Largest CBD and Hemp Convention in America Announces Return After Year Off

Stifled by the coronavirus pandemic for the past 15 months, the largest CBD and hemp expo in America announced on Tuesday its plans for a grand return.

The USA CBD Expo, which regularly draws thousands of the world’s most influential industry leaders and brands, slated its first 2021 event for next month in Atlanta. The biggest names in CBD will gather at Georgia World Congress Center, one of the largest convention centers in the United States, for three days of B2B access, educational seminars and speaking sessions.

“The decision to postpone our 2020 events was not an easy one,” said Zach Bader, the event’s co-founder. “Over the past year, our team has worked diligently to organize and deliver a premium trade show experience that serves as a launch pad for executives and industry hopefuls alike.”

The expo’s statement came just one day after U.S. health officials declared that fully vaccinated Americans would no longer be advised to wear masks or exercise social distancing, a giant leap forward toward a full reopening after over a year of sporadic shutdowns and mask mandates.

Bader said the expo has designated over 110,000 square feet of exhibition space for the Atlanta event, making it the largest USA CBD Expo of four held since 2019. Over 10,000 participants and some 50 speakers are expected at next month’s convention, including former NFL All-Pro Kyle Turley, who uses CBD to treat physical and neurological disabilities stemming from his playing days.

A panel of judges will award cash prizes for the best CBD flower, tinctures, vapes, pet products, edibles and topicals, among hemp-based products in several other categories. Winners will also get their brands published on the expo’s website.

Bader pitches the event on the promise that attendees will have access to CBD industry leaders, entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, and pioneers “looking to discover, network, learn and create business opportunities within the cannabis industry.”

The expo held its last pair of events in February 2020, just weeks before the pandemic shut down international travel. That month, its Las Vegas event featured about 10,000 attendees, 3,400 industry professionals and 300 exhibitors. Its debut international event in Medellin, Colombia, drew 6,000 attendees, 1,000 CBD and hemp pros as well as some 60 exhibitors.