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.

2024 Schedule

Friday, April 19

5:00pm 

The Bouqé Rolling Invitational at the National Cannabis Festival — Prelims

The Bouqé Rolling Invitational Hosted By Bouqé at The National Cannabis Festival is an exhilarating showcase of talent and creativity, where participants compete to craft the perfect roll. From novices to seasoned rollers, contestants bring their A - game to impress judges with precision, style, and flair. With prizes and bragging rights on the line, the competition adds an exciting element to the festival, celebrating the artistry and culture of rolling within our cannabis community.

5:30pm

How to Use Tissue Culture for Insights into Cannabis Cultivation

Ideal for horticulturists, cannabis enthusiasts, or anyone interested in plant science, this presentation will provide an essential guide to the applications and benefits of cannabis tissue culture. Join us for an informative session filled with expert insights and practical tips!

• Francisco Palacios, Lab Director, Plant Cell Technology, Inc.

• Jared Buggage, Operations Coordinator

6:15pm

Atlas Seeds Happy Hour Prize Winner Announcement

6:30pm 

How to Grow Quality Cannabis

In this session, legendary breeder Ken Estes will share his perspective on growing quality cannabis.  He'll share tips and tricks that he's learned over his 30 year career breeding some of the most widely recognized and used genetics.  Ken will also share his journey through the career, share lessons learned, and give hope to future growers! Learn more about Grandaddy Purp.

• Ken “Grandaddy Purp” Estes

• Walter McGill

7:00pm 

The Bouqé Rolling Invitational at The National Cannabis Festival — FINALS 

The Bouqé Rolling Invitational Hosted By Bouqé at The National Cannabis Festival is an exhilarating showcase of talent and creativity, where participants compete to craft the perfect roll. From novices to seasoned rollers, contestants bring their A - game to impress judges with precision, style, and flair. With prizes and bragging rights on the line, the competition adds an exciting element to the festival, celebrating the artistry and culture of rolling within our cannabis community.

7:30

Drag Queen Story Hour

Featuring performances from Dabatha Christie, Silver Ware Sidora, and Baphomette.

Saturday, April 20

12:30pm

High Revenue Genetics & Cultivation Success funded by Solventless Extraction 

Where to source revenue increasing genetics that are out performing whats saturated in the marketplace.  Learn what products & S.O.P's are needed to keep a pest & bacteria free garden.  Let’s end this session by discussing how you can implement solvent-less extraction to increase your profits, decrease harvest waste & create a higher grade connoisseur product without having to DRY or CURE your harvest!

•  Justin Esquivel, CEO & Geneticist, Green Luster Phenos LLC

1:15pm

Legacy Operators & the New Medical Cannabis Amendment Act: Part 2 - The Future of Cannabis in the Nation's Capital

 After the Medical Cannabis Amendment Act of 2022 took effect, i-71 compliant shop owners have had to adapt and diversify to navigate the newly established regulations, new licenses, and cannabis market turbulence. New licenses have been dispensed, what comes next? This discussion is a follow up to our panel from last year: The future of cultivation in The District of Columbia. We explore how legacy operators have been impacted by the Medical Cannabis Amendment Act and what the future could look like for Cannabis in DC.

• Terrence White, Committee Chairman, i-71 Committee & Founder, MONKO 

• Beau Whitney, Founder, Whitney Economics, Chief Economist for the National Industrial Hemp Council (NIHC) and the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)

• Antione Pritchett II, CEO of R&A Health

• Andrew Beaujon, Senior Editor, Washingtonian

• Austin Ownbey, Antitrust and Cannabis Regulatory Practitioner at Foley & Hoag7

2:00pm

Breeding Cannabis and Strain Selection for Crop Maximization

Do you want to grow your own cannabis? Are you wondering why you don't seem to get the results you see others getting? We will discuss and answer questions on the importance of breeding cannabis and strain selection for crop maximization. Learn how we are using acclimated genetics to enhance yield, flavor, and appeal, as well as boost consumer demand in the legal realm.

• Angela Howard, Co-founder and Breeder, Conscious Cultivators 

• Shanoah Stanley, Breeder and Founder, Ziplock Seeds

• Joshua Stroud, Breeder, Legacy Grower, Founder of Conscious Productions, and Co-founder of Conscious Cultivators

2:45pm

Medicine for the Land

Grown under the sun in native soil, cannabis has the power to regenerate the land and heal the people. It also provides land-based and indigenous communities with an opportunity to forge economic sovereignty. Bringing together legacy cannabis breeders and Native American water protectors, this panel explores the intersections between cannabis, decolonization, and the restoration of land and waterways.

• Sebi Medina-Tayac, Red Cedar Farms, DC/VA        

• Jesse Dodd, Biovortex, California

• Manape LaMere, Industrial Hemp Educator & Advocate and

• Jason Mathys, Equilibrium Genetics

3:30pm

Joint Ventures: Supply Chain Strategies for Blooming Businesses

Embark on a transformative journey with our distinguished panel at the National Cannabis Festival, where we'll unravel the complexities of cannabis supply chain development and tackle the barriers hindering diversity and inclusion in this thriving industry. This panel goes beyond the surface, delving into the obstacles that diverse entrepreneurs and product developers face, and proposes innovative solutions that propel the cannabis supply chain towards a more equitable, sustainable, and prosperous future.

• Lauren Miele, Kush Kards

• Shayla Cabrera, Tia Planta        

• Jessica Jackson, Copperhouse Detroit

• Mia Ormes

• Sheena Roberson, Cannabis Noire

4:15pm 

Cannabis Tissue Culture: Techniques and Applications

Discover the exciting world of cannabis tissue culture in our engaging presentation at the festival. "Cannabis Tissue Culture: Techniques and Applications" offers a concise yet comprehensive overview of this innovative horticultural method.

Ideal for horticulturists, cannabis enthusiasts, or anyone interested in plant science, this presentation will provide an essential guide to the applications and benefits of cannabis tissue culture. Join us for an informative session filled with expert insights and practical tips!

• DC Scroger, Student of PCT Masterclass Independent

• Francisco Palacios, Lab Director, Plant Cell Technology, Inc.

• Ramon “Shay” Thornton, Lab Technician, Plant Cell Technology, Inc.

5:00 pm

The Future of Craft Cannabis Growing

Legendary breeder Ken Estes of Granddaddy Purp fame will be joined by the co-founders of HOPE, Jamal Allen and Kimo Silva, as well as founder and CEO of Box4Grow, Greg Payne to discuss the future of growing the highest quality craft cannabis. They will share their tips and tricks on topics such as genetics, breeding, crossing, indoor growing, and how to scale with the right systems and automations. They will also share a wealth of knowledge from the business side of growing such as how to form collaborations, how to scale your business, and how to protect the assets that you have and will build in the future. Learn more about Grandaddy Purp and Ripple Wellness.

• Ken “Grandaddy Purp” Estes, Breeder and Cannabis Activist

• Jamal Allen, Vision Entrepreneur, Co-founder, HOPE Legacy Operators

• Tyler Crespo, Head of Cultivation and Plant Geneticist, Ripple Wellness

• Fitsoom Berhane

5:30pm

Playback Theater: Stories of Falling in Love with Mary Jane

Playback Theater is an interactive form of performing arts where professional stage actors ask for personal stories from the audience - live - and then “playback” those stories with music and dance. Join Verbal Gymnastics for a special NCF edition of Playback Theater!