The fourth Cannabis Drinks Expo is set for July 27 in San Francisco and Aug. 1 in Chicago.

With the theme of “Growing the Category,” the 2023 event will cover four pillars: creating end consumer pull; educating consumers on cannabis beverages; state bottlenecks; and multistate opportunities.

The Cannabis Drinks Expo seeks to help those entering the category learn and develop new products, while also helping existing brands expand into other states by meeting other manufacturers. The event will also allow retailers and distributors discover new brands, develop their store brands, and find new ways to market and sell cannabis beverages.

In addition to visiting exhibitors on the expo floor, guests can attend keynote speaker and panel sessions in the morning and afternoon. 

Speakers at the San Francisco event include:

  • Mary Clarke, assistant general counsel, Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America
  • Diana Eberlein, president at Cannabis Beverage Association and VP of sales & marketing at SōRSE Technology
  • Jodi Green, counsel and business strategist, Feldman Legal Advisors/Skip Intro Advisors
  • Maha Haq, founder of Cannaclub
  • Wesley Hein, president of the Cannabis Distributors Association (CDA) and an executive with Mammoth Distribution
  • Christopher Joseph, co-founder, Wyld and founder & CEO, Cascade Spirits
  • Pamela N. Epstein, Esq., board president, California Cannabis Industry Association
  • Cynthia Salarizadeh, founder, House of Saka, Inc. and co-founder, Green Market Media
  • Cy Scott, CEO & co-founder Headset, Inc and co-founder, Leafly
  • Darnell Smith, founder and CEO, MXXN
  • Jason Vegotsky, CEO, Petalfast
  • Paul Weaver, director, head of cannabis at The Boston Beer Company

Speakers for the Chicago event include:

  • Wendy Berger, board member at Green Thumb Industries (GTI), CEO & president, WBS Equities, LLC
  • Shari Boyer, chief marketing officer, Revolution Global
  • David Culver, SVP of public affairs, U.S. Cannabis Council
  • Andy Dratt, EVP & chief commercial officer, Imbibe
  • Tai Duncan, vice president of community integration, Cresco Labs
  • Lisa Evia, managing partner, SeedFund Capital
  • Dawson Hobbs, EVP of government affairs for the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America
  • Benjamin Larson, CEO at Vertosa, NCIA board member, Cannabis Beverage Association board member, ATACH Cannabis Beverage Council
  • Kate Lynch, EVP of marketing, Curaleaf
  • Amor Montes de Oca, executive director, Illinois Women in Cannabis
  • Jeremiah Moseteller, policy director, Americans for Prosperity
  • Darnell Smith, founder and CEO, MXXN
  • Jason Vegotsky, CEO, Petalfast

The San Francisco event will be held at the South San Francisco Conference Center, 255 South Airport Boulevard. Conference hours are from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., while the expo floor is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors can register at this link.

The Chicago event will be held at Morgan MFG, 401 N. Morgan St., Suite 204A. Conference hours are from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., while the expo floor is open from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Visitors can register at this link.