Source: The Purist | Aug. 3, 2021

The cannabis industry is blossoming, thanks to new NYS regulations permitting the legal use of cannabis for adults.

in a booming industry. BY GABRIELLE ECHEVARRIETA

New York State lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year legalizing adult recreational use of marijuana

After years of failed legislation attempts and stalled efforts, New York State lawmakers passed a bill earlier this year legalizing adult recreational use of marijuana. The ripple effects of evolving decriminalization are being felt all the way to the Hamptons, with the annual Hamptons Cannabis Expo returning on August 22 to the lively Clubhouse event center in East Hampton. When asked about the projected future of New York’s cannabis industry, event organizer Gary Bierfriend says, “The interest we have seen from sponsors and exhibitors this year is nothing like I’ve seen in the past. There’s a mad race to grab turf and for people to put their ags in the sand and gure out how they’re going to monetize the industry.” According to GreenWave Advisors founder Matt Karnes, U.S. cannabis retail sales could ultimately reach over $80 billion, with at least $5 billion from New York state. Bierfriend adds, “New York is expected to be one of the largest markets in the country, after California.”

The Expo Merges Wall Street with Main Street

Bierfriend mentioned that many sponsors are referring to the expo as the catalyst for creating what is evolving into, to borrow from a certain multiday music festival, “Cannapalooza Week” in the Hamptons. The expo merges Wall Street with Main Street, as the event has investment professionals and bankers ocking to the East End to get in on the cannabis gold rush sweeping New York, eager to meet innovative small-business owners in the eld. Now that laws across the country have eased, Bierfriend reports, expo attendance has exponentially increased since 2018, its rst year. Hundreds of professionals from Manhattan to Montauk (and beyond) are expected to attend this year, and the excitement is palpable.

Bierfriend developed the local expo after noticing a profound void in the cannabis industry for networking, investing, education and resources due to past stigma and prohibition. Dozens of exhibitors from across the nation and nearby are participating, including key sponsors and prominent industry leaders such as Ayr Wellness, Arcview Group, Merida Capital, Tuatara Capital, Kaufman McGowan and Little Beach Harvest (Shinnecock Indian Nation), just to name a few. They’ll set up shop on the great lawn and main stage along with an abundance of food and refreshments.

Cannabis Industry Discussion Topics

Specific discussion topics include social equity, a regulatory overview of New York’s licensing requirements, cannabis investment vehicles and national branding. Hampton Cannabis Expo is also a proud sponsor of The Last Prisoner Project (lastprisonerproject.org), a nonpro t organization dedicated to cannabis criminal justice reform that is working to free an estimated 40,000+ individuals incarcerated for cannabis possession. August 29 at The Clubhouse, 174 Daniels Hole Rd., East Hampton; $150 in advance ($200 after 8/9); hamptoncannabisexpo.com

Source: 27east | Aug. 14, 2019
Bill McCuddy will emcee the event about the marijuana business and changing laws in NY State.

The first annual Hamptons Cannabis Expo is set to take place this Sunday, August 18 at The Clubhouse in East Hampton.

Emceed by Bridgehampton comedian and film critic Bill McCuddy, the Expo will feature panel discussions on the legalization of marijuana, investment, and advancements within the field of medical marijuana research. In addition to panel discussions, local CBD businesses will present attendees with information on the medicinal benefits of cannabidiol, an active ingredient in cannabis derived from the hemp plant that is being used to treat pain, insomnia, anxiety and numerous other conditions without getting patients high.

Those organizing the Hamptons Cannabis Expo see it as a unique space where anyone interested in the cannabis industry can network with industry leaders, raise capital and distribute their brands. The event runs from 4–10 p.m. with a cocktail party and exhibitor booths. Panels start at 5 p.m., exhibitor demos and dinner begin at 6:30 p.m., and an after party with live music kicks off at 8 p.m.

Slated speakers for panels include NY State Senator Diane Savino and GreenWave Advisors (offering research and financial analysis about the emerging legalized marijuana industry) founder Matt Karnes.

