Organizers for Spannabis and the New England Cannabis Convention have postposed the events amid coronavirus fears, bringing the total of postponed cannabis industry events to at least seven. NECANN was scheduled for later this month at the Hynes Center in Boston, Massachusetts; Spannabis was scheduled to take place in Barcelona, Spain this weekend, from March 13-15.
Spannabis decided this morning to postpone the event after “extraordinary measures” were announced by top officials in Catalonia, Spain.
“Much to our regret, …. gatherings of more than 1,000 people at indoor or outdoor events have been banned, in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 coronavirus in Catalonia. … We have tried as hard as possible to hold Spannabis normally, but under these circumstances, we have no alternative.” — Spannabis organizers, in an emailed announcement
Organizers said Spannabis will return later this year in the fall but did not set an official date.
According to the Tuesday update on the NECANN website, co-founders Marc Shepard and Jeff Lawrence said they have not yet secured a new date for the event but indicated vendor registrations and pre-sale tickets would be honored for the new date. The update notes that two popular events – the NE Canna Community awards show and NECANN Competition awards – would also be postponed.
“We appreciate everyone’s patience and support during this incredibly difficult time and this decision, and look forward to working with everyone to make this year’s event as successful as it has been for the last five years.” – Shepard and Lawrence in a statement
The website still lists dates for planned conventions in Chicago, Illinois, Burlington, Vermont, Springfield, Massachusetts, Atlantic City, New Jersey, and Portland, Maine but Tuesday’s update does not indicate whether these planned events will go ahead as scheduled.
On Monday, three other cannabis industry events announced postponement, including the long-running NoCo Hemp Expo in Denver, Colorado – which was rescheduled for August – and the group’s planned Southern Hemp Expo in Nashville, Tennessee. The National Cannabis Risk Management Association event planned for Las Vegas, Nevada was also postponed.
Last week, Anaheim, California’s Expo West was postponed without a makeup date; while CannTech and PsyTech organizers said the Tel Aviv, Israel event would be pushed back until June.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have suggested canceling large events and mass gatherings amid the outbreak.
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