MJBizCon, the largest, most established cannabis business event in the world, welcomes Vic Mensa, musician, actor, entrepreneur, and philanthropist as a keynote along with a diverse lineup across the many tracks during the annual gathering at the Las Vegas Convention Center. The lineup features 8+ Tracks, 70+ Sessions, and 200+ speakers over the three-day Conference and Expo, December 3-5, 2025 and bonus Pre-Show Forums on December 2.  

About Vic Mensa, MJBizCon Keynote 

Taking the main stage on Wednesday, December 3 is Vic Mensa, the Chicago-born-and-bred entrepreneur behind Second City’s first [legally] Black-owned cannabis brand, 93 Boyz. The hip-hop recording artist and record producer, Mensa, is a very hands-on executive and very involved in everything from design, cultivator partnerships, sales strategies, and branding with purpose. 

During his fireside chat, From Rhymes to Roots: Vic Mensa on Building a Cannabis Brand with Purpose, Mensa will share his story behind the brand—rooted in authenticity, culture, and community—and how he is leveraging business to drive social equity, economic justice, and healing in communities harmed by the War on Drugs.   

State of the Industry Update

“With more than 200 speakers taking the stage this year, MJBizCon 2025 brings together the sharpest minds and most experienced operators across every corner of the cannabis industry,” says Chris Olson, Lead Conference Content Programmer at MJBizCon. “Attendees will walk away with actionable insights straight from the people driving the most important conversations and solutions in cannabis today.” 

As always, MJBizCon’s State of the Cannabis Industry Update: Charting the Road Ahead will kick-off the general sessions on Wednesday morning. This highly attended session is a favorite among attendees as the MJBizDaily editorial team will examines industry trends and policy proposals with top industry leaders.  

 Additional Hot Topics and Speakers

• BUSINESS SERVICES & POLICY — Does One Size Fit All? Examining Alcohol Frameworks for Cannabis Distribution. Paul Weaver is a passionate innovator and product developer with over a decade of experience across both the alcohol and cannabis industries. He is Director, Head of Cannabis at The Boston Beer Company, where he leads the Company’s Canadian cannabis division. In 2022, Boston Beer launched TeaPot, a line of refreshing THC-infused iced teas blending specific strains with specific varietals of tea. Prior to joining Boston Beer, Paul was Director of Innovation at Canopy Growth Corporation and previously served as Senior Manager of Innovation at Molson Coors Beverage Company.  

• CANNABIS 101 — Breaking the Mold: Redefining Cannabis Retail Through Culture, Data, and Hyperlocal Strategy, Building a Cannabis Dispensary: From Startup to Success. Tahir Johnson is the CEO of Simply Pure Trenton, one of New Jersey’s premier Black-owned cannabis dispensaries, built on the principles of access, equity, and community empowerment. Regarded as a national leader in cannabis advocacy and inclusive business development, Tahir brings a powerful blend of financial expertise, policy experience, and grassroots impact to the regulated industry. 

• CULTIVATION — Controlled Environment Agriculture: Fine-Tuning Your Grow. Dr. Allison Justice, Founder and CEO of the Cannabis Research Center & Coalition (CRC) and The Hemp Mine, is a leading expert in cannabis cultivation and research. With a Ph.D. in Plant Science from Clemson University, she has spent the past decade advancing the cannabis industry following a prior decade in ornamental horticulture production. 

• DEI & SUSTAINABILITY — Indigenous Cannabis: Navigating Sovereignty, Regulation, and Economic Opportunity. Mary Jane Oatman is a leading advocate for tribal sovereignty and economic empowerment. MJ is the Executive Director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, where she champions Native leadership in the cannabis industry. She is also the founder of THC Magazine. A proud member of the Nez Perce Tribe, she’s dedicated to integrating traditional knowledge with modern opportunities, ensuring Indigenous voices are at the forefront of this rapidly growing sector. 

• MANUFACTURING PROCESSING DISTRIBUTION — Next-Gen Infusions: Innovation, Compliance & the Future of Cannabis Beverages. Diana Eberlein is a seasoned marketing strategist with over 15 years of experience, including eight years dedicated to advancing the cannabis beverage industry. She specializes in brand development and strategic partnerships, but in recent years has leveraged her infused beverage industry knowledge to found the Coalition for Adult Beverage Alternatives (CABA), where she serves as the acting Chair, to advocate and influence sensible regulation for the cannabis beverage industry. Additionally, she just joined the team at Vertosa, where she is the Chief External Affairs Officer and will dedicate her full focus to progressing federal and state-level conversations, elevating industry standards, and accelerating the growth of the cannabis beverage sector.  

• FINANCE — AI & Data-Driven Investment: Leveraging Analytics to Maximize Returns, Untamed Operating Costs of Your Fixed Assets are Eating Your Business Alive. Sandy Li is a seasoned financial executive with over 20 years of global experience driving growth, transformation, and value creation across private, high-growth, and public companies. Sandy serves as the Chief Financial Officer of Wana Brands, where she leads finance, strategy and Finance Operations. Under her leadership, the company expanded from 12 to 21 markets while achieving double-digit revenue growth, improved margins, and a 50% boost in working capital efficiency.  

• REGULATORY — Global Cannabis Outlook: Trends, Policy Shifts & Market Opportunities Around the World. Shane Pennington, a partner at Blank Rome LLP, counsels clients on federal regulatory issues and appellate litigation. With an in-depth understanding of the Administrative Procedure Act and the Controlled Substances Act, Shane has litigated all manner of cannabis-related issues in federal appellate courts across the country, securing landmark victories for his clients. He is currently lead counsel for two pro-rescheduling parties in the historic administrative process to reconsider cannabis’s schedule I status under federal law.  

• RETAIL & BRANDS — Building a Brand That Stands Out – From Packaging to Storytelling. Angela Cheng is the Global Chief Marketing Officer behind KANHA, one of the most trusted and top-selling edibles brands in the U.S. Known for pioneering the original fast-acting edible and a commitment to wellness you can feel, KANHA has grown from its California roots into Illinois, Nevada, Massachusetts, and Thailand. With over two decades of experience across cannabis, spirits, and fashion, Angela is an entrepreneurial marketing leader who brings together insights, culture, and creativity to shape brands that resonate and endure. 

• REMIND PSYCHEDELICS — From Battlefield to Breakthrough: Veteran Advocacy Driving Psychedelic Advocacy. Dr. Sue Sisley is an Arizona-based physician specializing in internal medicine and psychiatry, renowned for her pioneering research into the therapeutic applications of cannabis and psychedelics. As the President of the Scottsdale Research Institute (SRI), she has led groundbreaking clinical trials, including the first FDA-approved randomized controlled study examining the efficacy of smoked cannabis flower in treating post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) among combat veterans. Expanding her focus to psychedelics, Dr. Sisley holds a unique DEA Schedule I license to cultivate psilocybin mushrooms for clinical studies. In 2024, she secured a $2.75 million grant from the State of Arizona to conduct the first human trials using whole psilocybin mushrooms to treat patients with life-threatening illnesses.  

View the full Conference Agenda and Speaker lineup.

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