About International Cannabis Business Conference – Barcelona
The International Cannabis Business Conference is joining forces with Spannabis, Europe's top cannabis expo, to form a super-conference that begins March 14th in Barcelona, Spain. For more than fifteen years, Spannabis has been the world's biggest cannabis trade show while the ICBC, in just five years, has become the world's premier B2B cannabis networking event for entrepreneurs and investors, with attendees from over 50 countries. The ICBC Barcelona will be held on March 14, 2019, at the Auditori de Cornellà with an after-party at the iconic W Hotel.
"Feria del Cáñamo (Spannabis) has been in the cannabis sector for more than 16 years and is much more than just a fair. The Spanish cannabis industry has more potential every day and is taking firm steps to improve that Spain's laws. Spannabis organizers believe that the time is right to offer reliable information on the economic potential of the cannabis sector and the viability that Spain would have to become one of the key countries in Europe," stated Carlos Yerbes Gonzalez, co-director of Spannabis.
"We needed to collaborate with a leading company in the cannabis business sector, with experience also in Europe and ICBC has all the knowledge to be able to make such an event in Spain. We have no doubt that our combined event will be a success and many of our attendees will be grateful to have a B2B (business to business) event of this quality," Gonzalez continued.
"Spannabis is not only the biggest Cannabis fair in Europe, but the biggest in the world The Spannabis brand name is iconic, and we are honored to be partnering with such a long-time and important institution," stated Alex Rogers, Executive Producer of the International Cannabis Business Conference.
"Spannabis is the meeting point for the entire European cannabis scene. It is a first and foremost a consumer event, however, many folks who attend are also looking for a B2B element. The ICBC's partnership with Spannabis fills this gap and satisfies a clear need for major cannabis industry players to meet, network, to progress and advance the industry as cannabis laws are liberalized in Spain and across the continent," continued Rogers.
Schedule and speakers coming soon!
Speakers
Sponsors
Agenda
8:30am Breakfast and Networking
10am Keynote TBA
10:30 Investment and Capital Markets
Stoked by the rapid growth of legal markets, investment in compelling cannabis companies has grown increasingly competitive with convergence of private equity and public markets capital. Never has it been more crucial forcompanies to understand the investment environment and how associated factors, such as reporting requirements, and strategic synergies can impact a company’s operations and growth trajectory. Our panel of leading private and public fund CEOs will provide an updated investor landscape and delve beyond simple dollar amounts in assessing the impact of taking in capital via different investment vehicles.
11:15 International Investing
The international cannabis market is full of high-risk investment opportunities, both public and private. Businesses across the space are faced with a host of issues including product contamination and efficacy issues, international commerce import/export regulation liabilities, political and regulatory volatility, operational compliance issues, and unqualified operators. This session will walk you through public and private international cannabis investment strategies and show you how to thoroughly vet opportunities while reducing risk. Attendees will gain keen, actionable insight into global cannabis markets.
12:00 Cannabis Social Clubs
Unique cannabis cultures like Spain’s have led to a proliferation of cannabis social clubs and this panel will provide an overview of the landscape in Spain and across Europe. The pros and cons of the social club model will be compared to Amsterdam coffeeshops and the dispensaries and retail stores seen in Canada and the United States. Whether these clubs could be a model for other European countries, the potential need for testing, and how the social model could make a smooth transition to a fully regulated market will also be addressed.
12:45 Medical Cannabis in Spain
Spain continues to power forward as one of the most dynamic cannabis markets in Europe including on the medical front. There are over 120,000 patients in the country, and that number is likely to grow as Spain considers full legalization. In the meantime, cannabis as a commercial domestic crop is being touted as a strategy to pull the country’s economy forward, with discussions underway to protect production for domestic companies. Learn about the dynamic medical market that is flourishing and may yet become Europe’s largest producer if not early recreational legal market.
13:15 Lunch and Networking
14:45 International Regulatory Overview
The international cannabis industry is changing rapidly and it is hard to keep up as different nations have different policies on importing and exporting and a whole host of other issues. Canada, with full legalization across the nation and exporting around the world, is leading the way, but there are exciting developments in the U.S., Germany, Switzerland, and around the globe. This panel will provide the latest info on the burgeoning international scene and provide a glimpse into the future of an industry that is only going to continue to grow, nation by nation.
15:45 Mainstreaming of CBD
As CBD continues to take the world by storm, a number of enterprising companies are working to meet the rapidly increasing demand. Whether its derived from cannabis or hemp, full spectrum or isolates, the form factors, formulations, product innovations, market trends and consumer preferences are evolving at lightning speed. How are entrepreneurs adapting to this rapid pace while dealing with challenges such as the complex and ever-changing global regulatory environments, competition from big pharma, and their own ability to scale? This panel of experts will discuss the many challenges, opportunities and trends in CBD consumption ranging from nano-emulsions to CBD-rich hemp pre-rolled joints now gaining traction as a tobacco alternative for smoking cessation.
16:15 STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS: A KEY TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE
Specialization is a major factor attracting capital and helping grow the Cannabis sector at hyper-speed. As businesses scale, focused models will be a necessity from both economic and regulatory perspectives, allowing companies to position and embed into the Industry value chain alongside other ‘specialists’. Our panel of industry experts will discuss strategy in identifying synergies in prospective strategic partners and offer their insights related to making these significant decisions which can be a determining factor in the survival and ultimate success of your business.
17:00 Damian Marley Interview
The youngest son of Reggae legend Bob Marley, Damian “Jr. Gong” Marley has carried on the musical and activist tradition of his father while also forging his own interesting path, working with unique talents such as Nas, Jay-Z, Skrillex and Mick Jagger, to name a few. Damian garnered his own place in music history when he became the first ever Reggae artist to win a GRAMMY outside of the “Reggae” category, taking home two GRAMMYs for “Best Urban/Alternative Album” and “Best Reggae Album” for Welcome To Jamrock. His most recent release, Stony Hill also won a GRAMMY for “Best Reggae Album” and he continues to tour internationally in support of his critically acclaimed release. Damian will be discussing his long, distinguished musical career, his father’s amazing legacy, as well as his interests in the cannabis legalization movement and industry.
