Cannabis was the star of several sessions at this year’s Catersource + The Special Event Conference, and it’s no wonder why: as cannabis becomes legal in more states and drug stigmas decrease, Cannabis users want to offer their favorite substance at events. Cannabis can positively enhance the guest experience, but before you install a cannabis bar at your next event, keep in mind these points that CS + TSE session speakers want you to know.
Keep in mind: the conversation about serving cannabis at events is complex and nuanced. This article is not intended to be a complete guide to serving cannabis at events. While we enjoy educating event planners about emerging event trends, this article aims to inspire the reader to start thinking about how they can implement cannabis deals into their own business. There is much to learn about this topic and we encourage readers to continue their research and education on this topic with external sources, including some of these recommended resources:
What’s the difference?
Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) is the chemical found in hemp plants that causes psychedelic effects. The other chemical found in hemp plants that contains more soothing and healing properties is cannabidiol (CBD).
Know the laws of your state
In his session on Cannabis Drinks at New and Exciting Way to Experience Weed, Dan Braunstein, founder of Grassfed (a producer specializing in cannabis-themed events), says that 20 states have legalized cannabis, so make sure the yours is one of them. . However, he points out that this does not mean that cannabis is necessarily legal in public or that any store can sell cannabis products. Use discretion when buying or hiring cannabis for your event. Also, be sure to care only for people over the age of 21, because caring for any minor is a crime in most states.
Understand your audience
If you plan to serve cannabis at your next event, get to know your audience in advance. Are they regular users or will this group experiment for the first time? How many of the guests will use cannabis? Being aware of the crowd will put you in the best position to take care of guests and ensure a pleasant experience for all.
Location, location, location
Tomer Grassiani, founder of the cannabis collective The Art of Edibles and event manager for Grassfed, spoke about the importance of creating the right environment for cannabis events in his session Cannabis and Hospitality: How to Incorporate Cannabis safe and legal way to events. The first step is to make sure your site is compatible with cannabis. Second, know if the site allows smoking and relate the form of consumption to the event and stage of the site. “If it looks very sophisticated and high-end, like a wedding, you might want to incorporate drinks.” He says if smoking is allowed, make sure the space is open and well ventilated so as not to create a “hot box” for odors and high contact.
The type of consumption is key
Educate yourself on the forms of consumption in order to guarantee the best experience for guests. Smoking can cause mental cloudiness; groceries can make guests feel sleepy and possibly in a coma. Braunstein is a big fan of cannabis drinks for this reason: with nanoemulsification, a person consuming a cannabis drink will experience a shorter rise that will start in 10-15 minutes, which will make it easier for guests to pace themselves. yourself and you, as a planner, to ensure a safer and more enjoyable event for everyone.
What to do if a guest consumes too much
While cannabis is not known to unlock outrageous behavior like alcohol does, it is important to know what to do if an event attendee consumes too much. Grassiani suggests taking the guest to a quiet place, focusing on hydration and serving them pure CBD to balance the effects of THC. Have them wait with their friends to let them know they are safe.
Hire an insured budget
There’s nothing better you can do for your event (and for yourself) than make sure you hire an assured and expert budtender to cater for guests and help educate them on what and how much to consume. A budtender can also help you figure out the best options for serving your event by choosing the best regulated products. They can load and disinfect vaporizers between guest use and check IDs, making sure your health and legal bases are covered. If you also serve alcohol, Braunstein recommends using bracelets to discern which guests are consuming what, so you don’t have to worry about anyone getting mixed up (even if they think they’ll be fine, you better not take any chances). ). Don’t let guests self-serve: a budtender is the best way to take care of guests safely and keep them well-informed.
Why Cannabis is Great for Events
With all that in mind, why have cannabis at your event? The first thing to note is that many legal precautions are the result of obsolete stigmas around the hemp plant and the resulting cannabis products. With these stigmas disappearing, people are realizing that in a safe environment, cannabis can strengthen the senses for a more intense and vibrant experience, says Braunstein. There are fewer calories than alcohol, almost no side effects, and no hangover. From wedding guests to corporate professionals, this is a great reason to choose cannabis.
No THC, no problem
If drugs are not allowed in your place or state, or if your guests are not interested, you can still bring cannabis to the table. In her Infuse Your Business Profits with CBD session, Chef Nettie Frank talked about the benefits of adding CBD to food and drink. Healing CBD oil can help reduce stress, improve sleep and increase mental clarity. With nanoemulsification, it can also be absorbed quickly and dispersed evenly in food and beverages. Frank demonstrated a wide range of CBD-infused menu, from CBD-infused mustard-based salad salad to CBD-infused cream cheese to crudités to chocolate glaze. with CBD infusion for ice cream sundaes. (And as a contestant in the Swizzle bartender contest, she infused her non-alcoholic drink with CBD oil.) “You can put it in anything and everything,” Frank said. And you can also give it to anyone – there are no age restrictions on CBD, so you don’t have to worry about serving it with vigilance.
As long as you educate yourself and work within the parameters of the law, offering cannabis at your event can enhance the atmosphere and provide a healthy and fun way for guests to do so.
Are you interested in attending the special event? Be sure to mark your calendars and join us in March 2023 for an event experience designed to ignite and inspire! Visit thespecialeventshow.com to stay up to date.
