Where Did the Money Go, and Why Does the Cannabis Industry Keep Forgetting the Basics?

(This article reflects my personal opinions and broad observations about industry-wide patterns. It is not an allegation of misconduct against any specific company, entity, or event.)

Legal cannabis was pitched as a reset button.
A path toward repair.
A market meant to honor the people harmed by prohibition while building real opportunity for communities long excluded from economic growth.

Yet here we are in 2026, watching a strange and disappointing pattern unfold. A pattern described by founders, budtenders, managers, and workers across New Jersey and beyond.

People are attending industry events and can’t even get water.

Budtenders, the people holding the entire retail ecosystem on their backs, are being charged for water and essentials.
Workers are packed into rooms with no food, no seating, and lines that stretch into frustration.
Small brands are expected to subsidize high-priced activations while receiving little value in return.

And everyone is asking the same question:
Where did the money go?

THE QUIET ECONOMY OF PAY-TO-PLAY

Licensed companies are approached with the same predictable pitch:
“Come sponsor this event.”
“Partner with this expo.”
“Pay to be in the room.”

But too often, as reported repeatedly, the organizers are not licensed operators.
They do not employ local residents.
They do not participate in regulatory burdens.
They do not reinvest into the communities harmed by the War on Drugs.
Yet they charge premium rates to the people who are carrying all of those burdens.

This pattern — not one event, not one organizer, but an industry trend — has turned cannabis events into a pay-to-play ecosystem where:

• Operators pay to be seen
• Budtenders pay to be appreciated
• Workers pay for basics
• Brands pay for visibility over impact

And what do many receive in return?

Crowded rooms.
No food.
No water.
Poor production value.
Long lines.
Unsafe conditions.
And a growing sense of disrespect.

IF YOU CANNOT PROVIDE WATER, YOU CANNOT CLAIM TO PROVIDE COMMUNITY

This should not be controversial.

Free water is not a luxury.
Food is not a luxury.
Basic hospitality is not a luxury.

Yet these are the most consistent complaints from attendees:

• No free water
• Budtenders paying for essentials despite low wages
• Reports of people allegedly passing out due to lack of hydration access
• No food offered despite high ticket or sponsorship fees
• No seating
• Hospitality so poor that entire brands refuse to attend

Whether one specific incident is verifiable or not, the pattern is undeniable.

Events marketed as celebrations should not leave people dehydrated, disrespected, or feeling exploited.

LICENSED OPERATORS ARE CARRYING THE INDUSTRY AND PAYING THE MOST

Licensed operators pay for everything:

• Compliance and audits
• Monthly testing
• Insurance
• Packaging updates
• Rent and buildout
• Payroll
• Taxes
• State fees
• Legal support
• Product development

And still — still — they are asked to pay hundreds or thousands of dollars to attend events that offer less hospitality than a public park. 🙄

Meanwhile, unlicensed intermediaries often walk away with more revenue than the licensed operators who funded the experience.

That is not community.
That is not appreciation.
That is economic extraction.

IF YOU USE THE WORD “EQUITY,” YOU MUST PRACTICE EQUITY

You cannot hashtag “equity” and then charge for water.
You cannot promote “community love” while treating workers like props.
You cannot talk about “the plant” while ignoring basic human needs.
You cannot preach healing while creating environments that harm.

Equity requires intention — not branding.

WHAT 2026 MUST LOOK LIKE

Here is what any cannabis event — in any state, hosted by anyone — should guarantee:

• Free, unlimited water
• Free basic food for anyone consuming cannabis and workers
• Clear safety and hospitality standards
• Budget transparency for sponsors
• Reasonable capacity and proper staffing
• Respectful, non-exploitative treatment of every guest
• Proof of financial reinvestment into communities harmed by prohibition

If an event cannot provide these basics, it should not be marketed as an industry appreciation event.

Period.

THE COMMUNITY IS WATCHING

Founders are talking.
Budtenders are talking.
Consumers are talking.
Employees are talking.

And they are talking in the group chats.... not the recap videos.

Your reputation is no longer shaped by marketing reels.
It is shaped by how people feel when they leave your event.

And right now, too many people are leaving hungry, thirsty, disrespected, and confused about where their money went.

THE BOTTOM LINE

This industry was built on the backs of:

• people harmed by prohibition
• people underpaid in dispensaries
• people fighting daily to keep their businesses alive
• people advocating for policy and equity
• people showing up when no one else would

They deserve better.

We deserve water.
We deserve food.
We deserve hospitality.
We deserve respect.

And if no one else is going to say it publicly — respectfully, truthfully, and unapologetically — I will.

LEGAL DISCLAIMER

This article reflects my personal opinions and general observations about widespread industry practices. It is not a statement of fact regarding any specific company, event, or organizer. Any examples mentioned reflect general patterns reported by multiple individuals and should not be interpreted as accusations of wrongdoing by any particular entity. Everyone is encouraged to evaluate their own practices and work collaboratively toward better industry standards.