The Cannabis Opportunities Conference returns to Philadelphia for three days of policy, entrepreneurship, wellness, and hands-on education.
In this article:
💡 What is the Cannabis Opportunities Conference?
💡 Experiences and opportunities
💡 The agenda: day by day
💡 Conference details at a glance
💡 Cannabis in Pennsylvania
💡 What to do in Philly
💡 Where to eat in Philly
💡 Where to stay in Philly
If you’ve been looking for an excuse to visit Philadelphia, PA, we’ve found it for you. From September 25-27, 2026, the ninth annual Cannabis Opportunities Conference will return to this vibrant city, bringing together thousands of stakeholders to discuss who gets to participate in the industry, who benefits from legalization, and what communities will need as cannabis policy continues to evolve.
For travelers, this unique gathering an especially interesting reason to spend some quality time in the City of Brotherly Love. Come for the conversations happening around cannabis, and stay to explore one of America’s great food, art, history, and hospitality cities.
Get to Philly, grab a hoagie, and immerse yourself in the future of the cannabis industry! Keep reading for everything you need to know about the conference, plus our expert Philly travel recommendations.
What is the Cannabis Opportunities Conference?
The Cannabis Opportunities Conference is the centerpiece of Black Cannabis Week, an initiative of the Diasporic Alliance for Cannabis Opportunities (DACO), an organization created to elevate Black voices within cannabis.
The conference is a space where parts of the cannabis ecosystem that are often siloed can come together. Business owners engage in conversations with policymakers, students connect with industry professionals, and everyone gets to look at cannabis policy through the lenses of culture, health, justice, entrepreneurship, and community investment.
At its core, the Cannabis Opportunities Conference is for anyone interested in where cannabis is headed. For Dr. Brandi Hester-Harrell, the event’s executive producer, one measure of success is the variety of people who walk through the door. “This room is industry agnostic, which is what success looks like,” she told HighWays Travel.
An All Access Pass includes priority entry, a VIP gift bag, access to included events, and other VIP benefits. If you don’t want to commit to the entire weekend, tickets are also available for individual events.
Several events, including the Expo on Saturday and Community Day events on Sunday are free and open to the public—just be sure to reserve your spot before they fill up.
Experiences and Opportunities
The theme tying everything together this year is Rising in Joy, Rooted in Resilience, Building What’s Next, and the conference schedule is packed with a mix of programming, educational sessions, networking, cultural events, wellness programming, and more. Here’s a sneak peak at some of the highlights.
Get help accessing medical cannabis.
The Get Carded Medical Access Initiative will connect attendees with free and reduced-cost medical cannabis card registrations, patient education, and wellness resources. Throughout its history, Black Cannabis Week has facilitated more than 500 medical registrations.
Find criminal record-clearing resources.
Over the years, the conference has also provided more than 500 people with expungement or criminal record support resources. That work continues this year, as attendees can connect with attorneys for advice and legal support at the Expungement Clinic.
Explore cannabis-related jobs and careers.
Hester-Harrell is particularly interested in showing young people and professionals that cannabis careers aren’t limited to the jobs consumers see when they walk into a dispensary. “Cannabis needs lawyers and researchers. It needs people with backgrounds in healthcare, science, marketing, business, education, and policy. It needs entrepreneurs and employees with specialized skills,” she shares.
Pitch ideas and find funding.
For attendees who do want to build a business, Pull-Up & Pitch gives emerging founders an opportunity to present their ideas while potentially connecting with funding, mentorship, and growth resources.
Step inside a mock dispensary.
We’re particularly excited about Retail Unleashed, a mock dispensary featuring several cannabis brands owned by people of color. The hands-on activation simulates the actual shopping experience, making dispensaries more approachable for people who feel intimidated by the concept.
Explore wellness.
The Wellness Pavilion puts practitioners, patient resources, and restorative experiences alongside the conference’s business and policy programming. Seventeen practitioners participated last year, with even more planned for 2026.
Have fun!
Seriousness is not a requirement for meaningful conversation. High Black History, for example, combines comedy, storytelling, and education to explore overlooked Black history and culture. There’s also Family Feud, an intergenerational game show-inspired experience that uses competition and humor to get people talking to each other. CannaBliss, a queer after-hours event, will feature music, food, drinks, and a burlesque performance.
The Agenda: Day by Day
The official 2026 conference is organized around three distinct days. Choose to attend the day that most closely matches your interests, or make a long weekend of it, and do it all!
