Page 13 - Feb 2020 Cannabis News Florida Newspaper

Benzinga Cannabis Conference Opportunity for Companies, Investors

BY LOIS THOMSON ence. Whereas at other conferences you
might sit through a 30- to 45-minute
"Everyone needs money to operate their keynote speaker presentation or a panel
business," said Patrick Lane, and anyone that runs for an hour, that's not how
looking for opportunities in the cannabis Benzinga organizes its events. "We move
industry might be able to find them at the quickly through our content. A panel to us
Benzinga Cannabis Conference at the is 25 minutes long, a keynote speaker no
Fontainebleau Miami Hotel, Feb. 24 – 25. longer than 15 minutes. It's a bit different
As Senior Vice President, Partnerships, from what you would see at other events,
Lane said Benzinga is a financial media and we like it that way. I think the age of
company that covers markets, and sitting in a room and listening to an hour-
cannabis is currently one of the hottest sec- long panel is gone. We're in that sort of
tors. fast-food culture, and the content has to be
He said the conference plans to show- fast and engaging."
case the best possible companies and Day 2 of the conference will consist of
investment opportunities for its users, company presentations and networking.
which in this case are investors. "The goal According to Lane, each company that reg-
is to facilitate networking between them – isters will receive 20 minutes in a breakout
companies and investors – as well as the room, generally with 75 to 125 people
business-to-business relationships attending in each room.
between companies that are interested in However, that's not to say attendees will
partnering in order to help grow the busi- not be able to enjoy a bit of Florida sun-
nesses. Those are the two core pieces of shine during their stay. Nicole LaPointe,
what we do." Executive Vice President of Operations for
Lane mentioned some of the topics, say- Benzinga, explained she handles day-to-
ing one focus will be on the American day operations, including logistics and
multi-state operators, who will discuss speaker management, and makes sure all
building businesses for both medical and events are on track. She said that while
adult recreational customers. There will Benzinga holds cannabis conferences
also be a panel focused on the licensed around the country, this one will be the
producers (LPs) gaining a foothold in the second in Miami, with people coming
United States, much of which is through from all over the nation, as well as from for all of Benzinga's conferences, not just will you have the caliber of executives in
the hemp CBD. Canada and overseas. ones relating to cannabis, and Lane added one room (that will be at this conference)
"We'll talk about the Cannabis 2.0 roll- "(Last year) we made the Miami event that working in different areas "offers us an in terms of the companies themselves, as
out in Canada, the different products and feel like a retreat. We gave time for outside interesting perspective in terms of how we well as a really well-vetted group of
companies. That's going to be really inter- activities and receptions, and we're doing approach this industry. A lot of companies investors. We're talking about family
esting because it's not from LPs' perspec- that again this year. People really enjoyed it in cannabis only do cannabis, but we're funds, private equity, institutions – which
tive, it's going to be from the folks that are because it was not just 'Oh let's go to this approaching it from a different angle. is really the bread and butter of what these
helping prop up this new aspect of the conference,' but instead, 'Let's take some We're more associated with the Wall Street companies are looking for in terms of rais-
industry – the extractors, the edible mak- time in the sun and also get some business crowd, with investors, with people who are ing capital."
ers, probably a retailer like High Tide. done.' So we had really good outcomes trading, moving capital in the market. It's
Those are the different perspectives we're from that, and that's why we're doing it important that we have the ability to focus For more information,
going to get." again." Approximately 750 people attend- on any sector, and cannabis is just one of call (313) 723-2000 or visit
Because so much activity will take place ed the previous conference, and Lane is them." www.benzingacannabisconference.
during the two-day conference, attendees estimating 800 or more this year. He concluded, "There are a lot of confer- com/miami.
should be prepared for a fast-paced experi- LaPointe manages her responsibilities ences these days, but hardly anywhere else

Florida’s Resource for
Medical & Business Cannabis Developments CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
Daniel Casciato
PO Box 812708 Barbara Fallon
Boca Raton, FL 33481-2708 Vanessa Orr
Phone: (561) 368-6950 Lois Thomson

Website: SUBSCRIPTIONS
www.cannabisnewsflorida.com One Year - $45
Two Years - $70
CHARLES FELIX Three Years - $85
CAROL FELIX
Publishers To subscribe, call (561) 368-6950
Or email:

NANCY LAMMIE carol@cannabisnewsflorida.com
JMC Graphics
Art/Production All rights reserved. Reproduction
In whole or part without written
JUDY GRAMM permission is prohibited.
Editorial Manager Copyright ©2020

36 February 2020 cannabisnewsflorida.com Cannabis News Florida