MJBizCon 2025 Draws Thousands of Cannabis Professionals to Las Vegas
What's happening
The 14th-annual MJBizCon — the world’s largest B2B cannabis trade show — opened in Las Vegas on December 3, 2025, drawing tens of thousands of cannabis professionals for three days of industry discussion on shifting regulations, market consolidation, capital flows, hemp-THC restrictions, and new product and state-market opportunities across cultivation, processing, retail, tribal-cannabis, beverage, and accessory sectors.
Why it matters to you
Suppliers to licensed cannabis businesses should pay close attention because MJBizCon serves as a major bellwether for industry trends: equipment manufacturers, packaging and processing suppliers, and lab-service providers may see surging demand as operators align with evolving regulatory regimes and product innovations showcased at the conference. Compliance-software firms, banking and payment processors, and POS vendors are likely to benefit too — many operators will need updated infrastructure and systems to manage regulatory compliance, state-by-state licensing differences, and product tracking in light of discussion around hemp-THC bans and market consolidation. Finally, logistics, distribution, and retail-fixture providers may find opportunity in the widespread market expansion and “state-takeover” growth in newer or previously underdeveloped jurisdictions, as attendees signal readiness to scale operations and enter new markets.
What's happening
The Michigan Cannabis Industry Association has brought a lawsuit before the Michigan Court of Claims challenging a newly approved 24 % wholesale-level tax on cannabis transfers—set to take effect January 1, 2026—on grounds that the new levy violates constitutional protections by amending the 2018 voter-approved legalization measure without the required supermajority; a first hearing was held on November 26, 2025.
Why it matters to you
This case matters broadly across the cannabis supply chain because the court’s decision could determine whether the added wholesale tax stands—potentially reshaping cost structures, pricing strategies, and margins for cultivators, processors, and retailers. A favorable ruling for the industry might preserve or even expand demand for equipment, packaging, and compliance services that support a stable adult-use market; conversely, upholding the tax could compress margins, reduce order volumes, and slow capital expenditures across cultivation and manufacturing vendors. Additionally, banking, compliance-software, and retail tech providers may see fluctuations in demand depending on the outcome—with uncertainty discouraging investment now but potentially driving demand later if the tax is blocked and the market recovers.
What's happening
The Texas Department of Public Safety has conditionally approved nine new businesses to become medical-cannabis dispensers under the expanded Texas Compassionate Use Program (TCUP), representing the first phase of expansion under House Bill 46 — which broadens qualifying conditions (e.g. chronic pain, Crohn’s, traumatic brain injury) and allows new types of low-THC products and vaporization devices — with a total of 12 new licenses to be awarded statewide by April 1, 2026.
Why it matters to you
This expansion matters to suppliers and service providers because a larger and broader patient base will likely increase demand for cultivation, extraction, manufacturing and packaging equipment to support new dispensaries scaling up product supply. POS-software firms, compliance vendors, and banking/payment processors should anticipate growth in clients needing robust inventory tracking, regulatory compliance, and payment infrastructure as new dispensaries come online. Logistics, distribution-services, and regional supply-chain providers may find opportunity as dispensary density increases across Texas’s regions — particularly in under-served areas covered by the newly licensed providers.
What's happening
In October 2025 the Washington, D.C. medical cannabis program reached a record high of 34,695 registered patients, while dispensary revenue jumped 112% year-over-year to $5.78 million and manufacturing sales climbed to $2.46 million — reflecting a 98% overall sales increase compared with October 2024 — at the same time Virginia lawmakers finalized a regulatory blueprint for a statewide legal recreational cannabis market, removing local opt-outs and prioritizing small independent businesses under the new licensing regime.
Why it matters to you
This surge in D.C.’s medical-cannabis market signals strengthened demand that could benefit suppliers of cultivation, manufacturing, packaging and distribution equipment as operators scale up to meet patient needs. For compliance, POS software vendors, banking, and payment-processing firms, the increased sales and patient count may drive demand for robust inventory tracking, regulatory compliance, and transaction services. Meanwhile, the upcoming recreational legalization in Virginia creates a broader regional growth opportunity — logistics providers, packaging vendors, and retail-tech firms should monitor for demand spikes as new licenses roll out and new operators enter the adult-use supply chain.
What's happening
A state-appointed panel in Virginia has released a comprehensive proposal to establish a regulated adult-use cannabis retail market — scrapping local “opt-out” bans, setting a statewide system of up to 350 stores, prioritizing small independent Virginia-based operators, instituting licensing, testing, labeling and zoning rules, and targeting a launch date of November 1, 2026 provided the legislature approves the bill.
Why it matters to you
This development matters to companies supplying licensed cannabis businesses because the establishment of a statewide retail market in Virginia will likely drive demand for cultivation, processing, packaging, and distribution infrastructure — creating opportunities for equipment manufacturers, compliant packaging providers, and logistics firms preparing for scaled operations. Compliance-software vendors, POS systems providers, and financial services firms should anticipate significant demand for regulatory compliance tools, inventory tracking, lab-testing integration, and payment processing as new retailers come online under the proposed framework. Additionally, retail-fixture suppliers, security systems installers, and real-estate service providers may see increased business as dispensaries are built out across the state — especially under a model favoring small, independent operators, which tends to involve many smaller stores rather than a few large ones.
What's happening
A new report projects the global Cannabis Packaging Market will grow to approximately US$ 24.24 billion by 2030, from its 2022 base, driven by rising legalization, increasing demand for compliant and functional packaging, innovations in sustainable materials, and expanding product formats from flower to edibles, concentrates and pre-rolled goods.
Why it matters to you
For companies supplying licensed cannabis businesses, this signals substantial opportunity for packaging manufacturers, especially those offering child-resistant, tamper-evident, sustainable, or format-specific solutions (e.g., jars, pouches, child-safe containers). Compliance and regulatory-tracking firms, along with testing and certification labs, will likely see increased demand as stricter packaging requirements proliferate and operators seek to meet evolving standards. Retail-tech, logistics and labeling suppliers may also benefit — as diverse product formats expand, the need for inventory tracking, batch-management, secure transport, and compliant labeling grows in parallel.
What's happening
Congress — via a recently enacted federal spending bill signed November 2025 — redefined “legal hemp” to prohibit most hemp-derived cannabinoid products by limiting allowable total THC to just 0.4 mg per container (and 0.3% total THC by dry weight, including all THC isomers and acids), effectively outlawing common items such as Δ-8/Δ-10/THCA vapes, edibles, beverages, and even many CBD products, with the ban set to take effect in November 2026 and widely projected to eliminate up to 95 % of the current national hemp-derived consumption product market.
Why it matters to you
This is highly consequential for suppliers, manufacturers, and service providers across the broader cannabis ecosystem because it dramatically shrinks the addressable market for hemp-derived consumables, reducing demand for packaging, formulation, extraction, and distribution services tied to those products. Compliance, testing labs, and regulatory-tracking firms should anticipate a surge in demand for compliance audits, product testing, and label-requalification, or risk seeing clients exit the hemp space entirely. Retailers, logistics providers, and financial/payment-processing firms may face major revenue loss or need to pivot operations — while those supplying licensed state-regulated cannabis or adult-use operations could gain as buyers shift to compliant, licensed channels.