Image via Gage Skidmore/Flickr CC

If you haven’t heard by now, the cannabis industry is absolutely booming. It’s one of the fastest growing industries to ever exist—it’s growing as fast as broadband internet did in the early 2000’s. So it’s no wonder that lots of people are interested in getting involved.

For those that aren’t quite sure where to start, attending cannabis expos and events are a fantastic way to get your foot in the door into this flourishing industry.

There are lots of expos popping up all over the world, so no matter where you happen to live, it’s likely that you could find one relatively nearby. Cannabis Business Times lists upcoming events happening in the United States. You can also find annual expos happening in Canada, Germany, the Czech Republic, Israel, Jamaica, Spain, the Netherlands, and Italy, just to name a few.

Attending a cannabis expo allows you to learn about new opportunities and network with a wide range of people. It’s an ideal way to gain knowledge about the industry and make valuable connections.

And perhaps most importantly, going to cannabis expos and events allows you to play an active role in shaping this new industry.

“Cannabis conferences are transforming. The Lift Expo, for example, is now the largest in the history of the Canadian cannabis industry, and it has become a forum for all industry stakeholders to meet and push the industry forward through debate and ideation. Whether you’re a patient, an advocate, or a public company, your voice is as necessary as the next in these formative steps towards legalization. Cannabis conferences have become a meeting place for the industry,” explains Matei Olaru, CEO of Lift, the top strain discovery platform in Canada.

The profitability potential of going to a conference is vast. You might end up finding a future business partner or find an amazing startup with an original and extraordinary vision to invest in. Cannabis expos are basically a goldmine of information, ideas, businesses, people, and products—plus they’re also just a lot of fun.

Pantelis Ataliotis is the president of Dr. Dabber, a Nevada-based vaporizer company that has produced the first portable electronic rig. He has some invaluable advice to anyone looking to get the most out of attending one of these events:

“The best way to make the most out of a cannabis expo is by going into the conference with the mindset of wanting to learn—about the industry as a whole, specific businesses, and new innovations in the space. The industry is developing rapidly, and in order to keep up, you’ll need to be on the cutting edge of new technologies and best practices at all times. Expos serve as great opportunities for reaching new audiences and marketing high-quality products, but they’re particularly valuable as sources of information.”

Whether you are already heavily involved in the cannabis industry or you are a complete newbie, everyone is sure to benefit from attending an expo. From meeting new people with big ideas, to gaining a treasure trove of knowledge, these events are a worthwhile way to spend a weekend if you have any interest in this new and prosperous industry.