Mary Jane Berlin Marks Decade With 75,000 Expected Attendees

Mary Jane Berlin will celebrate its 10th anniversary June 11-14, 2026, at Messe Berlin, expecting more than 75,000 attendees and 500 international exhibitors across four days of programming.

The milestone edition positions the event as one of the world's largest cannabis trade shows, rivaling established U.S. exhibitions like MJBizCon and Hall of Flowers in scale and international reach.

RAW rolling papers founder Josh Kesselman will appear on a live podcast June 11 alongside Mary Jane co-founder Duc Anh Dang. The session marks one of Kesselman's rare public appearances at European cannabis events, where he's built a devoted following among consumers and retailers.

The European Context

The timing comes as Germany implements its partial legalization framework, which allows adults to possess up to 25 grams and cultivate three plants at home. Social clubs can now distribute cannabis to members, though commercial sales remain prohibited—a policy gap that's created uncertainty for the country's nascent industry.

Mary Jane Berlin has evolved alongside Germany's shifting cannabis landscape. The event launched in 2016 as a consumer-focused festival and has expanded to include B2B trade components, attracting seed companies, equipment manufacturers, and ancillary service providers from across Europe and North America.

The 500-plus exhibitor count represents a 40% increase from the event's pre-pandemic 2019 edition, which drew roughly 350 vendors. That growth reflects broader European market dynamics, where investment has accelerated despite regulatory fragmentation across EU member states.

What Attendees Can Expect

Beyond the Kesselman podcast, programming details remain sparse. Organizers typically announce speaker lineups and panel topics closer to the event date. Past editions have featured cultivation workshops, policy discussions, and product showcases spanning hemp textiles, CBD cosmetics, and grow technology.

High Times will provide on-the-ground coverage through editor in chief Javier Hasse, who has covered major cannabis events across North America and Europe. His reporting will likely focus on emerging European brands and how U.S. companies are adapting products for EU markets with stricter THC limits and different consumer preferences.

The four-day format gives Mary Jane Berlin an edge over shorter trade shows. Exhibitors get more face time with potential buyers, and the extended schedule allows organizers to separate consumer-focused programming from industry-only sessions.

Market Implications

European cannabis events have struggled to match the commercial intensity of U.S. trade shows, where million-dollar deals get negotiated on the expo floor. But Mary Jane Berlin's growth suggests that's changing, particularly as European hemp and CBD markets mature and investors search for opportunities beyond North America's crowded landscape.

Germany's medical cannabis program, while limited, has also created a foundation for professional networks. The country imported 30 metric tons of medical cannabis in 2024, according to federal data, creating supply chain relationships that often extend into ancillary sectors.

The event's international draw—exhibitors from 30-plus countries in recent years—makes it a key networking venue for companies eyeing European expansion. U.S. brands use Mary Jane Berlin to test product concepts and gauge consumer response before committing to full-scale launches.

Registration typically opens three months before the event, with early-bird rates for trade attendees. Consumer tickets have historically ranged from €15-25 for single-day passes to €50-70 for four-day access.

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This article is based on original reporting by hightimes.com.