Culture Pavilion
Cannabis is culture.
Legal or not, cannabis plays a huge role in our culture. 2025 details below. All sessions in the Culture Pavilion will have ASL interpretation.
2025 Schedule
Friday, July 18
4:30pm
Bud Bingo
Head to the Culture Pavilion for Bud Bingo—the dopest game of chance at NCF! Puff, puff, play your way through rounds full of high-spirited fun. Blaze through your card for the chance to win dank prizes and bragging rights.
Hosted by Davina Hale, Wellness Director and Store Manager, Cannabis Karma
5:00pm
No Hero Comedy Hour presented by Eddie Diesel
A raw, real comedy showcase and battle cry led by Eddie Diesel & the No Hero: Coalition of Comics. We laugh loud to heal loud.. blending humor, pain, and truth to smash mental health stigmas. This ain’t just stand-up, it’s a stand for healing. Pull up. Be heard. Heal out loud.
Eddie Diesel, Legacy Commander in Chief
Hosted by Uncle Brandon, Legacy Advisor and Talent Manager
6:00pm
ThA FOGG 2.0 Power’D by MJNF
ThA FOGG 2.0 by MJNF is ThA Ultimate Party Smoke Gun that will enhance your party experience to ThA Next Level!! Imagine entertaining your friends while playing music from ThA FOGG 2.0 all at once. !!!
Tia Carter, Co-Owner, ThA FOGG 2.0
6:30
Stay Cool, Stay High: Using Cannabis Safely in the Heat
Join the experts at Essence in the Air for tips and tricks on staying safe while consuming cannabis in hot weather. Learn how heat can affect your body, hydration tips, product choices, and dosing strategies to keep your experience chill, enjoyable, and comfortable all summer long.
Johnny Gallman, Operations Manager, Cookies DC
6:45 PM
TEA TIME! Live at NCF: The Big Drag
Join TrevHER & Tiara Missou-Sidora for a special live episode of TEA TIME! at the National Cannabis Festival. Tune in for as TrevHER tries edibles for the very first time and spills the tea on cannabis, culture, and queerness.
Saturday, July 19
2:30pm
Sister Sesh: The New Era of i71
Throughout Season 1, we’ve centered stories from legacy and grey market operators, those who shaped D.C.’s cannabis culture under Initiative 71’s early days. As the city moves into a more structured regulatory phase, with increased enforcement and the rollout of new licenses, the cannabis landscape is shifting rapidly.
To close out the season, we want to spotlight this moment of transition by featuring local licensed women operators. The live session will be an interactive conversation exploring how the i71 framework paved the way, what’s changed, and who the new faces of legal cannabis in D.C. are particularly the women making history in this evolving space.
The conversation will be rooted in authenticity, transparency, and community hallmarks of both the Bud Brunch and the National Cannabis Festival.
Ashley Stafford, Co-host, Bud Brunch
Losia Nyankale, Co-host, Bud Brunch
3:30pm
Tokyo Spinach!
Join a vibrant panel where fashion, art, and cannabis culture collide. Six top DC brands explore how cannabis reshapes style, identity, and self-expression. Expect bold ideas, live energy, and real talk from tastemakers redefining cannabis culture in the District
Brian Bailey, Jr.
Anton Hale, Assistant Manager, Wishing Wellness DC
Nyrik Lee, Chief Brand Officer, The Museum DC
Moderated by Azel Prather, Jr.
4:15pm
Cannatank
Description: Come watch the sparks fly at the finals of Cannatank as bold cannabis entrepreneurs go head-to-head for $1,000 in start-up support and expert strategy sessions. You’ll get a front-row seat to the freshest ideas in the industry—and help cheer on the next big thing in cannabis. Don’t miss this high-stakes, high-energy showdown!
Judges:
Michelle Rutter Friberg, Director, Government Relations, National Cannabis industry Association
Colin Fraser, Co-founder, The Upling App
Tianna Smith, Advocate & Entrepreneur
Hosted by Tauhid Chappell, Executive Director, New Jersey Department of State’s Cannabis Training Academy
Finalists:
Adrienne Benedetto, Gourmet Edibles Experience
Yemi Geteye, Soft Landing
Devon McCoy, Pearl God
Vanjalic Tolbert, AfroCann
4:45 pm
Joint Custody
Joint Custody is a bold workshop exploring the intersection of cannabis and parenting. We break stigma, share stories, and provide tools for navigating judgment, legal concerns, and everyday parenting while standing confidently in your truth.
Tianna Smith, Advocate & Entrepreneur
Ebony Thomas, Project Manager
Alex Stone, Founder, Stone & the Family Canna Co.
5:30 pm
Love is High
At Love is High, sparks fly and get lit! This cannabis-fueled dating show is where buds meet soulmates. Contestants will be paired based on their terpene types, favorite strains, and smoking styles—because true love is best when you're vibing at the same level. Whether you’re into bong rips at brunch or microdosing and munchies, you just might find your perfect match… and maybe a plus-one for your next sesh.
6:15 pm
Transitions: I-71 to Licensed Dispensary
Join us as we discuss the obstacles and POT-holes on the road to legalization with owners representing businesses that transitioned successfully from the legacy to regulated market. Learn about the current state of the legal market and the challenges and opportunities ahead.
Jasmine Byrd
Caroline Crandell, Co-Founder and CEO, Green Theory
Jay Mills, CEO, Ebony Green, LLC
Charles Newsome, Chief Operating Officer of MetroLeaf
Rob Vasquez, DC Xtracts
7:00pm
From Seed to Society: The Intersection of Cannabis Culture & Community That Builds the Ecosystem
Explore how cannabis culture shapes policy, uplifts small businesses, advances equity empowerment, and fuels innovation. This panel dives into its critical role in expanding access, promoting sustainability, and fostering a thriving, resilient cannabis ecosystem. Discover how culture is the key to the industry's future.
Sephida Artis Mills, Co-Founder, United Empowerment Party
Additional Speakers TBA
7:45 PM
Capital Cannabis
DC's medical cannabis program is rapidly expanding. Join licensed DC entrepreneurs for a conversation on the past, present, and future of weed in the Nation's Capital.
Speakers TBA
