Meadowlands was Meadow's cannabis industry retreat: four days at Camp Navarro in Mendocino, California, where operators, cultivators, brands, and regulators gathered in the redwoods to learn from each other, talk shop, and actually recharge. The 2024 edition ran September 30 to October 3.
It was not a typical conference. No hotel ballrooms, no fluorescent lights, no pretending cannabis wasn't the reason everyone was there. Here's what it was, and what made it worth the drive.
In This Post
- 1. Community and Connection
- 2. Education and Inspiration
- 3. Unique Experiences and Activities
- 4. Nature and Rejuvenation
- 5. It Was Fun
- Will Meadowlands Come Back?
- Meadowlands Was Powered by Meadow
1. Community and Connection
Real Relationships
At Meadowlands, attendees were surrounded by people who get it. Operators networked with industry leaders, innovators, and peers in a laid-back setting. It wasn't business cards and handshakes; it was the kind of setting where genuine connections form, the ones that turn into collaborations, partnerships, and lasting friendships.
Fireside Chats
Industry experts shared their zones-of-genius and their vision for the future in small, insightful discussions. These intimate sessions gave attendees a chance to learn directly from seasoned professionals and walk away with strategies for the challenges in front of them.
2. Education and Inspiration
Learn from the Best
The speaker lineup included some of the most influential names in cannabis. Sessions ranged from business strategy to regulatory updates, and the agenda took on the industry's hardest conversations: rescheduling, navigating the supply chain, sitting down with state and local regulators, cannabis and tech, social equity, finance, and craft cannabis.
Interactive Workshops
Attendees rolled up their sleeves for hands-on sessions covering dispensary management, sales strategy, and preparing for Schedule III. The workshops were built around practical insights and plans people could act on when they got home.
3. Unique Experiences and Activities
Exclusive Tastings
Meadowlands landed in the heart of the Emerald Triangle during harvest. Attendees sampled flower from top California craft growers, many of whom have been cultivating for generations, and those growers brought the best of their harvest. It made for a tasting experience you couldn't get anywhere else: cannabis straight from the source, with the master growers there to talk through their stories, their harvest, and the communities behind California craft.
Wellness and Fun
Between sessions there were massages, Ganja Yoga, archery, lawn games, and the rest of camp. Mornings started with Wake n Bake sessions built around artisanal coffee and cannabis pairings. Evenings ran to happy hours, silent discos, dancing under the stars, and night hikes, which turned out to be where a lot of the best conversations happened.
