As the global hemp, medicinal cannabis, and CBD & wellness sectors continue to evolve, a new trend is taking root: the rise of smaller, more focused events. These aren’t just scaled-down versions of big expos - they’re emerging in response to the unique pressures, opportunities, and needs within this fragmented industry.
But why now? And why smaller?
Local Rules, Local Relevance
One of the defining features of this industry is that regulation isn’t just country-specific — it’s often region-specific. What applies in California may be meaningless in Berlin, and what’s permitted in Thailand might be restricted in the UK. Large international expos often struggle to reflect these legal intricacies, while smaller, local events can laser-focus on what matters most to regional businesses, patients, consumers, and policymakers.
The Need for Deeper Dialogue
In an industry still fighting stigma, misinformation, and regulatory grey areas, smaller events allow space for honest, detailed discussions. Whether it’s a compliance clinic, formulation workshop, or policy roundtable, these more intimate settings foster real exchange — not just polished presentations. They invite the kind of nuanced conversations that large-scale commercial events often sideline.
Building Trust in a Transitional Industry
Let’s face it: trust is currency in this space. With so many new entrants, unclear standards, and past missteps by rogue operators, the industry needs more than flashy branding — it needs relationships. Smaller events, where people can connect face-to-face, learn from each other, and follow up meaningfully, are helping rebuild trust from the ground up.
Accessibility for Start-Ups and Independents
The cannabis and wellness economy is full of innovators — but many of them don’t have the budget for a major trade show or international travel. Smaller events are more financially accessible and often more supportive of start-ups, local producers, and independent practitioners. This inclusivity broadens the conversation and ensures a more diverse, representative industry voice.
Cross-Pollination and Collaboration
Hemp isn’t just about fibre, and cannabis isn’t just about medicine. These sectors overlap with sustainability, mental health, food innovation, skincare, veterinary science, and more. Smaller events often welcome a broader range of stakeholders, making space for unexpected collaborations across disciplines — the kind that spark real innovation.
Loyalty Grows When Events Stay Fresh
When smaller events stay current — updating formats, topics, and speakers to reflect the latest industry shifts — they earn something large expos struggle to maintain: loyalty. Communities begin to form around these events, returning year after year because they know they’ll get real value, not recycled content. When done right, small events become trusted fixtures, not just dates in a calendar.
These smaller gatherings are not a sign of contraction - they’re a sign of maturity. As the sector diversifies, it’s natural for its events to do the same. The intimacy, focus, and flexibility of these smaller-scale formats reflect the complexity of the hemp and cannabis ecosystem today.
And in an industry built on grassroots innovation, isn’t that exactly what we need?
Published 16th April 2025
