Ohio cannabis has moved past the launch buzz. Now the real question is: what are customers actually buying, and which categories are gaining ground? This session looks at the trends shaping Ohio cannabis two years into adult-use, with insights from Headset, Emerald Intel, and Lit Alerts. Panelists will discuss what the data shows, what operators are seeing on the ground, and how brands and retailers can use those signals to make smarter category decisions. A special focus is placed on pre-rolls as a driver of basket building, brand discovery, and retail differentiation.

Attendees will take away: which categories are gaining traction in Ohio; what pre-roll performance says about consumer demand; how data can guide product mix, pricing, and promotions; and what signals operators should watch heading into 2027.

As cultivation operations mature, the focus has shifted from scaling rooms to refining systems. This session dives into the horticultural decisions driving consistency, yield, and quality under Ohio's environmental conditions.

Attendees will take away: how growers are managing nutrition, CO2, and humidity; root-zone and irrigation strategies that reduce variability; where environmental data is guiding small, effective adjustments; and how cultivation choices impact testing, shelf life, and retail outcomes.

Building a cannabis business in Ohio comes with unique challenges — and for minority owners and operators, those challenges are often compounded by access to capital, licensing barriers, and limited visibility. This session focuses on how minority founders and operators are building, scaling, and sustaining businesses within the regulated cannabis market. Panelists share how they have navigated licensing, built operational infrastructure, secured shelf space, and grown their presence in a competitive environment.

Attendees will take away: how minority operators are entering and growing within the U.S. cannabis market; real-world challenges around licensing, capital, and market access; strategies for building brand presence and securing retail placement; lessons learned from operating in a regulated, competitive environment; and where opportunities exist as the Ohio market matures.

Michigan price comparisons are now part of everyday conversations with Ohio customers, while operators are also trying to understand what good performance really looks like in a newer market. This session brings those two pressures together — pricing and performance — to show how retailers are responding in real time. Panelists break down how dispensaries are competing without racing to the bottom, using smarter pricing, product mix, and in-store strategy alongside real Ohio benchmarks for basket size, repeat visits, and category performance.

Attendees will take away: how Ohio retailers are responding to cross-border price pressure; what realistic retail benchmarks look like in Ohio right now; how pricing, product mix, and education influence sales; and where operators are seeing margin pressure — and how they are adjusting.

As Ohio's cannabis industry moves from launch momentum into long-term business building, women have an opportunity to shape the culture, leadership, and direction of the market. This session brings together women across many market segments for an honest conversation about building careers and businesses in Ohio cannabis. Panelists share how they are navigating growth, regulation, visibility, leadership, and the relationships that help move the industry forward.

Whether you are already working in cannabis, looking to enter the industry, building a business, or supporting the market through an ancillary role, this conversation offers real perspective, practical advice, and a stronger sense of what is possible.

Ohio's cannabis market is entering a new phase — one defined by rapid growth, tighter margins, and evolving regulation. This session brings together CEOs and senior executives to share how they are leading organizations through expansion, operational pressure, and ongoing market shifts. Panelists discuss how strategic decisions are being made in real time, from capital allocation and staffing to product mix and long-term positioning.

Attendees will take away: how executives are prioritizing growth while managing margin pressure; what leadership teams are adjusting in response to SB 56 and market changes; how decisions around staffing, expansion, and operations are made; and where executives see risk — and opportunity — in Ohio's next phase.

Cooking with cannabis at home can be fun—but it's easy to overdo it without the right approach. This session breaks down how to infuse safely, dose more accurately, and avoid the all-too-common “that was stronger than expected” experience.

Panelists will walk through simple infusion methods, how to think about potency in real terms, and how to store homemade products so they stay safe and consistent. The goal is to help attendees feel confident experimenting at home (without the guesswork).

Attendees will take away: basic infusion methods; how to estimate potency; portioning to avoid overconsumption; storage and labeling tips; and what to expect from homemade edibles.

Ohio's cannabis market is being actively reshaped by legislation, with SB 56 introducing changes that impact product availability, potency limits, and how cannabis is sold. This session focuses on what is happening right now at the state level, including how the ban on intoxicating hemp products, new potency caps, and evolving policy decisions are influencing operations in real time.

Attendees will take away: key legislative changes under SB 56 and how they impact operations today; how the hemp ban is shifting demand into licensed dispensaries; what new potency caps and product restrictions mean for product development and sales; where state-level decisions and local control create friction or opportunity; and what to watch as Ohio's regulatory framework evolves.

