The annual Marijuana Business Conference, or MJBizCon, the largest cannabis-related conference in the world, ran last Wednesday (the 14th) through Friday (the 16th). This year, roughly 2,800 attendees from all 50 states and 60 different countries showed up to represent every sector of this industry, including retailers, software companies, cultivators, financial service providers, edible manufacturers, and testing labs.

Though primarily a business-to-business conference, MJBizCon offers a unique opportunity for investors to get a taste of how much this industry grows exponentially each year. Below six cannabis executives who were at the conference this year describe for us what exactly investors should take away from this year’s major event:

“Investors going to MJBizCon 2018 know that the legal cannabis industry has reached a major milestone with Canada fully legalizing the sale and consumption of marijuana this year. The trend towards legalization has also continued in the U.S. with multiple states voting in favor of legalizing medical or recreational marijuana in the midterm elections. With such strong momentum and heightened attention on the industry, expect some major announcements this week from some of the industry’s leaders.”

Lisa Harun, CMO of Vapium, a Canadian vaporizer company focused on providing durable, portable high-tech devices designed for outdoor use.

“Investors at MJBizCon 2018 saw an industry that has moved from the fringe to the mainstream. As the legal cannabis industry has expanded dramatically, so have the lucrative investment opportunities.”

Marij Chimes, CMO of Coda Signature, a multi-award-winning, Colorado infusion company creating high quality edibles, concentrates, and balms.

“The legal cannabis industry is in a stage of enormous growth, and savvy investors want in. MJBizCon 2018 was huge, the biggest event they’ve ever held, and an amazing opportunity for new and seasoned investors looking to break into the industry. There was a ton of rich content and experienced investors sharing their insights on panels and lunch presentations. The Institutional Investor day was also a huge success, with about 500 attendees and lots of great speakers. I met dozens of new investors and reconnected with many more that I’ve known for years.”

Peter Vogel, CEO of Leafwire, the cannabis industry’s answer to networking; a platform akin to Linkedin, but 100% devoted to cannabis.

“This year at MJBiz Con, there was a noticeable buzz of positivity around Jeff Sessions leaving office. It was as if people now felt him being gone was one of the final hurdles to forwarding progress in the industry nationwide. Investors were still on the hunt for cannabis companies offering unique IP, or major revenues, which seemingly come down to the dispensaries that are situated with the best locations in their portfolio. There were a lot more booths this year, and a lot more software. It seems there is an arms race to become the first truly all-in-one software solution, which seems to me to be very wide open and difficult to accomplish.”
Dustin Iannotti, co-founder of Artisans on Fire, a cannabis-focused marketing agency.

“This was my third year attending MJBizCon and it’s inspiring to see how quickly the [legal cannabis] industry is growing and how much more professional it is becoming.”

Charles Jones, Founder of Lucid Mood, manufacturer of mood-enhancing cannabis “sippers” (vape pens); based in Denver, Colorado.

“MJBizCon was a huge success in terms of a national show of the industry’s size and influence. I believe there was a record 28,000 industry professionals, investors and entrepreneurs in attendance. If nothing else, investors should see this and hop on the green wave. It’s only going to get bigger every year.”

Jordan Friedman, Co-Founder & CEO of Zodaka, the safest, most reliable high risk payment system on the market.