Feature of Month
Despite Mother Nature ’ s Challenges , Cannabis Industry Events Remained Strong
Editorial and Photos by Clayton Stallings
Smokey River Entertainment District during the October CREEP SHOW event .
The very first legal Missouri medical cannabis sale took place on October 17 , 2020 , when N ’ Bliss Cannabis of St . Louis opened to patients and delivered the historic first Missouri sale . This month wraps up the first full year of “ Adult Use ” in Missouri . Over the past two short years since the first legal sale , 201 dispensaries , 78 manufacturers , 54 cultivation companies , along with many additional auxiliary businesses have opened . Together , many of these new businesses throughout Missouri have joined forces to celebrate the industry by hosting frequent public events and celebrations , creating a state-wide sense of community .
The photo collages on pages 40 and 41 celebrate the many Missourians who braved the ( nasty , rainy ) weather this past October to attend events throughout the state , many of them hosted by cannabis or related companies . It ’ s hard to believe that we are wrapping up a full first year of adult use in Missouri since it first began on December 8 , 2022 . Since then , our state has seen its fair share of growing pains , from major supply and demand issues to the challenges of organizing cannabis-friendly events in the first year of uncertainty involving public consumption at such events . Although there have been many private events throughout the year that have gone off without a hitch , it has been the few and the very brave that have attempted to host the first open-to-the-public cannabis-friendly themed events allowing cannabis consumption that have faced many hurdles and challenges .
32 December 2023
Fresh Karma brought us breakthrough events during the Missouri medical marijuana program phase , and its red carpet event “ Destigmatized ” documentary screenings at the AMC theatre faced its fair share of trials bringing cannabis entertainment during this first year of adult use . The weekend before one of Fresh Karma ’ s popular events this year called Disco Daze in collaboration with Nuthera , they not only had one but three different venues with apprehension about cannabis consumption cancel on them just days before the Monday event . Somehow , the staff still pulled off an incredible event in a very short amount of time . “ It was amazing to see the team come together and show immense amounts of resilience to be able to pull off what just may have been the party of the year in the industry ,” said Jericho Heese , Director of Marketing for Fresh Karma .
Fresh Karma and Nuthera have big things in store for 2024 and are ending 2023 by sponsoring “ The Laughing Gas Comedy Tour ” at T-Mobile Center on December 1 , just a few weeks after the writing of this article . Speaking of T-Mobile Center , last April marked the very first time the center had ever opened its arena doors to allow a cannabis-friendly event because of the efforts of Mac with MajorPac and his team , who hosted the Major Cannabis Expo on September 16 . “ The will to overcome and be truly great is one quality my MajorPac team definitely possesses . From scheduling conflicts with other events to convincing T-Mobile Center we have a successful , proven concept to Juicy J ’ s flight being delayed , but if you really want it , you will work for it ,” said Mac .
Other events around 4 / 20 / 23 included KC Cannafest , a two-day event in the
▲ The 2023 KC Cannafest two-day event in the Crossroads in KC , MO . Day one went off without a hitch and saw great public turnouts . Day two , thunderstorms deterred crowds .