MJ Unpacked returns to St. Louis

MJ Unpacked returns to St. Louis next week, bringing licensed operators, investors, researchers, and industry leaders together for three days of education, networking, and deal-making. The event will take place at Union Station from September 2–5.

The gathering marks the second time MJ Unpacked has selected St. Louis as a host city. The decision, according to event co-founder George Jage, was an intentional one.

“Missouri’s such a fantastic market, but it’s also, like every other cannabis markets, rapidly changing,” Jage said. “And when we looked at venues, Union Station is such a cool, cool place to do shows at.”

“I’ve made this comment before and I certainly don’t want to pretend that I am even remotely close to, Michelangelo, but I certainly understand the feeling he got when he walked into the Sistine Chapel and somebody handed him paint brushes. For me to design an event in this space was one of the coolest things I got a chance to do. I mean, there’s a shark tank, there’s otter walls. It’s just a crazy amazing place. We are ready to come back.”

“Missouri is different,” he said. “You’ve got a vertical market and a lot of consolidation. For an independent brand, it isn’t necessarily the easiest state to enter. Some companies are uniquely positioned and succeed, but low-quality, low-price products don’t fare well. Missouri has seen what happens in other states when the race to the bottom starts, everybody loses.”

He also emphasized the importance of highlighting the perspectives of operators and partners inside and outside Missouri.

“Missouri has such strong representation,” Jage said. “There’s a completely different group of businesses in this year’s Missouri Market Spotlight than last year, which gives us a chance to highlight more of the state’s diversity.”

A curated program

MJ Unpacked emphasizes curated content designed around the needs of licensed operators and executives.

“We’re curating the audience. You have to be a licensed operator to attend at title of manager or higher.”

“What sets us apart is curation,” he said. “We don’t sell our stage. Our content is driven by committees of retailers, cultivators, brands, scientists, and researchers who share the challenges they’re facing, and we deliver programming to meet those needs.”

He added, “You’re not going to see cannabis 101 sessions. If you think you can teach someone how to open a cannabis retail business in an hour, I’ve got a bridge to sell them too.”

“One of our priorities is bringing underrepresented voices to the stage,” Jage continued. “Nobody wants to hear the same people tell the same stories at every event, we want new perspectives that help people learn something real.”

The 2025 St. Louis agenda reflects that approach. Sessions include topics such as Streamlining cannabis manufacturing through AI, How data and technology can solve the $10 billion inventory management problem, and Staying patient-focused in an adult-use world.

“People like Boston Dickerson and his family, Eddie Osefo, Mitch Myers, these are amazing human beings whose work and compassion really shine through,” Jage added. “That kind of love and commitment is what we want represented on our stages.”

Partnering with MoCann

MJ Unpacked’s opening night reception on September 3 will also serve as the MoCannTrade Q3 Member Meetup.

“We’re partnering with MoCann Trade. You know they do a great job bringing the Missouri community together. So their Q3 mixer is actually part of our opening that reception. So anybody that’s a member can come that night as part of their membership.”

MoCann Trade’s Executive Director Andrew Mullins elaborated, “So not only do all of our members get to hang out with each other like they love to do, but they also get to walk the floor and interact with all of the attendees for MJ Unpacked’s conference.”

“Partnering for the opening night reception follows sort of the natural flow in from our events happening earlier in the day, and brings more of our members into the fold,” Mullins concluded.

Blue Sage Cannabis Deli, operated by Show-Me Organics, will serve as the event’s official dispensary partner.

“Our official dispensary partner is Blue Sage Cannabis Deli,” Jage said. “They’ll be running a shuttle bus so speakers, sponsors, and VIPs can pick up their gift boxes.”

Access for budtenders

For the first time, MJ Unpacked will provide budtenders a discounted pass for Friday’s programming.

“Budtenders play a huge role influencing customer decisions and even purchasing managers, so we’re opening the floor to them for the first time with a discounted pass,” he explained. “Through a partnership with Seed Talent, invitations went out to more than 12,000 budtenders in Missouri and Illinois. For $5, they can attend the afterparty on Thursday and then come to the show floor on Friday.”

MJ Unpacked St. Louis 2025 schedule

Tuesday, Sept. 2

5:00–7:00 p.m. Registration open
6:00–8:00 p.m. Welcome Mixer

Wednesday, Sept. 3

8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Registration open
9:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. CSQ Pre-Conference QMS Workshop
10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Exhibitor set-up
12:30–1:30 p.m. Networking lunch (All Access Pass)
1:30–2:10 p.m. Cracking the Current Capital Code | Dispensary Playbook | Paths to Conducting Rigorous and Independent Research
2:20–3:00 p.m. Brand Awareness vs. Performance | Recalibrating Financial Strategy | Innovations in Disease Detection and Resistance (2:20–3:50)
3:10–3:50 p.m. Building Partnerships That Last | Tracking Cannabis Market Trends in 2025
4:00–4:40 p.m. Staying Patient-Focused in an Adult-Use World | Streamlining Cannabis Manufacturing Through AI | Tax Compliance in Cannabis
5:00–7:30 p.m. Opening Night Reception & MoCann Q3 Member Meetup

Thursday, Sept. 4

8:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Registration open
9:00–10:00 a.m. We Are Jaine Morning Meetup
10:00–10:40 a.m. Navigating the Trade-Offs of Genetic Selection | Risk Management for Cannabis Businesses | Smarter, Faster, Leaner: How Brands Use AI
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 1:1 Meetups via Engage Platform
10:50–11:30 a.m. How Data and Technology Can Solve the $10B Inventory Problem | Missouri Market Spotlight | Addressing Misinformation in Cannabis Product Labeling
11:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Experience Hall open
11:40 a.m.–12:20 p.m. Launching a Cannabis Brand | Cultivation Lighting Solutions | Incorporating AI into Finance
12:30–1:30 p.m. Networking lunch (All Access Pass)
2:00–3:00 p.m. Supplier & Tech Slam | 1:1 Meetups
3:30–4:30 p.m. Supplier & Tech Slam
5:00–7:00 p.m. Poseidon’s CEO Mixer
7:00–11:00 p.m. Official MJ Unpacked Afterparty powered by Farechild

Friday, Sept. 5

9:00–10:00 a.m. Missouri Microbusiness Association Morning Meetup
10:00–10:40 a.m. Customer Engagement That Pays | Mergers, Acquisitions and Market Moves | Organic and Regenerative Cultivation Practices
10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. 1:1 Meetups via Engage Platform
10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Registration open
10:50–11:30 a.m. Building Financial Infrastructure | Science-Driven Edible Innovation | What Buyers Want
11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Experience Hall open
11:40 a.m.–12:20 p.m. Environmental Controls | Smart Brand Strategy | The State of Cannabis Payments
12:30–1:30 p.m. Networking lunch (All Access Pass)
1:00–1:30 p.m. Brand Slam
2:00–4:00 p.m. 1:1 Meetups via Engage Platform
2:30–3:15 p.m. Budtender Slam