- This exclusive event, centered on strategic networking, provides an opportunity to forge lasting business connections...all in a single day.
- Hear directly from leading industry professionals through high-impact education to help navigate the intricacies and obstacles of California.
- Acquire Insider insights on the impact Federal Rescheduling will have on the California market.
- Leave empowered with a actionable roadmap to grow your business, fueled by the knowledge and connections you’ve made.
"IgniteIt events are the most valuable networking experiences I’ve encountered in cannabis. I’ve engaged in a number of strategic partnerships as a result of the connections I’ve made, and the educational discussions provide actionable insights from other operators." - Lauren Carpenter, CEO, Embarc
"It’s not a finance show, it's a community. A room full of people who’ve been through it, sharing what they know. And that’s what makes this event matter." - Dee Sidhu, CMO, Humboldt Family Farms
"The relationships that I formed at the conference have led to valuable partnerships with people I may not otherwise have met. The combination of a decision-maker–rich audience and high-quality content makes this an essential event." - Wes Hein, Co-Founder, Mammoth Distribution

Monday, November 3
Westin Cincinnati Downtown By Marriott
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Dispensary Owners & Buyers
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Cannabis Brand Executives
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Regulatory & Operations Experts
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Investors & Financial Institutions
Monday, November 3, 2025 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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7:30 AM - 9:00 AM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:40 AM - 9:45 AM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
9:45 AM - 10:05 AM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10:00 AM - 10:40 AM | Ohio’s cannabis market is just beginning — but does early entry really guarantee access to capital? This panel brings together investors and capital advisors to share what they’re looking for in new-market operators, what “investor-ready” really means, and how entrepreneurs can position themselves for funding in a risk-averse landscape. Learn how to turn timing, structure, and strategy into an investable story. Seth Yakatan, Katan Associates Scot Crow, Dickinson Wright JOSEPH LUSTBERG, UPWISE CAPITAL Heather Leitelt, Wright-Patt Credit Union Steven Ernest, Chicago Atlantic | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
10:40 AM - 11:00 AM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Ohio’s cannabis market is still taking shape — and that creates both opportunity and uncertainty for operators aiming to scale. In this session, experienced in-state businesses share how they’re planning for long-term growth while adapting to shifting regulations, market structure, and consumer behavior. Learn how to build with flexibility, invest with foresight, and position your business to lead as the rules and landscape continue to evolve. David Leider, Holistic Industries Nicole Stark, Bloom Medicinals Gibran Washington, Ethos Cannabis Trip McDermott, Verano | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | As deep discounting increasingly shapes Ohio’s cannabis landscape, companies face the challenge of innovating pricing strategies that capture market share without eroding brand value or profitability. This session dives into leadership approaches for balancing short-term competitive pricing with long-term business sustainability. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Ohio’s adult-use cannabis market faces one of the strictest advertising environments in the country, with heavy restrictions limiting traditional marketing, promotions, and events. This panel brings together brands and retailers to discuss how to navigate these barriers creatively and effectively. Learn actionable strategies to engage consumers, build your brand, and drive sales without relying on conventional advertising channels. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1:30 PM - 1:50 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
1:50 PM - 2:20 PM | As pre-rolls enter Ohio’s cannabis market, retailers and brands face both excitement and obstacles. From consumer education and communication hurdles to early supply chain challenges at the retail level, the rollout has tested how quickly the market can adapt. Yet in one of America’s most populated states, the upside is undeniable. This panel explores how you can overcome the barriers to awareness and availability, while positioning pre-rolls as a growth engine for your business and a key driver of consumer adoption. James "Bo" Keyes, The Classic Events Dr. Roz McCarthy, Black Buddha Cannabis Will Breakell, Blazy Susan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2:20 PM - 2:40 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
2:40 PM - 3:10 PM | In Ohio’s young cannabis market, long-term retail success depends on the ability to connect people, products, and consumers into a single strategy. The right team on the ground builds the customer experience that earns trust — a critical advantage against illicit operators and smoke shops offering unregulated alternatives. At the same time, retailers who understand and anticipate product trends can strengthen those consumer relationships while driving sales. This panel brings it all together, showing how talent, trust, and trends work in concert to create resilient and profitable retail operations. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3:10 PM - 3:40 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
3:40 PM - 4:10 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4:10 PM - 4:40 PM | Ohio’s cannabis market is still defining itself, but shifting regulations only add to the challenge for cultivators trying to establish consistency and trust. This panel explores how operators can maintain product quality, adapt as rules evolve, and position themselves as reliable partners to consumers and retailers alike. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4:40 PM - 4:45 PM | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4:40 PM - 6:00 PM |

Westin Cincinnati Downtown by Marriott - Cincinnati, OH
Designed with your wellbeing in mind, the Westin Cincinnati Downtown hotel balances modern amenities with an outstanding location overlooking historic Fountain Square, in the heart of Cincinnati's bustling central business district and convenient to downtown's vast array of shops, museums, theaters, celebrated sports stadiums, and downtown Cincinnati restaurant offerings - making it the perfect venue for an IgniteIt Cannabis Market Spotlight event.
Address: 21 E. 5th Street, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA, 45202





















