CannaCon: Where Cannabis Meets Opportunity

We kicked things off at CannaCon, which continues to be one of the industry's most valuable resources, serving as a one-stop shop for everything cannabis. If you've never attended CannaCon, imagine a place where every corner of the cannabis industry comes together under one roof. Whether you're looking for cultivation solutions, extraction technology, legal guidance, financial resources, retail and marketing strategies, or education, CannaCon truly is a one-stop shop. Walking through the event felt like getting a glimpse into the future of cannabis. Everywhere you turned, someone was introducing an innovation, sharing valuable insights, or offering solutions to help cannabis businesses grow and succeed together. But what really stood out wasn't just the products or the technologies; it was the people.

CannaCon brought together entrepreneurs, cultivators, investors, marketers, and dreamers who are all helping build this community from the ground up. Some conversations were about business growth, navigating challenges, or sharing lessons learned; while others started with “What do you do?”  and ended thirty minutes later because everyone was too excited to stop talking. That's one of the things we love most about the cannabis industry and the community that surrounds it. People are willing to share their knowledge, collaborate, and support one another because we are all helping shape something bigger than ourselves.

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After spending time networking and filling our brains with enough information to power a small city, we shifted gears. We headed into one of the most exciting celebrations of the year: Twin Cities Pride Festival.

Pride: Showing Up, Standing Proud

As Minnesota's largest Pride Festival, with over 600,000 people attending every year, Twin Cities Pride always brings incredible energy and a TON of glitter. Still, this year felt extra special because we had the opportunity to sell Non-Dosed Dakota Lemonade and Grasslandz Retro Sodas with our partners at Tokahe Distribution!

From the moment we arrived, the atmosphere was pure magic! The festival was bursting with color, music, and laughter. Rainbow flags danced in the warm Minnesota breeze while live music from the Stonewall Stage echoed throughout the grounds. Everywhere you looked, people were celebrating exactly who they are, surrounded by a community that embraces authenticity, acceptance, and most importantly, love. And honestly? That's the kind of energy cannabis fits into perfectly.

Our Island Pezi Dakota Lemonade and Grasslandz Retro Soda stand quickly became a go-to stop for everyone looking to beat the heat with a cold, refreshing drink. Right next door, our lounge became the perfect place to relax, explore our family of brands, chat with someone from our team, and walk away with some free swag. Whether someone came by for the lemonade or wanted to learn more about our products, our booths stayed buzzing from open to close all weekend. 

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Curious about our top three flavors? So were we! Birch Beer, a creamy soda mixed with the ginger bite of Birch, came in third place for most popular. In second place was the Dakota Lemonade, a classic lemonade made with natural ingredients and a lot of love! And finally, in the number one selling spot was the brand new Berry Bramble Lemonade with over 200 sold! Watching someone take their first sip, smile, and immediately turn around to bring their friends back for one was one of the best parts of the weekend. Safe to say, Minnesota knows how to throw one hell of a pride festival and sure knows a good lemonade and retro soda when they taste one. 

Until next year, Pride! We’ll be recharging our social batteries and making room in the truck for even more swag next year. See you in 2027!

Connect with us on Instagram to share your favorite part of Pride and CannaCon weekend with us!

@North_Star_Manufacturing

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