2016 Calendar of Cannabis Fairs You Should Not Miss

If you consider yourself a lover of cannabis and all the business that surrounds it, there are dates on the calendar that you really shouldn't miss. These are the fairs and exhibitions at which the cannabis industry annually releases its products for the upcoming season. Some of them are necessarily related to the world of marijuana, especially if you have been a user and activist for some time and are looking for a forum at which to get together with others. But others are showcases at which to educate non-experts about the benefits of this plant's cultivation. So that you can keep the most important dates in mind, and plan accordingly, here we offer the 10 that Dinafem has already included on its agenda for 2016, as part of the world tour that we do every year to participate in such events. 

From Rome with love to the Canapa Mundi

We begin the year by participating in the Secret Cup, which marked its second edition in Naples, Italy, last February. This is a "cannabis cup" that has garnered high praise from critics and the public alike, attracting large numbers, amidst lots of cannabis and smoke. This time Dinafem's Critical Cheese won third place in this competition's seed bank category, received in Rome at the Canapa Mundi fair, another Italian event you just cannot miss.

The second edition of the Italian fair ran from 19-21 February, held to celebrate hemp and the therapeutic properties of marijuana, with Dinafem as a sponsor. This is an event that whole families can enjoy, and is priced so that all can afford to attend. It is a forum designed for mavericks, rebels and troublemakers (in the good sense of these words) and all those who want to see a change in the country's cannabis policies. The objective? For humanity to move forward and for consumers to enjoy safety and freedom. 

To Barcelona, for its famous Spannabis

Just a few days ago Spannabis was held, an event marking its 12th edition. Barcelona was fortunate enough to bring together thousands of attendees from 11-13 March at Fira de Cornella, at a time when the situation for Spanish users and clubs is at a low. With its long history, it aims to constitute a place combining all possible knowledge about hemp, bringing together citizens and major industry professionals. In recent editions some 17,000 m2 welcomed nearly 30,000 attendees of almost 20 different nationalities. The upcoming events promise to surpass that figure, demonstrating that the Spanish and European market is stronger than ever.

To Seville, for ExpoCáñamo

From 13-15 May the Isla de La Cartuja in Seville will host the 2016 ExpoCáñamo international fair, which aims to become a not-to-be-missed event for anyone interested in the hemp sector in Spain. The event features two different facets, one social and one commercial: the first side to it involves educating growers and users about everything related to cannabis cultivation, while the second objective is to present the international marijuana market's major players, and allow attendees to learn more about all the products related to the sector. The professionals attending the event will include the thinker and essayist Antonio Escohotado, and Canada's foremost cannabis activist, Marc Emery. Dinafem will also be there for the first time, and we are already looking forward to setting foot in the Andalusian capital. 

Back to Italy, for Indica Sativa Trade

From 20-22 May Bologna will host its fourth edition of Indica Sativa Trade, an international fair dedicated to analysing the multiple uses of cannabis and to shedding light on the dynamic state of affairs in the Alpine country's cannabis sphere. The event, its first two editions being held in the city of Fermo, will be held at the Unipol Arena, one of the newest and best-equipped exhibition centres in Europe, with a capacity for more than 15,000 and easily accessible by car or public transport. Dinafem, for yet another year, is this event's main sponsor.

To the centre of Europe, for Mary Jane

Also in May, from the 27th to the 29th, the German capital of Berlin will host Mary Jane, a fair that is an exhibition, festival, and set of talks by major industry experts, all in one. The Berlin event boasts over 11 years of history now, having become Germany's largest cannabis-related forum, drawing more than 100 national and international exhibitors, on about 6,000 square meters of exhibition space at the Postbahnhof, right next to the Berlin Wall. Participants will be able to enjoy food stands, entertainment areas, live concerts, and talks on the therapeutic effects of cannabis, among other activities. 

On to Canada, for the Lift Cannabis Expo

Those who want to hit all the fairs this year will have it tough because the Lift Cannabis Expo will also be held in May, and will overlap with the above event, taking place on the 28th and 29th of the month. Of course, those who wish to attend will also have to travel all the way to Toronto, Canada. It will be, without any doubt, a different and memorable experience, held in a country that stands at the forefront in the marijuana field, with numerous professionals and like-minded users sharing our ideas and interests. Its organisers aim to bring together leading figures, not only from America but also from Europe and the world, to make this "the start of something big." Dinafem is also attending this fair for the first time, which promises to be one of the most important events on the international cannabis calendar in 2016.

