[[{“value”:”
I didn’t know what to expect when I pulled up to the Champlain Valley Expo Center in Essex Junction for Vermont’s 6th Annual Cannabis Convention. In my two years in media (yes, I’m still pretty new to this) I’ve done a fair amount of networking events; rooms full of awkward smiles and caffeinated elevator pitches; trying to have a normal human interaction while attempting to naturally bring up advertising and sales strategies. This was something else.
I arrived during set-up, and even though the crowd hadn’t formed yet, there was already a buzz in the air. Vendors were unfolding tables, stringing up lights, laying out samples like kids decorating for a science fair if science fairs included CBD-infused chocolate and terpene charts. And the people? Chill as hell. Big shocker, I know; the weed convention had good vibes. But what really struck me was how welcoming it felt. No fancy suits (except the CCB representatives in attendance, but they get a pass!), no pushy sales tactics. Just people genuinely happy to be there, eager to chat, share, and swap stories. Huge thank you to Eli Harrington for putting the event together. It’s no small feat wrangling so many exhibitors, let alone making it feel so fun and easy.
I was there representing GreenMountain Cannabis News, both as a media correspondent and one of the folks manning our booth. We didn’t have any fun displays or gummies to give away–just a few stacks of our latest magazine and some informational pamphlets. Nonetheless, plenty of guests stopped by to chat despite our humble display, and some of the best conversations I had all day happened over our newsletter sign-up sheet. But standing behind a table was only part of my mission; the other aspect was getting out into the crowd, meeting people, and spreading the good word of cannabis journalism.
And man, did I meet some folks. Dispensary owners, farmers, podcast hosts, home growers, marketing whizzes, and one chef-turned-edibles-virtuoso… you name it. Everyone had a story to tell, a passion to share, and more often than not, a sample to offer. (Shoutout to Taunik for the sparkling CBD yerba mate that gave me a laser-focused mental glow-up for the second half of the day.)
Some of the best moments came from finally putting faces to the names behind businesses we’ve written about or worked with—Bern Gallery, Sunset Lake Cannabis, Kingdom Kind, Zenbarn Farms, and many others. These are people who’ve been building something real here in Vermont, and it felt good to finally shake their hands in person.
Oh, and the dogs. Can we make dogs a part of every industry convention? Big ones, little ones, all high on attention and belly rubs. They were the unsung heroes of the event, if you ask me. Between that and the free goodies available at almost every booth, it was like a cannabis aficionado’s state fair with more business cards and less fried dough.
What really stood out to me, though, was the sense of community. Yes, these are businesses technically in competition with one another, but the vibe wasn’t cutthroat, it was collaborative. People were swapping advice, giving referrals, and laughing about shared challenges. It’s wild to think this industry in Vermont is still so young, and already there’s this rich culture of camaraderie and mutual respect.
By the end of the day, I felt energized, inspired, grateful, and a little exhausted (I am still an introvert, after all). I was proud to call myself a member of this community that’s still growing (pun intended) and finding its voice, yet is already bursting with expertise, passion, and excitement for what the future holds.
”}]] I didn’t know what to expect when I pulled up to the Champlain Valley Expo Center in Essex Junction for Vermont’s 6th Annual Cannabis Convention. In my two years in Read More
