CBD!

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm – Protect Your Assets – A Look at Insurance Coverage and Protection in Relation to CBD

This panel will look at the growing need for proper insurance and coverage in relation to your growing CBD business. As the industry becomes more mainstream and regulated, insurance needs to be a key concern for any CBD business owner. Without proper insurance everything you’ve built can quickly end up on the brink. Every company conducting serious business in the CBD industry is no longer an outsider in this regard. This panel will take an in-depth look at the necessary steps to insuring your business while also breaking down forms of coverage and different providers to meet individualized needs. An essential aspect to the increasing demands of an emergent industry, the insurance needs of CBD brands and businesses will be addressed in full.

2:30 pm – 3:15 pm – From the Shelves to the Streets: Retail Strategies & Consumer Education

Formulating and creating an amazing product is one thing, getting it into the hands of consumers is another task altogether. That’s why implementing proper retail strategies and consumer education is paramount for everyone involved in the CBD business. Without strategy, new products can sit on the shelves gathering dust. Without education, even the greatest offerings will remain unknown. This panel will highlight effective methods to move products off of the shelves and into the hands of those who matter most – customers.

3:30 pm – 4:15 pm – We’re All in This Together – Mastermind Q&A with Industry Leaders

As the CBD industry grows, so do the opportunities to gain knowledge from the community. This panel is not to be missed as it will afford all in attendance the opportunity to ask wide-ranging questions to a group of respected and informed industry leaders. Topics discussed are sure to be wide-ranging and particular to the many challenges, issues, and successes affecting us all involved in the blossoming world of CBD products and business. This panel will allow you to gain insight into any lingering questions you’ve had with your business or the industry at large and is sure to leave attendees with a better understanding and comprehension of any hurdles or concerns they may be facing.

10:15 am – 11:00 am – Pastures of Plenty – The Current State of Hemp & CBD Under Federal Law

Controversy remains amongst scientists and industry stakeholders about how to best discuss the plant Cannabis Sativa, with a variety of interpretations influencing marketing and manufacturing decisions. Integral to this controversy are the various local, state, and federal regulations surrounding cannabis products such as adult-use marijuana and industrial hemp. As the legal landscape for cannabinoids becomes increasingly patchwork, brands looking for national appeal must familiarize themselves with these laws and regulations in order to avoid costly consequences. Our panel of experts will explore how the dynamics of regulatory compliance from the local and municipal level all the way up to the federal level.

11:15 am – 12:00 pm – Understand “The Man”: Food & Drug Compliance And Federal Enforcement 

Fighting the authorities can be a struggle. Although long held rules and regulations on CBD and other cannabinoids are rapidly changing, it still pays to pick your battles and know your rights. One wrong move in your CBD companies manufacturing process or production line can have the authorities breathing down your back, imposing huge fines at best and shutting your business down altogether in a worst case scenario. Don’t let this happen to you. Understand “The Man” and why it pays to follow the rules with this panel aimed at taking the crosshairs off of your business with a look at the requirements, processes and protocols to stay in good standing with the FDA and other federal enforcement.

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm – LUNCH BREAK

12:30 pm – 1:15 pm – The Sensibility of cGMP: Savviness Regarding How Products are Made and Where

Everyone’s selling CBD products; farmers’ markets, gas stations, beer distributors, even a gun store in Western Pennsylvania. But when CBD abounds in nearly every type of marketplace, the questions you should be asking are “where did the hemp come from, how was it grown, and who made these products?” These questions are even more relevant considering the cost of CBD-containing products, which are often more expensive than traditional pharmaceutical drugs. Making these inquiries, however, isn’t a recommendation to strictly consumers. And when millions of us are consuming increasing quantities of cannabinoids and terpenes, knowing that the products we ingest have been meticulously crafted in well-kept facilities that follow standard operating procedures and adhere to detailed documentation practices can help separate quality manufacturers from those strictly interested in quantity. This panel highlights what GMP entails, and why it’s important for the generation of cannabinoid-derived medicine.

