The floor of the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo buzzed last week as regulators, entrepreneurs, activists, and investors gathered to discuss the future of New York cannabis.
With federal rescheduling on the horizon and daily cannabis use eclipsing alcohol consumption nationwide, questions remain about New York State’s stumbling licensing efforts, a disjointed digital media and advertising ecosystem, and the appropriate amount of technology investment in a community that historically holds plants in the highest regard.
Brands are stepping up to answer these questions, both nationally and in New York State. Consumer products producers, cannabis accessory brands, and industrial hemp manufacturers all aim to shape the future of a dynamic and growing cannabis market. After CWCBExpo, six stand out as brands to watch.
Well-recognized in both cannabis and tobacco, RAW was founded in 2005 by industry icon Josh Kesselman. Kesselmann lived in New York City as a child, and has long been an advocate for a just transition to legalization in New York. As the state navigates a gray market cannabis economy and a shaky rollout of retail licenses, Kesselman has funded organizations like the Justüs Foundation to facilitate “entry of legacy cannabis operators to the legal cannabis market.”
Kesslemann gave a fireside chat to attendees on the first day of the Expo, and for those who follow the CEO on TikTok: Yes he's just as vibrant in person. As brands and regulators seek to shape the emerging New York marketplace, Rawthentic is a must-watch legacy leader in the industry.
Launched by New York specialty paper house Cottrell Paper, hemp paper manufacturer Mill26 sees the promise of a sustainable future in the growth of the state’s industrial hemp market. Traditional paper production contributes to deforestation and requires a resource-intensive manufacturing process, while hemp is a “highly sustainable and renewable resource that requires minimal pesticides and fertilizers to grow,” resulting in a lower-impact end product.
At CWCBExpo, the brand touted its dedication to product innovation: “Mill 26 hemp paper products are the first on the planet to be made entirely and wholly from hemp.” As business leaders wrestle with environmental concerns and seek ways to reduce their carbon footprint, Mill26 is betting on the future of sustainable hemp.
Some of the most popular cannabis products are those which take advantage of the calming effects of non-intoxicating cannabinoids. New York State regulates who can sell and buy cannabinoid products, but as licensing expands it is regional brands already growing in neighboring states which are set to shape the consumer goods market.
The Healing Rose founders Laura Boehner and Zach McInnis have spent nearly a decade producing certified organic skin and body care products with CBD and minor cannabinoids like CBN and CBG. On the floor of New York City’s Javits Center, the New England brand showcased category leading products like their Relax & Unwind Bath Soak, a novel and popular approach to the classic mineral bath, and their Awaken & Refresh Roll On Oil, a facial oil product designed to ease and support pressure points.
Already widely distributed in Massachusetts, The Healing Rose is poised to make its mark on the New York cannabis scene.
It looks like a yoyo crossed with a mini food processor, and its design mimics a classic weed whacker. Meet Bud Wakker, a completely novel approach to an essential cannabis accessory: the grinder.
Created by Massachusetts-based inventor duo (and brothers) Alan and Joel Aronie, Bud Wakker took CBWCExpo by storm. Cannabis enthusiasts couldn’t get enough of how easy the product is to use and clean, and it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say almost all who bought a sample from Al and Joel became a walking advertisement.
More consumers enter the cannabis market every year, and there will be a thirst for new accessories and tools that improve on the experience of previous generations of users. Bud Wakker is just that, and is positioned to grow with the expanding New York State retail market.
Accessories are positioned to grow faster than consumables in the cannabis space as there are fewer regulations around… well… smell-proof bags. Montana-based BlazeBags was a CWCBExpo darling this year as attendees gathered to test out various travel-friendly products that keep consumers luggage from smelling like a grow operation.
Developed around a five layer activated carbon filter technology, BlazeBags self describes as “the latest in stoner innovation.” The brand has solutions for numerous activities closely tied to the cannabis community, including the signature GoStash smell-proof backpack designed to keep smells contained while camping.
The New York cannabis scene is ripe with innovative brands bringing fresh ideas and novel products to the market. From sustainable hemp paper to cutting-edge accessories, these trailblazers are shaping the future of cannabis in the Empire State and beyond.
