Last verified: March 2026
XpoCanna CT
XpoCanna is Connecticut’s marquee cannabis industry event, held at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville. The most recent edition (February 14–15, 2026) drew 2,500+ attendees and featured 80+ exhibitors across cultivation, manufacturing, retail, technology, and services.
- Venue: Aqua Turf Club, Plantsville (Southington)
- Scale: 2,500+ attendees, 80+ exhibitors
- Highlight: The X Cup — competitive product judging across flower, concentrates, and edible categories
- Focus: Business networking, product showcases, cultivation techniques, compliance
The X Cup competition has become the event’s signature feature, giving Connecticut cultivators and manufacturers a platform to compete for recognition in a market still establishing its product identity.
NECANN Connecticut
NECANN (New England Cannabis Network) runs events across the region, including a Connecticut-focused conference. NECANN events tend to bridge the gap between industry professionals and consumers, offering panels on policy, product development, and market trends alongside vendor exhibitions. The regional network connects Connecticut operators with counterparts in Massachusetts, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island.
Key Organizations
| Organization | Focus |
|---|---|
| CT Cannabis Chamber of Commerce (ctcannabischamber.org) | Led by Nikole Burnes; industry trade group representing licensed operators and advocating for market reforms including illicit market enforcement and tax simplification |
| CT NORML (connecticutnorml.org) | New Haven–based state chapter; consumer advocacy and policy reform focused on personal freedoms |
| MPP (Marijuana Policy Project) | National organization with Connecticut presence; instrumental in shaping the legalization framework and ongoing policy refinements |
| Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) | National organization with active CT chapter; equity business development, networking, and policy advocacy for minority entrepreneurs |
The CT Cannabis Chamber
The CT Cannabis Chamber of Commerce, led by Nikole Burnes, has become the industry’s most prominent voice in Hartford policy debates. The Chamber has been particularly active on two fronts: pushing for stronger illicit market enforcement (their $150–160 million leakage estimate drives much of the enforcement narrative) and advocating for tax simplification to make licensed operators more price-competitive.
Unlike some state cannabis trade groups that represent only large multi-state operators, the CT Chamber has actively supported the social equity and EJV frameworks, recognizing that the state’s equity model is central to the industry’s political sustainability.
Minority Cannabis Business Association
The Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) has an active Connecticut presence, supporting equity business development, networking, and policy advocacy. Given Connecticut’s aggressive 50% equity set-aside, the MCBA’s Connecticut work focuses on helping minority entrepreneurs navigate the EJV model, secure financing, and build operational capacity.
The Advocacy Ecosystem
Connecticut’s cannabis organizations operate across complementary layers: the Chamber represents business interests and market development, CT NORML focuses on consumer rights and personal freedom, and MPP works on legislative strategy at both state and national levels. This multi-layered structure ensures that industry, consumer, and policy perspectives are all represented — though they do not always align on priorities like tax reform, potency caps, or enforcement strategies.
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