Hemp, Hope And Hard Truths: A New Era Of Realism At Benzinga’s Chicago Summit
The cannabis industry met itself in the mirror last week in Chicago and what it saw was a sector growing wiser, not just older. At the 2025 Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, held June 8–10 at the Marriott Magnificent Mile, hundreds of investors, executives, advocates and analysts gathered to trade insights, air frustrations and, above all, connect. And while the usual dreams of federal reform still floated through the halls, this year’s tone was something different: grounded, battle-tested and just a little bit more mature.
Jesse Redmond: A View From The Floor
Jesse Redmond, head of investor relations at LEEF Brands (OTC:LEEEF) and co-host of the Higher Exchanges podcast, summed it up in three takeaways:
- Packed rooms, new faces: Despite a shifting cast—”less of the old guard,” as he put it—the event was full of energy and opportunity.
- Capital mismatch: “More asks, fewer gives,” he noted, highlighting the scarcity of deployable funds in an environment where investor caution now outweighs hype.
- Strategic wins: For LEEF, timing is everything. Its Tier 1 New York license announcement coincided with the event, leading to real conversations about brand partnerships, real estate and bicoastal expansion.
Redmond wasn’t alone in noticing the capital crunch. As A.G.P. / Alliance Global Partners wrote in their post-event memo, even cash-flow-positive companies are being cautious. Others, like 4Front (OTC:FFNTF) and Gold Flora (OTC:GRAM), have already gone into receivership. And yet, for well-positioned operators, the shakeout could spell acquisition opportunity.