\u201cAre you going to SXSW?\u201d is a question uttered by many the media player, entertainment operative and technology guru. The Austin, Texas festival is an event long considered mandatory for anyone who\u2019s anyone in a number of fields \u2014 and for the first time ever, cannabis can count itself among the industries whose coolest kids strive to snag a coveted spot at the festival.<\/p>\n
And in an unprecedented first, Cannabis Now\u2019s very own\u00a0HEMP TODAY<\/a>, our two-day CBD activation and hemp educational experience, will be counting itself among this new clique of plant-friendly programming. This SXSW official<\/a> special event will take place from March 12 and 13 at The Venue<\/a> on 6th Street and is open to the general public 21+ and SXSW badge holders. Featuring a range of offerings, from live music and film screenings to moderated panels and branded activations, this event will be THC-free, instead focusing on the emergence of hemp-based CBD and other hemp-related developments in the cannabis industry at large.<\/p>\n A number of activations and experiential events will begin at 1 p.m. on March 12 including a meet-and-greet with Austin\u2019s most popular pooches sponsored by the elite CBD purveyors\u00a0Select Oil<\/a>, massage sessions courtesy of the leading CBD product curators over at\u00a0Eaze Wellness<\/a>, and a hemp lounge sponsored by CBD industry leaders\u00a0CBD Lion<\/a> and Dab Nation<\/a>, where attendees can relax and learn about the CBD and hemp-focused products the brands offers.<\/p>\n The VIP area <\/a>of HEMP TODAY will also open at 1 p.m., allowing special guests to enjoy a selection of complimentary food and custom cocktails from 4-7 p.m., along with a private space to make connections and enjoy the vibes throughout the day until the event closes at midnight.<\/p>\n At 2 p.m., Cannabis Now publisher and CEO Eugenio Garcia<\/a> will moderate the first panel, \u201cRecovery and Relief: CBD for Athletes,\u201d where speakers will discuss the access to CBD and THC afforded to professional athletes, given the rise in awareness of opioid abuse and addiction, which means celerity around the benefits and restrictions to alternative medicine is more important now than ever.<\/p>\n Featured speakers will include: retired NBA player Matt Barnes, who helped lead the Golden State Warriors to their 2017 championship; NFL free agent Nick Moody, who has been outspoken about the potential benefits cannabis could bring to football players and professional athletes at large; NFL coach and consultant Terrell Jones, now the vice president of business development for\u00a0Champ Energy Drinks<\/a>, a line of full-spectrum CBD-charged products designed to enhance performance in a healthful manner, and Dr. Alex Campano, chief science officer of\u00a0Ananda Hemp<\/a>, where she acts as principal investigator on clinical research and trials, focused on hemp-based CBD therapies.<\/p>\n Following the panel at 3 p.m., an episode from Cannabis Now\u2019s groundbreaking docuseries exploring the state of the global cannabis industry will be screened. This episode will focus on Israel, home of groundbreaking cannabis research and market-shifting cannabis legislation.<\/p>\n \u201cIn today\u2019s post-prohibition space, there\u2019s an increased demand for education and smart entertainment,\u201d Garcia said. \u201cBut there is a severe lack of authentic storytelling. Most of the media surrounding the cannabis space today is inundated with either sponsored content or the antiquated \u2018stoner\u2019 expression. Our goal is to bring an enlightened, authentic, real-life point of view to this emerging community and industry in the form of film, which is one of the most intimate ways of observing change.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n At 4 p.m., True Terpenes<\/a> co-founder Ben Cassiday will host an educational presentation where participants will have the chance to delve into the science behind terpenes<\/a>, the chemical components that give different strains of marijuana (and more!) their unique flavors and learn how to use terpenes to better inform their consumption choices. True Terpenes will activate their Terp Wall throughout the entire two day event, a display that allows viewers to experience different terpenes firsthand in an interactive and aesthetically pleasurable fashion.<\/p>\n Live performances from SXSW\u2019s lineup of artists will begin on the HEMP TODAY stage at 6 p.m. each evening. Tuesday\u2019s performances will feature Leaf, Rich Espy, Nova Kncklheds, 570JV, Ree Boutit, DJ OG Ron C & The Chop Stars and will be headlined by rapper Curren$y.<\/p>\n On March 13, doors to HEMP TODAY will open at 12 p.m., leading into a pair of panels moderated by Cannabis Now editors. \u201cThe Potentials & Pitfalls of Hemp & CBD,\u201d moderated by Associate Editor Julia Clark-Riddell, will begin at 1 p.m. and will dissect the unprecedented growth, investment and hype surrounding the newly legal hemp industry, as well as a new wave of confusion over how exactly the plant and its derivatives are now regulated. In this panel, attendees will learn from leading hemp and cannabis industry experts about the best strategies for navigating complex state and federal rules, the emerging global marketplace and where they see the most potential for the future of hemp.<\/p>\n These experts include: serial entrepreneur\u00a0Matt Morgan<\/a>, co-founder of Reef Dispensaries, Tryke Companies, Bloom Dispensaries, Slapps Underwear, Ignite Cannabis Co and the Green Axis Capital Corp;\u00a0High Hemp Wraps<\/a>\u00a0CEO Paola Fernandez, the world\u2019s first hemp-only rolling papers; longtime journalist and\u00a0True Terpenes<\/a>\u00a0marketing content creator David Heldreth and private hemp investor Michael Freelander, who created the\u00a0Indica Vaporizer\u00a0among his many other ventures.<\/p>\n As HEMP TODAY\u2019s second day opens at 12 p.m., so will the VIP Lounge and the Hemp Lounge. The True Terpenes Terp Wall and the Eaze Wellness<\/a>\u00a0massage experiences will also open at this time. And at 1 p.m,\u00a0Austin Pets Alive!