The cannabis industry isn’t short on trade shows. From sprawling convention center expos to niche regional gatherings, there’s an event for nearly every vertical. But George Jage saw something missing. Despite the boom in cannabis commerce, there was no national event built specifically for licensed brands and retailers—the consumer-facing core of the industry. So he built one.
MJ Unpacked launched with a clear mandate: cut the noise, elevate the experience, and deliver value to people with the least time to waste—operators, founders, and decision-makers. In Jage’s words, it was about “designing a show for the vanguard of our industry.”
That meant upending the standard trade show playbook. Gone are the endless rows of vendor booths and the flood of unqualified foot traffic. In their place: curated brand showcases, intentional networking, and an invitation-only guest list that filters out tire-kickers and floods the floor with people who actually sign checks and place orders.
And it’s working.
Precision Over Scale
MJ Unpacked is built for a market that doesn’t have time for small talk. The structure is lean and strategic. The attendees—licensed cannabis operators and vetted investors—aren’t there to browse. They’re there to build.
Instead of shelling out tens of thousands for a massive booth and hoping the right buyer walks by, brands can opt into elegantly simple Turnkey Booth Packages or low-overhead Brand Showcases. These aren’t just cost-saving measures—they’re a recognition that many cannabis companies operate on razor-thin margins and tight timelines.
Jage designed the show so that founders could send their logo in, show up, and hit the floor running. No shipping crates. No setup nightmares. No wasted motion.
Instead of vendors chasing passersby, attendees find themselves in what one exhibitor called “a room full of juicy conversations.”
More Summit, Less Showroom
Though technically a trade show, MJ Unpacked feels more like a tightly run business summit. The venue choice plays a major role—hotel convention spaces like the Hard Rock in Atlantic City create natural flow and chance encounters. Elevators become icebreakers. Hallways become deal rooms. The networking starts before you even pick up your badge.
This year’s spring event returns to Atlantic City, a signal that the East Coast’s cannabis moment is fully underway. With adult-use markets now live in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, and Ohio—and Pennsylvania on deck—the region is no longer emerging. It’s exploding.
Jage and his team saw it coming. From the start, they identified the East Coast as the epicenter of cannabis growth over the next half-decade. Rather than play catch-up, MJ Unpacked positioned itself where the market was heading.
Ground Game in the Heartland
In the fall, MJ Unpacked shifts to Missouri—a state Jage says has “graduated from fly-over status.” Legal cannabis in Missouri isn’t just an experiment; it’s a case study in competent rollout and surging demand. While some national events overlook the Midwest, Jage has doubled down.
The St. Louis edition of MJ Unpacked features a strengthened partnership with MoCannTrade, the state’s leading industry association. By integrating MoCann’s quarterly networking event into the program—and sponsoring their PAC fundraiser at Top Golf—Jage is tying the show directly to the political and economic infrastructure of the state.
It’s more than just a trade show stop. It’s a stake in the ground.
Programming With Purpose
At a time when cannabis businesses are navigating economic headwinds and capital scarcity, MJ Unpacked leans into relevance. Rather than overloading the schedule with sponsored content or generic panels, the team works with four standing committees made up of operators from across the U.S.—one each for brands, retailers, cultivators, and research scientists.
These groups meet monthly, not to rubber-stamp a schedule, but to surface real challenges and insights from the front lines. The programming that results is shaped less by theory and more by necessity.
In tough times, Jage argues, the value of gathering increases. Relationships built in the margins of a show floor can outlast market cycles. “The most important way we serve the operators,” he says, “is by offering highly curated educational programming from highly vetted speakers.” That doesn’t happen by accident—it happens through listening.
Tech That Sparks Connection
For 2025, MJ Unpacked is rolling out Engage @ MJ Unpacked, a proprietary digital platform designed to accelerate meaningful connections. Attendees will be able to message each other directly and schedule one-on-one meetings on the floor—streamlining the serendipity and reducing missed opportunities.
In a space where introductions can lead to acquisitions, investments, or multi-state retail deals, this kind of intentional matchmaking isn’t fluff. It’s fuel.
Also Read: Last Week in Weed: April 14- April 21, 2025
Built From the Ground Up
George Jage has built event platforms before—from the World Tea Expo to the early days of MJBizCon—but MJ Unpacked feels different. It’s leaner, more deliberate, and deeply aligned with the entrepreneurial spirit of the cannabis space. And that’s no accident.
“I love the chaos and complexity that forces solutions and problem-solving,” Jage says. “And I love creating events that create success for entrepreneurs and small business operators.”
This isn’t just about booths and badges. It’s about building a platform where the people who grow, sell, and invest in cannabis can find each other—without the noise.
MJ Unpacked 2025 Events
- Atlantic City, NJ – Apr. 29 – May 1, 2025 | Hard Rock Hotel & Casino
- St. Louis, MO – Sept. 3 – 5, 2025 | In partnership with MoCannTrade
For more details, visit mjunpacked.com
