CannaTech Cape Town 2019

CannaTech is one of the biggest Business-to-Business cannabis expos to come to South Africa. Industry leaders from across the globe congregate in one place to talk business… and smoke a lil’ weed. This years local event was held in Cape Town, at the lookout at the V&A Waterfront.

Only the Best

Man oh man did they put on a great show. Unlike most expos, there were not millions of stalls providing random rubbish, but rather a select few premium brands. Names such as Marijuana Business Daily, Aurora, Hawthorne, MGC Pharma, Afristar, HelloMD and Goodleaf were on the roster, flaunting their provided services and products. These brands are just a few, but everyone was there for the betterment and expansion of the global cannabis community and industry.

Many of the local cannabis community will turn their noses up when hearing names like this. Most believe that the introduction of these big companies will heavily commercialise the industry and take away from the small businesses and locals who have outright passion for the plant rather than wanting to make millions. However, if we want cannabis to become commonplace in our country, it needs to be beneficial for the country as a whole and our government. This wouldn’t be possible without heavy hitters stepping foot on our soil, bringing big cash injections and evidence that they can make things work in our context.

Guest Speakers Galore

A continuous aspect during the expo were ongoing talks delivered by numerous professionals. Covering topics such as cancer care, product development, genetics, complications of investing in cannabis, the intersection between human genetics and cannabinoids and so on. There were talks every half an hour over 3 days. Needless to say, it was an eye opener! They weren’t just there to be pro cannabis, but to educate and even challenge the current status quo.

There were some big names on the speakers roster too. The likes of Saul Kaye of iCAN, Professor Shaul Lev-Ran, Len May, Pamela Hadfield, The Dagga Couple, Rylie Maedler and Nirit Bernstein to name but a few. All of these pioneers of the industry were there to share their insight with those passionate about the plant and the potential it has across so many spheres. As well as being there to network and meet people you don’t usually get the opportunity to.

Business Taking Place

Networking was done throughout the day, in places such as “The Greenhouse”, a room set up for those who wanted to meet the faces behind the numerous brands and entities. A chat could be had with a complimentary Durban Poison cannabis beer in hand, or a refreshing Goodleaf CBD infused water. The atmosphere overall was vibey, with cool tunes playing at all times – and not to mention the view! Looking out over the Atlantic Ocean, you couldn’t ask for a more beautiful setting.

This is not a cheap expo to attend. It does take a few bucks to be in the same room as some of the names mentioned above, and really is exclusive for those wanting to do business. If you are ever in a position where you want to meet people who you can collaborate with and work together in order to change the game when it comes to cannabis – this is the perfect expo for you.

All in all, CannaTech hosted a fantastic business and networking event. Things ran flawlessly and in a timely manner, which is quite a surprise when it comes to working with people in cannabis! If you’re in the cannabis industry, you could not ask for a more exciting and professional event. Thank you CannaTech 2019, we are looking forward to next year.