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm – But our Money’s Green, Too. Big Banks & Financial Risk Factors

Until federal legalization takes place, banks of any kind assume some form of risk when they decide to shelter the money of companies operating with cannabis. Regardless of whether the bank is in more than one state or not, the banking industry itself is federally regulated, and must therefore abide by the current statues of the federal law. Thus, Whenever your money goes into a bank, it shouldn’t go unsaid that there is some risk that the money may not always be there for you to withdraw. Come learn about risk mitigation strategies and which may be right for you.

10:15 am – 11:00 am – Lightning in a Bottle – Exploring Trends to Identify the NEXT Big Thing

Sometimes a stroke of genius happens overnight. Other times, it takes years of patience and planning to come up with the next big thing in the cannabis industry. Regardless of how it happens, there are trends and patterns that can be identified on the pursuit of the perfect product. Grasping these trends can allow you to position yourself to better understand what goes into popular new offerings. This panel will give insight which will provide replicable know-how into the key factors, consumer leanings, and data-based predictions behind the latest and greatest products to help you create the next big thing.

11:15 am – 12:00 pm – First Time Buying CBD? What to Ask Your Supplier

Cannabidiol has become the darling of the cannabinoid industry – and for good reason. This powerful compound possess a wide array of benefits, spanning from anti-inflammatory properties to sedative, sleep-inducing calm. Whether a patient or just someone interested in trying it out, CBD may be a great addition to a daily routine. However, buyers beware, as many companies have been moving in on the CBD trend but do not have the expertise needed. For one thing, due to lack of industry regulations, that bottle of 500 mg CBD oil may not actually contain 500 mg of CBD; even worse, there may be harmful chemicals left over from the growing/manufacturing process. So, what to do? Ask your CBD supplier where your CBD was grown, if product-testing results are available, how long they have been working with the company who makes the product, whether others who have used the product have seen beneficial effects, and if they trust the company providing the product. When in doubt, do your own research so you are an informed consumer.

12:00 pm – 12:30 pm – LUNCH BREAK

12:30 pm – 1:15 pm – Cannabinoid Capital – Finding And Closing Investors For Your CBD Start-Up

Businesses need capital investments to get off the ground. Luckily, your CBD start-up is a potential hot commodity for a wide range of investors and financiers due to the projected growth of the CBD market in coming years. With loads of companies competing for the same start-up money, learning how to find and close investors is a must-learn skill quickly turning to must-have asset. Secure solid investors and your CBD business will be off to the races, fail to attract financing and you’ll be stuck spinning circles. This panel will position you and your CBD start-up to approach and secure investors while learning what many look for and demand in order to commit cold hard cash to further your endeavor.

1:30 pm – 2:15 pm – Creative Consumption – New Delivery Methods for a Wide Range of Products

The industry is ever growing and expanding. With all of that change comes a steady need to innovate in both product offerings and how those products are consumed. This panel will take a look at new delivery methods that are shaping demand moving forward into the future. Gone are the days of only tinctures and flower as science and progress steer things toward a bigger horizon. From topicals to tablets and solubility to sublinguals, we will dive into developments in delivery method that are both exciting and intriguing for business owners and consumers alike.

2:30 pm – 3:15 pm – A Flood In The Market: How To Differentiate Your Brand

With the spreading legalization of both medical and recreational cannabis across the US, more and more players are getting into cannabis. This creates a new level of competition driven by product differentiation. Like traditional industries that were never hindered by prohibition, cannabis companies are flexing their new-found independence by stepping up their branding and marketing efforts. This means investing heavily in custom relationship management to ensure people stay satisfied and remain loyal to the brand. But, until cannabis is federally legalized, brands cannot rely on all traditional tactics, such as television ads, to drive sales. Creativity is certainly necessary in this nascent industry.