Another Spannabis event, this time with a Málaga accent

The summer usually features the other national edition of Spannabis, this one in Málaga, with what is a more family-oriented and engaging event designed for attendees to check out all the news, information, and new developments related to the world of hemp, while they also enjoy everything a city like Malaga has to offer. At the last event Dinafem received two awards: Best Seed Bank and a third place (Interior Bio) for its Purple Afghan Kush. You cannot miss out on this event that, when it first came out, it broke the moulds plaguing a society suffering from misconceptions, stereotypes, and a morality burdened with hypocrisy. We love the good vibes felt at this fair.

Product Earth Expo, an event with a British air

From June 24-27 we can look forward to the Product Earth Expo, founded just one year ago in the UK. This event dedicated to cannabis brings together leading experts and users to enjoy talks, exhibitors and concerts. This is a must-attend event for a country that still considers cannabis an illegal substance, placed in the same category as amphetamines, ketamine and barbiturates, and establishes penalties of up to 5 years of imprisonment and fines for marijuana possession. This is a good place to acquire the necessary knowledge with which to face the obstacles of everyday life. 

Expogrow, much more than a cannabis fair

After the summer months, from 17-19 September Irun welcomes the fifth edition of Expogrow, an event at which we "play at home" and that has become one of the most alluring in the cannabis sector worldwide, thanks to its high quality. For years it has been one of the largest European fairs in surface area, and one calling for the normalisation of marijuana and its users. This is a different kind of event, one that attracts professionals, experts, the curious, and sympathisers, and that always offers attendees the chance to come into contact with the top seed banks, growers, distributors and other specialised companies. In 2015 Dinafem won the award for the Best Indica at the Expogrow Cup, for its Purple Afghan Kush. 

Canapa in Mostra, the place for industrial hemp

Although the exact date has not yet been released, next fall (possibly in October, like last year) we can also enjoy Canapa in Mostra, with will be the third edition of this fair dedicated to industrial hemp and medical cannabis, held in Naples. In previous years it drew more than 4,000 visitors and 50 exhibitors. In Italy we are talking about a country that has always been one of the most prohibitionists in Europe. But it seems that it is now giving the plant chance, as it quickly breaks down the stereotypes surrounding it.

On to Vienna, for Cultiva HanfMesse

Nurture HanfMesse will be held from 7-9 October this year. On each different occasion it examines the world of cannabis from a different angle, last year focusing on medical marijuana and hemp for construction purposes. This event features talk about politics, cultivation and regulation, always along with plenty of spectacle, workshops and entertainment. It also meets the criteria for sustainable events, and is one of the most important events on the European marijuana circuit. It will be a good opportunity to learn about the Austrian and European reality and the paths to take in order to achieve legalisation. 

Cannafest awaits us in Prague

At this time we do not have all the details about the upcoming Cannafest, to be held in Prague, possibly in November. We're making a note of it anyway, because soon all the information will be announced on this event, designed to increase awareness of the need for legalisation and to explain to the public all the benefits the cannabis plant offers. At this event, already a classic on the European circuit since 2009, attendees can buy seeds and fertilisers, and mingle with sellers from all over the world. The fair also places a special focus on everything related to therapeutic use, so it tends to draw researchers and other professionals, who will share their vision and experiences with visitors. 

Crossing the ocean to attend Expoweed

Chile is one of the biggest players and a shining example of rapid progress in the cannabis world. In recent years it has made significant strides, especially in the field of medical marijuana, and its fair, Expoweed, is a hemp leader in Latin America. The next event will take place in O'Higgins Park, in Santiago, the capital, from 2-4 December, when the city becomes the world's cannabis culture capital. Teaming up with our Chilean brothers is really worth the flight down there.

We wind up the year in Uruguay, with Expo Cannabis

Montevideo will once again host Expo Cannabis. The exact dates have not yet been released, but it should be held in December. Uruguay is the first country in the world to legalise the possession and consumption of marijuana. The philosophy of its former president, José Mujica, is bound to infuse this event, founded in 2014. Since then it has exceeded all the expectations of its organizers, both in the number of attendees and exhibitors. And it is sure to deliver once again. Ever onward and ahead!