Cannabis is a hot issue and an emerging industry some brands can’t afford to ignore. According to Cowen analyst Viven Azer, the U.S. marijuana industry is projected to grow to $80 billion by 2030. Such astounding numbers come as more states legalize the plant, and hemp-based CBD becomes fully legal in all 50 states. The quickly growing expansion of the industry and its handsome profits have made it one of the more talked-about sectors in the business. 

Yet, the field's popularity has almost become too big. The hype of cannabis and quick push from brands to join the party have led to some stakeholders not understanding the real proposition value of the space. To move past the hype and highlight a sustainable way to navigate the quickly growing field, the Licensing Leadership Summit will host an informative session on the state of all things cannabis, hemp and CBD. 

Drake Sutton-Shearer, chief executive officer and founder, Future State Brands, and Darien Dash, business advisor and chief financial officer at Quality Control (Cardi B, Migos, Lil Baby, Lil Yachty and more), will take the stage for the "Cannabis, Hemp & CBD: Why the Mission Will Drive The Money" session at this year’s LLS. Drake Sutton-Shearer will keynote the session with Dash joining him on-stage in a discussion to highlight how the emerging brands of tomorrow for cannabis and CBD products will have to rise above the noise to deliver real and tangible value propositions beyond the packaging and public relations hype.

Sutton-Shearer comes to the Licensing Leadership Summit having been recognized as an industry thought leader. His insight has been featured on CNN, Advertising Week, Variety, Huffpost, TechCrunch, Billboard, DigiDay, The Wall Street Journal, Cheddar TV, SKY News and Benzinga. Dash has more than three decades of professional experience spanning a wide range of industries, including media, entertainment, sports and cannabis. He was among the first to identify and act upon the substantial long-term commercial potential of the legal cannabis industry, having structured and advised several leading cannabis funds and consumer-facing brands in the early days of the industry. 

Future State Brands has a portfolio of lifestyle and wellness IP such as PRØHBTD, Hempathy, Ceeby Dee's, OBVIOUS and Patch Co.

Cannabis, Hemp & CBD: Why the Mission Will Drive Money

Join Sutton-Shearer and Dash for "Cannabis, Hemp & CBD: Why the Mission Will Drive The Money" at this year's Licensing Leadership Summit, taking place March 16–17 at the New York Hilton Midtown in New York, NY. Their session will highlight the future path forward for cannabis and CBD brands aiming to build a sustainable business well into the future.  

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