Ohio is attracting capital, but growth is becoming more selective. This session explores how expansion, partnerships, and acquisitions are unfolding today, shaped by local control, tax pressure, and changing investor expectations.

Attendees will take away: what types of Ohio assets are drawing interest right now; how expansion strategies are shifting in a maturing market; where deals are moving forward — and where they stall; and how operators are preparing for growth without overextending.

Protect What Makes Your Cannabis Business Unique!

In today's competitive cannabis market, your intellectual property can be the difference between standing out and getting left behind. Join attorneys Jabari Shaw and Michael Stojsavljevic at OCHBS for a hands-on workshop built for cannabis entrepreneurs, operators, and investors who want to turn their brands, innovations, and know-how into real, defensible business assets.

The workshop provides attendees with an understanding of the different types of IP assets relevant in the cannabis industry — trademarks, trade secrets, copyrights, and patents — and who should be thinking about these, when, and why. Solid IP protection is becoming more important for cannabis businesses looking to work with investors and partners. This workshop tackles the real-world challenges around legal uncertainty and offers practical tips for building your IP strategy.

Attendees will take away: how successful cannabis companies are securing trademarks, patents, and trade secrets despite the current state of federal law in the United States; how to protect a brand at both the state and federal level, and what to do when traditional routes are not available; the various IP tools available to cover all your brand bases; and how layered IP protections can be developed and used to add value for the IP owner.

Getting on the shelf in Ohio is only half the challenge — but it starts with getting a buyer's attention. This session brings together Ohio retail buyers to break down how purchasing decisions are made before a product ever hits the floor. Panelists share what stands out in a crowded market, how brands are evaluated at first glance, and what earns a real shot at shelf placement in 2026.

Attendees will take away: what buyers look for before approving a new product; the pricing, packaging, and readiness factors that influence first impressions; how buyers filter through high volumes of submissions; and what separates products that get placed from those that do not.

This panel focuses on how teams are marketing cannabis in Ohio today — within the rules, without slowing growth. Panelists break down compliant tactics across digital channels, education-led messaging, in-store promotion, and community outreach.

Attendees will take away: which marketing channels are working within Ohio regulations; how approval workflows function in real operations; ways marketing aligns with compliance, ops, and production; and how teams time messaging around inventory and execution.

Home cultivation is gaining interest in Ohio, but growing successfully — and legally — requires the right expectations. This panel brings together experienced growers to share what home grow looks like in practice, from basic setup and plant care to the most common mistakes new growers make. Panelists cover space, lighting, feeding, and environmental basics, along with how Ohio rules apply to home grow.

Attendees will take away: what Ohio home grow rules allow and restrict; what a realistic home grow setup involves; common mistakes that impact plant health; how to manage plants through each stage; and what to expect from a first harvest.

Selling to cannabis operators requires credibility and patience. This session brings together ancillary vendors and operators to unpack how sales conversations actually unfold and what earns long-term trust.

Attendees will take away: how operators evaluate vendors and sales claims; what outreach approaches get attention — or ignored; how pricing and proof points influence decisions; and ways vendors align sales promises with operational reality.

Budtenders sit at the intersection of product, compliance, and customer experience. This session brings together experienced Ohio budtenders to share what they are seeing in real time — from customer behavior and product questions to how recommendations are actually made on the floor. This is a ground-level view of how retail is playing out day to day.

Attendees will take away: what Ohio customers are asking for right now; how budtenders guide product recommendations in practice; where confusion shows up most often at the counter; and how retail experience influences purchasing decisions.

In Ohio's current market, manufacturing decisions are showing up more quickly — and more visibly — at retail. As product selection expands, potency limits shift under SB 56, and buyers become more selective, consistency, shelf life, and execution directly impact what stays on the shelf and what does not. This session connects what is happening in processing to real retail outcomes, breaking down why some products struggle despite demand and how manufacturers are adjusting to tighter standards and faster feedback loops.

Attendees will take away: how production decisions are impacting retail performance in Ohio right now; where consistency issues create friction with buyers and customers; how shelf life, returns, and product quality influence purchasing decisions; and ways manufacturers and retailers can align earlier to improve sell-through.

Getting on the shelf is just the beginning. This session focuses on what happens after launch — how products are evaluated in real time, and why some SKUs expand while others quietly disappear. Panelists share how performance is tracked, what signals matter most once a product is live, and how brands can stay aligned with retail expectations over time.

Attendees will take away: performance metrics buyers watch after launch; the signals that lead to expansion — or removal — from the shelf; and how sell-through, consistency, and demand influence decisions.