The Marketplace

Meet the best seed, soil, lighting and grow equipment companies in the nation. 

The Grow School

Spark progressive conversations around what small and large cannabis cultivators are facing in a challenging market. This year we’re doubling down and bringing together experts from across the nation to speak on everything from home and commercial cultivation, to regenerative agriculture and small farm practices.

2025 Schedule

Friday, July 18

4:30pm 

Growin’ Easy: Home Cultivation 101 

Curious about cultivating your own cannabis? Learn the basics of growing at home—from seed to harvest. This beginner-friendly class covers lighting, soil, nutrients, and tips for healthy, happy plants. 

• CJ Cowgill, Chief of Operations, Balanced Veterans Network  

• Bryce Tucker

5:00pm 

Rolling with Miss Q 

Join “Rolling with Miss Q” and learn how to roll the perfect joint or blunt. This workshop will break it down step by step so you can roll with confidence, style, and precision.

• Miss Q, Owner, The Brookland Smoke Shop

6:00pm 

Organic Soil Demo and Q&A w/Rapp Road Genetics 

Learn about organic soil composition and building the best soil for your home grow.. 

• Bukweetz, Founder/CEO, Rapp Road Genetics

6:30pm 

Backyard Bandits: Lazy Outdoor Growing in the DMV 

Learn how to successfully grow your own medicine outdoors, under the sun, and organically in our East Coast climate and (sub)urban conditions. Cannabis doesn't require synthetic chemicals, expensive lights, or complicated HVAC setups. I’m here to empower you to grow a few plants working in partnership with Mother Nature, not against her. 

• Sebi Medina-Tayac, Founder, Red Cedar Farms

7:15pm

Scaling Small Batch from the Legacy to Legal Market

Are you ready to scale up from home growing to facility style cultivation while maintaining quality? This advanced workshop will teach on how to scale up your cultivation to the next level, highlighting equipment, techniques, and genetics.

• Rob Lato, Head of Cultivation at Blvck Market, Founder & CEO of Roblato Boutique Cannabis & Roblato Cultivation Consultants

Saturday, July 19

2:30pm 

Stay Cool, Stay High: Using Cannabis Safely in the Heat

Join the experts at Essence in the Air for tips and tricks on staying safe while consuming cannabis in hot weather. Learn how heat can affect your body, hydration tips, product choices, and dosing strategies to keep your experience chill, enjoyable, and comfortable all summer long.

• Johnny Gallman

• John “Questt” Pickett

• Everett Smith

2:45pm 

Easy Bud Box Live Demo Presentation

Join BMore Hydro for a live demo of the Easy Bud Box—an affordable, beginner-friendly grow kit that lets anyone grow hemp or cannabis legally at home. See how this compact system takes you from seed to harvest with ease, no experience needed, and full compliance with Maryland law and the 2018 Farm Bill.

• Julius Franks, General Manager, BMore Hydro

3:15pm

Inside the Mind of a Ganjier: Craft, Culture & Cannabis Connoisseurship 

Dive deep into the world of the Ganjier with Alan Amsterdam, David Tart, and Taylor Martin —certified cannabis sommeliers. Explore the rigorous methods used to assess flower quality, aroma, flavor, and experience.  

• Alan Amsterdam, Certified Ganjier and Partner, Capitol Hemp

• Taylor Martin, Certified Ganjier, Owner, Maryland’s Cannabis Reserve

• David Tart, Senior Product Manager – Grassroots, Curaleaf 

4:00pm

Choosing the Right Strain with Terpenes & Cannabinoids

Not all cannabis is created equal. Johnny Gallman, two-time Budtender of the Year, and John Pickett (aka Cannaquest, Influencer of the Year) break down the effects of different terpenes and cannabinoids to help you find the strain that best fits your needs. Whether you’re seeking calm, creativity, sleep, or focus, we’ll help you choose your best match and elevate your cannabis experience.

• Johnny Gallman,Operations Manager, Cookies DC

• John “Questt” Pickett

4:45pm

Grow With Honor: The Fight for Veteran Safe Access 

Veterans shouldn’t have to fight for their right to heal. Grow With Honor puts the spotlight on the national fight for safe and legal home cultivation for veterans. Homegrown4Heroes leads this fight by providing veterans with safe, tested cannabis grown by a dedicated network of volunteer cultivators. 

• Jennifer Bailey, CEO and Founder, Homegrown4Heroes

• Lonnie Hayes, Minorities for Medical Marijuana

5:15pm 

Atlas Seeds Raffle Winner Announcements

Stop by the Atlas booth in Grower’s World to enter our special raffle featuring two limited-release strains—one autoflower, and one photoperiod. Three winners will score big: two win 10-packs and one lucky winner gets 15 packs! Every entry gets a free seed—just drop your name, email, and phone number to enter. Don’t miss your chance to win!  

6:00pm 

Regenerative Cultivation Techniques  

Learn how to grow cannabis the natural way! This demo will cover regenerative cultivation techniques using living soil, compost, and natural amendments. Discover how to build healthy ecosystems, boost plant resilience, and grow top-shelf flower 

• Carmin Ruggiero, COO, Capitol Hemp Owner, LLC