Friday, September 25: Industry Day
- Policy breakfast and summit at the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Philadelphia Center City
- Leadership conversations
- Cultural programming
- A public hearing in conjunction with Pennsylvania Senator Sharif Street
- Comedy shows at local breweries
Saturday, September 26: The Main Event
- A trade show and expo at Temple University
- Marketplace and business exchange
- Wellness area, medical cannabis resources, and cultural activations
- Career exploration and development opportunities
Sunday, September 27: Community Impact Day
- Climate and social justice programming at Plant and People
- Community cleanup project
- Closing ceremony
Conference Details at a Glance
What: Cannabis Opportunities Conference
When: September 25–27, 2026
Where: Multiple locations throughout Philadelphia
Who it’s for: Entrepreneurs, cannabis professionals, policymakers, advocates, students, wellness professionals, creatives, educators, and cannabis-curious community members
Tickets: Prices vary, including several free events
Cannabis in Pennsylvania
Don’t expect to show up in Philly and stroll into a dispensary like you might in New York or Chicago. Pennsylvania has a legal medical cannabis program, but as of September 2026, the state has not (yet) legalized recreational adult-use cannabis.
The medical cannabis program is intended for Pennsylvania residents only. To register as a patient, you must have a qualifying serious medical condition, be certified by an approved practitioner, provide proof of Pennsylvania residency, and obtain a state medical cannabis ID card.
Pennsylvania does not offer reciprocity, so if you have a medical card from another state, you won’t be able to use it here.
What to Do in Philly
The Cannabis Opportunities Conference may be what gets you to Philadelphia, but between the city’s history, neighborhoods, food, and culture, there’s plenty of reason to stick around past the panels.
If this is your first trip, start with Independence National Historical Park, where you can tour Independence Hall, view the Liberty Bell, and explore the neighborhood where much of the United States’ early history unfolded.
Between the world-famous museums and vibrant public murals and installations, Philadelphia is a dream destination for fans of interesting art. For a truly unique experience, visit Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, an interactive museum of mosaics, winding passageways, and repurposed wonders.
Eastern State Penitentiary was a working prison until 1971; today, it’s a museum that gives an eerie glimpse into the history of incarceration in America. Exhibits highlight everything from religion in prison to famous former residents like Al Capone and Slick Willie Sutton.
And don’t overlook Philly’s amazing neighborhoods. Walk around the Gayborhood, spend some time in Rittenhouse Square, pop into shops on South Street, or snack your way through the Italian Market. And if you find a new favorite spot, let us know about it in the comments below.
Where to Eat in Philly
No matter what kind of food you’re into, come to Philly hungry!
Don’t miss Reading Terminal Market. The historic landmark is stuffed with more than 80 merchants selling everything from Pennsylvania Dutch specialties and baked goods to cheesesteaks, roast pork sandwiches, soul food, Asian cuisine…the list goes on. Insider tip: If you want to take your time strolling up and down the aisles, avoid the lunchtime rush.
Set opposite Washington Square Park, Talulah’s Garden is a charming farm-to-table restaurant that feels like a country escape nestled inside the city. The decor is just as fresh as the locally sourced menu, with flowers, greenery, and courtyard seating when weather permits. Next door, Talulah’s Daily is a casual spot for coffees, pastries, pre-packed prepared foods, gourmet ingredients, and more.
Cheesesteaks really do taste better in Philly, and two of the city’s most famous spots are located just steps away from one other. Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks both serve up deliciously indulgent cheesesteaks and fries 24/7. Insider tip: If you’re traveling with a friend, split a sandwich from each counter, and choose for yourself who reigns supreme.
Where to Stay in Philly
Since the conference is spread across the city, any hotel in Center City will put you right where you need to be.
The DoubleTree by Hilton Philadelphia Center City has the obvious advantage of hosting Friday’s Policy Summit, making it particularly convenient if conference programming is your priority.
For an upscale stay, Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square puts you close to restaurants, shopping, Rittenhouse Square, and much of Center City.
Loews Philadelphia Hotel is another convenient choice, particularly for travelers who want to be close to Reading Terminal Market and public transportation. It’s housed in the historic PSFS Building right in the middle of Center City.
If you’d rather make the trip feel like a Philadelphia vacation with a conference mixed in, Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia in Old City is just steps from must-see sites like Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House, and Benjamin Franklin Court.
What’s your favorite part of the Cannabis Opportunities Conference? What are your favorite things to do in Philadelphia? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
