Ahead of the 10th annual MJBiz conference, just entered the cannabis space this year and led the inaugural Las Vegas “Weed Week” Cannabis Industry Executives Golf Tournament Lemonhaze has created quite a stir.

Cannabis and Tech Today is the media partner for this exclusive event, which is limited to 80 industry executives and 35 sponsor golfers. A more intimate group than the 20,000+ people who later attended MJBizCon.

Creating “the most coveted invitation in the cannabis industry,” the Lemonhaze Las Vegas Golf Championship lives up to its expectations.hosted at The award-winning Cascata golf course In Boulder City, a 30-minute drive from Las Vegas, with the red foothills of the River Mountain Range in the background.

In Cascata, a 418-foot waterfall cascades down a steep hillside to form a stream that winds its way through the course, desert squirrels roam along cobblestone paths, and wild rams roam the lush lawns and dry desert land graze on. “They shipped from Los Angeles,” joked one golfer.

Lemonhaze has found its niche in the cannabis events industry, with carefully curated events that pair the right audience with each other to build meaningful business relationships.

“I had an early opportunity to get into the industry when it first became legal in Washington and Colorado. That opportunity disappeared after a few months, but I had fallen in love with the industry. So, I collected my only With the money I could save, decided to jump off the proverbial cliff and start slapping my arm, hoping I could make my business fly,” said Lemonhaze CEO Brian Yauger.

Known for hosting events from coast to coast Lemonhaze Budtender Party, the company facilitates relationships between brands and some of the most influential people in retail: The Budget People.

Such Lemonhaze parties are closed to the public to ensure that buyers, suppliers and bidders who attend ultimately want to learn more about new cannabis products and do business together, but in a relaxed party atmosphere.

When the 2020 pandemic quarantines destroyed the event space, Lemonhaze was able to pivot to a virtual pre-conference, using conference calls to match merchants. “It’s like speed dating in business,” Yauger told me.

On this mild, sunny day in Nevada, however, the Golf Invitational got a welcome respite from bright lights, smoky casinos and a packed conference this week. “It’s a welcome opportunity to spend a day outside without being stuck in a casino,” said Mina Mishrikey, a partner at Merida Capital.

Much of the potential friendship at play in this game stems from the common challenges cannabis executives face in battling age-old stigma and misunderstandings that continue to stifle progress.

“Obviously, as an industry, we face a lot of challenges,” Curaleaf founder and vice-chairman Joe Lusardi said of the unification effort. “Everyone here is trying to break down barriers, so it’s cool to see people who have the same vision and want to succeed.”

Bringing these people together is what Yauger and Lemonhaze do best.

Lemonhaze will launch new Executive Golf Classic markets in 2022, including Northern California, Colorado, Ohio, New Jersey and Missouri. In addition, the company will expand its budget activities to Arizona, Oklahoma, Michigan and Massachusetts, while restarting in Washington, Oregon and California.

Watch a recap of the newly released event for the inaugural Lemonhaze Cannabis Industry Executive Golf Invitational below:

Collage photo credit: Andre Bourque

Hero Image Credit: Cascata Golf Course

Desert Oasis Image credit: GVM Communications/Tracey Henry