Science Symposium

With the global expansion of the cannabis market, 2019 may mark the steepest curve seen yet in the role of science in the cannabis space. Ongoing efforts to push towards the development of method standardization and GMP are accelerating and the life sciences are waking to the vast possibilities of the cannabis plant; research and development is now a race on the world stage.

It is important to know the history of hemp and cannabis farming in order to understand the current state of cannabis cultivation and genetics. Attendees will gain better understanding of cannabis farming and how current techniques support the process, and how innovation in cannabis and hemp can provide guidance for farmers looking for long-term stability.

Understanding the nuances to typical references to quality such as GMP, GLP, ISO 9001, and ISO 17025 is important as is knowing where each is most applicable. Attendees will learn these terms along with more about third-party testing laboratories where ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation makes good business sense.

As a previously banned crop, there is now a race to relearn hemp farming. Attendees will learn about the plant itself along with research on different processing steps and the effects that those steps have on product makeup, particularly THC concentration.

With a large part of our medicines derived from plants, various ways have been developed to extract the effective compounds or to administer them in an effective and efficient way. Attendees will learn about the various challenges that are faced with extracting and formulating cannabis products as well as the potential opportunities.

Valid and effective product development for medicinal cannabis is necessary and how that’s achieved incorporates empirical, evidence-based approaches. This session will discuss traditional approaches as well as new paradigms for uncovering cannabis efficacy in health and disease.

With the onset of legalization, cannabis and hemp companies are now faced with new technologies emerging at an exponential rate in highly competitive markets. This session will discuss the various thresholds of scaling cultivation and manufacturing facilities, while making well-informed financial and technological decisions to stay competitive by lowering your overall cost of goods sold (COGS).

Join scientific industry leaders for a networking reception following MJBizCon’s Science Symposium, to continue the conversation about science. Enjoy food stations from the Westgate’s award-winning restaurants, and share a cocktail with new friends at the Westgate Las Vegas Ballroom.