Marijuana possession was decriminalized statewide in New York this June, thanks to a push from Governor Cuomo and state Democrats, but full legalization has not yet been achieved. With marijuana possession reduced from a crime to a violation, punishable by fines as low as $50 (less than a parking ticket in Southampton), many believe it’s only a matter of time before full legalization takes place, and people are planning ahead for the potential business opportunities that will follow. GreenWave Advisors, a sponsor for the expo, estimates that cannabis retail sales could exceed $1.5 billion once recreational use becomes commercially available.

Source: 27east | Aug. 13, 2019
With the tide of public opinion turning in recent years when it comes to supporting legalization of marijuana, the U.S. cannabis industry has exploded.

This has not gone unnoticed by Gary Bierfriend — which is why he organized the inaugural Hamptons Cannabis Expo, set for Sunday, August 18, from 4 to 8 p.m. at The Clubhouse in East Hampton.

According to Mr. Bierfriend, the expo, which he likened to a trade show, will have a little something for everyone, appealing to a wide range of people, from individuals with relatively little knowledge about the industry who might simply want to explore cannabis as an option for treating a medical condition, to large-scale investors looking to get in on a burgeoning industry.

Mr. Bierfriend is the organizer of the event, with Clubhouse owner Scott Rubenstein as the venue partner. Mr. Bierfriend also called on the expertise of Matt Karnes, a consultant who works as a financial analyst in the cannabis industry and has a wealth of knowledge in the field.

Mr. Bierfriend, who lives in Sag Harbor, is an attorney who also has extensive experience as a businessman, having worked in high-level positions for Deutsche Bank and other companies. He is well aware of and well-versed in the ever-evolving landscape of the cannabis industry, and believes, as do many others, that it is ready to explode because of the public shift in opinion surrounding marijuana use for both medical and recreational purposes.

New York State legalized medical marijuana in 2014, and the legislature came very close to voting on a full legalization proposal earlier this year. Several states, including Colorado and Washington, have legalized recreational use, and many people believe it is only a matter of time before the rest of the country follows suit.

For all those reasons, Mr. Bierfriend said that a big event like the one he’s organized for this weekend is a necessity.

“It’s important to me, because with expanding legalization, and with the change in public opinion, the changes we’re contemplating to both the economy and in terms of social standards in the world are transformational,” he said. “This is bigger than alcohol coming out of prohibition. This will have a bigger impact than many other things I’ve seen in my lifetime in terms of business opportunities coupled with lifestyle changes.”

The event will start with registration at 3 p.m., followed by a cocktail party at 4 p.m. The first of three panel discussions is set to start at 5 p.m. That first panel discussion will focus on the medical aspect of the cannabis industry, and will be moderated by Nick Beeta, founder and CEO of Columbia Care Inc, which grows, manufactures and retails medical marijuana products. The company is considered the “white glove standard” in the field, according to Mr. Bierfriend.

The second panel will focus on legalization efforts, and the star of that panel will be New York State Senator Diane Savino, who has made legalization one of her priorities in the State Senate. A third panel will focus on investment opportunities, and will feature representatives from successful hedge funds as well as Matt Markiewicz, the managing director of THCX ETF (exchange traded fund), which advises investors who want to get in on the cannabis market.

Each panel will end with a question-and-answer session. Dinner will follow after the panels.

Mr. Bierfriend says that anyone with an interest in the cannabis industry will have something to gain from coming to the expo, and he says an event like this is long overdue, adding that there is an “avalanche of opportunity” within the ever growing market.

“There hasn’t been any large-scale investment on Long Island, and that’s mind-boggling to me,” he said. “The mood of the community is that it’s ready for greater understanding. For those involved, it will be a great networking opportunity.”

He expects it to be a diverse crowd, with a strong showing from the finance community, and Wall Street types mingling with people in the medical community. Dozens of different cannabis-related retail vendors will be on hand exhibiting their products as well.

“There will be so many different people to speak with and to compare notes with and get views and opinions,” he said. “Never before on Long Island have we had this high a concentration of thought leaders and experts coming together to talk about this.”

The event costs $150 for those who pre-register, and $200 at the door. For more information, visit cannabis495.com.