The New Era of HR Networking & Compliance: Cannabis-Themed Events

Today’s networking events aren’t what they were just a few years ago, as they trend in the direction of including adult recreational activities enjoyed by countless industry professionals. 

Yes, we’re talking about cannabis.

Now legal recreationally in 23 U.S. states plus Washington, D.C., cannabis is emerging as acceptable—and desired—at networking events across industries as it becomes more commonplace. The HR industry is no exception, as evident by the emergence of cannabis-themed events at this year’s biggest HR tech conferences, and one event has already sparked some exciting dialogue.

TalentToke is an event series that embraces the trend and welcomes conference attendees to unique experiences centered around networking first, and cannabis as a close second.

Event founder Evan White of Talent Tech PR first tested the event format during Unleash America 2023. Not only was it a rousing success, but industry professionals, media, influencers, podcasters, and more quickly started asking about the next one.

Not wanting to disappoint, White organized a follow-up at the world’s leading and longest-running HR tech conference in Las Vegas. Dubbed “TalentToke Pot + Pinball,” this event leveled up the first experience by inviting industry professionals to enjoy pinball and cannabis at the Pinball Hall of Fame.

“HR professionals are tired of run-of-the-mill networking events, where everyone gives a friendly handshake, exchanges formalities, and talks about work,” said White. “We’re changing the game and giving everyone a unique experience that is sparking renewed interest in networking events during industry conferences. It’s a fun, casual atmosphere where attendees can fully enjoy themselves while also bumping elbows with industry professionals.”

As more states pass legislation to make recreational cannabis legal, the conversation about its acceptance at corporate events has evolved—now being equated to the presence of alcohol at networking functions which has been the accepted norm for decades.

Alcohol has been a centerpiece of corporate networking events to the point that it’s almost an expectation today. While it’s not common during meetings, on trade show floors, or during educational sessions, it’s certainly a staple of evening events tied to professional gatherings. Even awards ceremonies tend to have alcohol served, despite being formal environments attended by top industry professionals.  

Much like alcohol consumption, White’s TalentToke events demand responsibility on the part of attendees. 

“These are professional networking events attended by like-minded individuals who have worked hard to establish solid reputations within their respective industries,” said White. “We’re not talking about events that are pushing cannabis on attendees and leading to unruly behavior. We’re talking about creating fun atmospheres where people can partake in the same recreational activities they enjoy from the comfort of their own homes, but responsibly with co-workers and industry colleagues.”

White adds that introducing cannabis to networking events has significant benefits by drawing larger crowds and reclaiming conference-goers who have grown bored with typical after-hours events. These modern-day events are fostering a new level of networking and camaraderie that hasn’t been seen for years. 

With the introduction of cannabis at industry events, White questions the next step—the acceptance of cannabis in the workplace. While it’s common sense that any level of impairment in the workplace isn’t acceptable, cannabis doesn’t necessarily lead to impairment for many people. It has many benefits that could actually make people more productive at work. Let’s look at the facts:

• Cannabis alleviates chronic pain, making it easy for people who suffer from pain to focus more effectively on their work.
• It helps with anxiety, reducing feelings of panic, social anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorder that can hinder work progress.
• Cannabis fosters focus, increasing overall productivity.

Perhaps it’s time for a re-evaluation of workplace culture—both at industry events and in the office, because cannabis isn’t going away anytime soon, and it’s certainly still a hot topic of conversation. 

In fact, on White’s newest venture, the HR Morning Show, the topic came up on the very first episode. The show is running on the Purple Acorn platform, an online community for HR professionals, decision-makers, tech-savvy individuals, and entrepreneurs interested in the latest HR news and updates. During the show, Jocelyn King, CEO of VirgilHR and maven of all things compliance, called in to offer her point of view. Check out her segment from the show here:

If you want to see more exciting HR News, tune in to the HR Morning Show, live every Tuesday morning at 7am PST / 10am PST.