<\/a> will bring dogs who are currently up for adoption into the HEMP TODAY space for anyone looking for a furry addition to their family, with the presentation of a donation check on behalf of Select Oil to Austin Pets Alive!.<\/p>\n A second panel will begin on the HEMP TODAY stage at 2 p.m, with Senior Editor Ellen Holland moderating the conversation on \u201cMarketing Marijuana: Branding Cannabis & Hemp.\u201d Panelists will include: iconic cannabis entrepreneur\u00a0Steve DeAngelo<\/a>; branding guru and\u00a0EVB<\/a>\u00a0CEO Daniel Stein, who has spearheaded numerous successful and innovative brand campaigns;\u00a0Bloom Farms<\/a>\u00a0President of Sales and DistributionSallyann Parker Nichols, an early adopter and adapter in the realm of legal cannabis, and\u00a0Wick & Mortar\u2019s<\/a>\u00a0Jared Mirsky, whose award-winning cannabis marketing and branding agency has made leaps and bounds in lifting the stigma surrounding the beautiful plant.<\/p>\n Following the conclusions of panels at 3 p.m, Garcia will introduce the world premiere of Cannabis Now\u2019s mini-documentary on New York City\u2019s cannabis scene, thriving and established despite the fact that cannabis remains illegal in New York state.<\/p>\n \u201cNew York City has always been the epicenter for change in our country,\u201d Garcia said of the film. \u201cWhen people think cannabis, a lot of people think Mendocino and northern California, which is totally legitimate, but the other side of that coin is New York City and Sour Diesel and the stories that we were exposed to \u2014 the beginnings and current expression of the East Coast cannabis community, which was pretty phenomenal to witness.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n At 4 p.m., Texas-based cannabis marketing agency The Green Lab Group<\/a> is set to debut the Bleum App on the HEMP TODAY stage, a revolutionary marketing platform that will \u201c[utilize] augmented reality to change how brands engage with their consumers,\u201d per a release<\/a>\u00a0on the launch.<\/p>\n \u201cThe goal is to help brands develop content that is unique and creative, provides value, builds trust, and establishes credibility,\u201d The Green Lab co-founder Dan Earle said in the same release.\u00a0<\/p>\n Following this debut at 6 p.m. there will be another evening of live performances from Scram Jones, Food for Cougars, E Jake, Archibald Slim, Dax Impire and DJ Green Lantern concluded by a headlining set from Devin the Dude.<\/p>\n And HEMP TODAY isn\u2019t the only opportunity for cannabis to shine at the festival \u2014 there\u2019s also the addition of a\u00a0Cannabusiness<\/a>\u00a0Track, sponsored by\u00a0Leafly<\/a>. This track will examine the cannabis industry on a broad scale and is slated to feature sessions on a range of topics, including industry diversity, the future of cannabis and incorporating cannabis into wellness.<\/p>\n These sessions will take place at the\u00a0Hilton Austin Downtown<\/a>\u00a0from March 14 \u2013 16, and featured speakers include former Speaker of the House John Boehner, CanopyBoulder CEO Patrick Rae and cannabis researcher Sue Sisley.<\/p>\n It\u2019s clear that cannabis has earned its place among design, media, film and coding as a topic worthy of SXSW\u2019s spotlight. It is, after all, a burgeoning industry with a North American market value that\u2019s\u00a0projected<\/a> to hit $16 billion this year.<\/p>\n Traditional cannabis-based gatherings have changed in the wake of partial, state-driven legalization. The Emerald Cup<\/a>, for instance, is a far\u00a0different affair<\/a>\u00a0in adult-use California than in the bygone era of prohibition, or even medical exclusivity. But the fact that South by Southwest has given space and a platform to multiple events exploring different facets of this business is a testament to what is in store for cannabis entrepreneurs, both those already in the industry and those yet to enter.<\/p>\n This grand gesture of acceptance from a premiere, mainstream event bodes well for the cannabis industry\u2019s bright future as a business taken seriously and given the weight it deserves.<\/p>\n TELL US<\/strong>, will you be at SXSW this year? Share your photos by tagging them #cannabisnowsxsw. <\/p>\n The post Cannabis Now Launches SXSW\u2019s First \u201cOfficial Event\u201d Featuring Hemp and CBD<\/a> appeared first on Cannabis Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n
\u201cAre you going to SXSW?\u201d is a question uttered by many the media player, entertainment operative and technology guru. The Austin, Texas festival is an event long considered mandatory for anyone who\u2019s anyone in a number of fields \u2014 and for the first time ever, cannabis can count itself amongContinue Reading<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":15,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"false","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3534,8070,3057,50,136,8931,1594,8932,8933,8934,8935,8936,69,8937,687,8938,5570,1845,8072,2903,8939],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33475"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/15"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=33475"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33475\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33476,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/33475\/revisions\/33476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=33475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=33475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/cannabiscultivatornews.com\/home\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=33475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}Tuesday, March 12<\/h4>\n
\n
Wednesday, March 13<\/h4>\n
\n
SXSW Cannabusiness Track<\/h4>\n
\n
\nRead More: Cannabis Now Launches SXSW\u2019s First \u201cOfficial Event\u201d Featuring Hemp and CBD<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"