A groundbreaking conference, CannaclubCon, recently took place on the campus of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), marking a historic event that aimed to destigmatize and promote open dialogue about cannabis. Organized by student members of Cannaclub, a student group dedicated to advocating and educating on the topic of cannabis, the conference received immense support and featured prominent figures from the cannabis industry and media.
Maha Haq, who gained recognition as “the weed whisperer of Gen Z” in a recent profile by the LA Times, served as the advisor to Cannaclub and played a pivotal role in bringing CannaclubCon to life. Haq is the founder of CannaClub, a multi-campus consortium of student activists and educators, and her expertise was instrumental in the event’s success.
CannaclubCon attracted widespread attention and support from the cannabis community, with over a dozen cannabis brands and companies participating, including Weedmaps, which generously funded free tacos and fruit for attendees. The event aimed to foster a more informed and open discussion surrounding cannabis, and it accomplished this goal by hosting a series of engaging panel discussions that covered a wide range of topics.
The panels at CannaclubCon included “Health and Wellness,” featuring Guy Rocourt, Co-Founder and CEO of Papa & Barkley, and Lori Hirsch, Head of Education at Papa & Barkley. The “Flower 101” panel included insights from Ted Lidie, Founder of Alien Labs, and Ian Justus, SVP of Cultivation at Connected Cannabis Co. “Solventless 101” offered expert perspectives from Brad Melshenker, Founder of 710 Labs, and Ethan Waters, Social Media Supervisor at 710 Labs. Another noteworthy panel, “Viral Creators: Influencing and Reaching Gen Z in Cannabis,” featured Maha Haq along with Adam Ill, Erick Khan, and Mackenzie Marie. The event also highlighted the importance of diversity in the cannabis industry with the “Media Diversity: Diverse Content Creators & Advocates in Cannabis” panel, featuring Cae Jones, Jay Jackson, Shirley Ju, and Tammy Pettigrew.
CannaclubCon’s innovative approach to discussing cannabis and its impressive lineup of industry leaders and media influencers made it a landmark event for cannabis enthusiasts and advocates. By creating a platform for open dialogue and education, the conference has taken significant steps in breaking the stigma surrounding cannabis and promoting a more informed and inclusive conversation about the plant.
