This year’s MJBizCon was one of the most meaningful I’ve ever experienced. Over the course of three days in Las Vegas, PufCreativ hosted three events across our Party, Play, Purify series and raised $10,000 for Freedom Grow, an organization dedicated to supporting nonviolent cannabis prisoners and their families.
None of it would have been possible without the support of our core partners who showed up for the entire series: Fat Nugs Magazine, Joint Venture Co., and GCNC. I also want to give a special shoutout to Jeremy Ortiz, who supported every event behind the scenes and helped keep things moving smoothly.
You can find the full list of partners and sponsors who helped bring these events to life here. Keep reading to find out all about what went down!
Arrival in Las Vegas
I flew in Monday night from Denver. Leaving the family is always the hardest part, especially when it’s more than a quick overnight, but MJBizCon waits for no one.
After landing, I picked up a 12-passenger van to shuttle the Puf team, the band, and what felt like half a warehouse worth of equipment. I then met up with Ann Brum and the Joint Venture Co. team, along with Morgan from Puf, to transfer materials, walk through logistics, and grab a bite before calling it a night. I crashed at a nearby hotel knowing the real work would start early Tuesday morning.
Tuesday: Light Up Las Vegas – Party
Event: Light Up Las Vegas
Location: The Doyle
Presented with: Fat Nugs Magazine
Tuesday was all about setting the tone.
The morning and afternoon were spent picking up Morgan early to gather more product and gear for all three events, followed by five separate airport runs to collect team members and bandmates as they arrived. Once everyone was in, we headed straight to The Doyle to unload equipment, set up staging and lighting, and run a full soundcheck.
When doors opened, the energy hit immediately.
Light Up Las Vegas turned into something truly special, featuring live art installations, DJ Bake Joynton, a dab bar and flower bar, live podcasting, food and drinks, and even a full alpaca petting zoo. The night was capped by a three-hour live set from my band Bubula that absolutely crushed. The room stayed buzzing until around 2 a.m., when we finally wrapped and headed back to the Airbnb.
Strategic Partners:
Benefiting Nonprofit:
Key Sponsors:
- WaxNax
- Canopy Workforce Solutions
- Green Lane Communication
- CannaSpyglass
- Peake ReLeaf
- The Plug Society
- Cam Group
- Pisgah Peaks Ventures
- DOPE CFO
- Anvil Agrinomics
- Green Elevator
- Joint Commerce
- Eskerium
- Green Star Grower
- Holon Law
- Inked Stores
- Rectitude Partners
- Safe Harbor Financial
- Sunset Glass Gallery
- Zig-Zag
Wednesday Morning: Golden Paddle Pickleball Tournament – Play
Event: Golden Paddle Showdown
Location: Plaza Hotel Pickleball Courts
Presented by: PufCreativ, WaxNax, Polar Gold
Wednesday morning came fast. Everyone was exhausted, but adrenaline took over. The weather didn’t make it easy—50 mph winds ripped through the courts—but the energy from the community kept everything alive.
Twenty teams competed, with THC Girls capturing content throughout the morning. Flowhub kept players hydrated with Bong Water cans, Spoke Digital handled food, and PayRio hosted the Best Dressed Contest. A major highlight was Rectitude Partners, who stepped in as the Freedom Sponsor, donated $10,000, and provided custom-designed pickleball paddles for the event.
Golden Paddle Sponsors:
Wednesday Night: Industry Parties & Networking
Wednesday night kept the momentum going. We sponsored the GCNC Happy Hour at NUWU and also helped sponsor the Dutchie Party at AREA15. Both events ran late, wrapping around 2 a.m., and served as valuable opportunities to deepen relationships with partners and clients after such a high-energy morning.
Thursday Morning: Breathe & Heal Brunch – Purify
Event: Breathe & Heal: Sound Healing Brunch
Location: Shine Studio
Presented with: Verdant Strategies
Thursday morning started with breakfast alongside partners at Alpine IQ, then shifted into what quickly became a favorite event of the entire week.
After days of nonstop movement, it was clear everyone needed a reset. Breathe & Heal delivered exactly that. Guests experienced guided soundbath and breathwork led by Puf team members Anna Fae Henderson and Chelsea Bates, along with aerial yoga, an açaí bowl food truck, tea service, mindful consumption, and space to truly reconnect.
It was a moment of healing, grounding, and genuine community.
Breathe & Heal Sponsors:
Thursday Night Wrap-Up
With the events behind us, Thursday night was about closing loops. I pitched a few new leads after the brunch, then treated the team to dinner at Din Tai Fung before celebrating together on Fremont Street well into the night.
Heading Home
Friday morning came early. After returning the van, I caught my flight home and happened to sit next to Peter Kasper of Terpli / Alpine IQ, which felt like a fitting final conversation after a week built on connection.
On the flight, I reflected on the week. It was exhausting. It was inspiring. And most importantly, it was deeply meaningful.
See Y’all Next Year?
I am incredibly grateful for our team, our partners, and everyone who showed up to support the Party, Play, Purify vision. Raising $10,000 for Freedom Grow was a powerful reminder of what this industry can accomplish when community leads the way.
Thank you to every sponsor, partner, and attendee who helped make this year’s events unforgettable.
Full partner and sponsor lists can be found here.
