Rama Mayo, the Founder of Hall of Flowers, discussed the upcoming Hall of Flowers events coming to Santa Rosa, California (site of their very first event) as well as hosting their first New York show and its significance for the cannabis industry. Hall of Flowers, a B2B cannabis trade show, has garnered significant praise, particularly for its California events.

Rama shares his and his team's connection to New York City and provided updates on event preparations, including the number of brands and retailers, and highlighted the strategic location and offerings of the New York event.

We also covered Hall of Flowers' commitment to social equity, their strict vetting process for exhibitors and attendees, and the challenges of regulatory compliance.

Cannabis Tax Attorney James B Mann highlights the ongoing frustration within the cannabis industry due to persistent delays in legalization and reform, particularly concerning the SAFER Banking Act and Section 280E.

James addresses the perceived ineffectiveness of current lobbying efforts and explores various legal challenges to Section 280E, noting instances where companies have successfully disputed its application and received tax refunds.

We underscore the critical need for more impactful strategies, including broader public outreach and the implementation of a simpler tax structure, to drive meaningful change in the cannabis sector.

Blunt Business welcomes Joshua Horn, co-chair of Fox Rothschild's LLP's cannabis law practice. We addressed several key issues impacting the cannabis industry, including the detrimental impact of California's upcoming cannabis tax increase, the challenges posed by the persistent illicit market, and the lack of state enforcement against it.

We also addressed the stalled federal rescheduling of cannabis, attributing it to political factors and potential resistance within the DEA, while briefly touching on Pennsylvania's legalization efforts and frustrations with the lack of clear federal regulation.

We also focused on the lack of progress in rescheduling cannabis at the federal level, despite the Biden administration's recommendation. Political factors and potential internal resistance within the DEA were cited as reasons for the delay. We also noted that the federal government's current tax revenue from the existing 280E structure might act as a disincentive for reform.