SiShips was on the Ground for MJBizCon 2022, the Biggest Professional Cannabis Event of the Year
Cannabis is moving fast, and SiShips is helping it move even faster. As domestic and international laws evolve, hemp and cannabis is quickly becoming one of the quickest growing sectors in the agricultural industry.
SiShips has been working with growers to import supplies like grow lights and processing machines over the last few years. Then, following the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 we were able to begin shipping hemp and its derivatives.
Much of our business at SiShips comes from interacting virtually with our clients, so it’s always a pleasure to meet the people using our services in person. With tens of thousands of attendees and dozens of speakers spread across four days in Las Vegas, MJBizCon 2022 provided the perfect opportunity to expand relationships in the hemp community.
Changing Hemp Regulations
The legality of cannabis is a major political issue being debated in the United States and the rest of the world. You’ve probably seen discussion of legalizing hemp or maurijuana on the news. As of writing, recreational use of cannabis has been legalized in 21 states and Washington, D.C.; 16 states have legalized medical use of cannabis. Internationally, it is legal to use cannabis recreationally in Canada, Georgia, Malta, Mexico, South Africa, Thailand, and Uruguay.
At the moment, it is legal to ship hemp products that contain no more than .03% THC internationally. Lobbyists hope this limit will be raised in the near future. As more states work to legalize maurijuana domestically, in addition to hemp, it is certain the international regulations will follow.
What Happened at MJBizCon 2022
MJBizCon 2022 sounds like a dream for cannabis enthusiasts—320,000 square feet of exposition space, more than 1,400 exhibitors, and sessions with celebrities like comedian Jim Belushi and football stars Ricky Williams and Calvin Johnson, Jr.—but, it’s more than fun and games. This event is exclusively for cannabis professionals.
We were able to walk the floor of the Las Vegas Convention Center and get up close and personal industry insiders. Just like Gen Con 2022, MJBizCon 2022 let us connect with current and future clients. Also, we got to see in person some of the advanced equipment we can help our clients ship. Getting a feel for the size and heft of the machines enables us to assist our clients even better.
All in all, it was a great week to do business in Las Vegas and have a little fun while we were at it. 
Looking at the Future of Cannabis
Just this month, November 2022, five states voted on amendments to legalize marijuana in all forms. While the amendments only passed in Maryland and Missouri, the future is bright for the cannabis industry. There has been a massive groundswell for legalization over the last decade, since Colorado became the first state for recreational maurijuana in 2012. Legalization has led to big profit returns for vendors who were able to capitalize early.
Next year, lawmakers look to improve the hemp industry with a new 2023 farm bill. The incredible demand for CBD-based products will drive these changes. The United States Department of Agriculture estimated the hemp industry to be worth over $800 million. (And that’s with the current restrictions!)
SiShips will continue to pay close attention to the hemp industry and other major growth sectors. We make sure we are up to date with the latest shipping regulations so we can provide the best service to our clients, giving them an advantage over their competitors.
How SiShips Gives You the Advantage
Sheltered International combines expertise with state of the art software to bring you quality domestic and international shipping solutions. SiShips puts the shipper in control, offering efficient and cost effective ways to ship your product.
To learn more about managed transportation with SiShips, or to view a demo of our software, contact us today.
