I’ve been around cannabis long enough to know when something feels different the moment I walk into a room. November 18th in Denver, Colorado, was one of those nights.
Inside Cirrus Social Club, surrounded by brands, buyers, operators, and creatives, I felt something I don’t get to experience very often in this industry. I felt relaxed, welcomed, and free to be a cannabis consumer while also doing real work. No side-eye or unspoken tension about what was allowed or who was watching.
The Buds & Buyers Bash, hosted by Happy Cabbage and GreenLists, with PAX as the main sponsor, wasn’t just another cannabis networking event. It felt like a glimpse into what this industry was always supposed to be. About 150 people moved through the space throughout the night, and somehow it never felt chaotic. It felt real and human.
The Fat Nugs Magazine team was there, including our photographer Derrall Peach and staff writer Bethany Niebauer, and we weren’t just observing. We were fully in it. Laughing, smoking, talking shop, and capturing Faces of Cannabis in a room that actually allowed people to be themselves. That alone made the night special.
Walking Into a Room That Let You Breathe
The first thing I noticed when I walked into Cirrus Social Club was the sound level. Or more accurately, the lack of noise. The music was dialed in just right. The lighting was warm. People were talking, really talking, without shouting over each other or constantly checking their phones.
It felt intentional in a way that most cannabis events don’t. There was no pressure to perform or posture. No feeling like you had to hide your consumption or rush through conversations before security or compliance concerns shut things down.
John Svoboda, who helped bring the event to Cirrus Social Club, reflected on what the evening revealed about what the industry actually wants.
“It shows me that Colorado brands and retail buyers desire events like the Buds & Buyers Bash,” Svoboda said. “Our event was not just an industry party. It was a curated experience in an ultra-posh lounge where the music and ambient noise would not interfere with our guests being able to communicate with each other. It was an intentional room built for business to be done. Being able to allow brands to legally sample their products directly to the retail buyers they wish to work with was icing on the cake.”
That ability to compliantly sample products in a relaxed, professional environment fundamentally changed the dynamic. Conversations that normally take months of emails, missed calls, and store visits happened organically within minutes.
Food, Flower, and Feeling Taken Care Of
I’ve been to cannabis events where the food feels like an afterthought, if it exists at all. That was not the case here. There were pizza bites, cheese and cracker plates, lamb rib appetizers that people were still talking about later, and infused beverages alongside bong rips, flower, concentrates, and legally sampled products. Everything felt considered. Nothing felt rushed.
The consumption was there, but it wasn’t the spectacle. It was just part of the environment, like it should be. People could enjoy themselves without worrying about optics, enforcement, or whether they were crossing some invisible line.
That freedom changes how people show up. You could feel it in the room. Smiles were real. Conversations were relaxed. Deals didn’t feel transactional. They felt relational.
Faces of Cannabis in a Room That Actually Made Sense
Because the night moved at a human pace, Faces of Cannabis felt effortless. With Derrall Peach behind the camera, we weren’t pulling people out of chaos or rushing portraits between obligations. We were capturing people exactly where they were, comfortable, grounded, and present.
That matters to us. Faces of Cannabis exists to honor the humans behind this plant, not stage them. This room allowed that to happen naturally. PAX made that possible by sponsoring both the Buds & Buyers Bash and our Faces of Cannabis activation. Their support allowed us to document the night in a way that aligned with why Faces of Cannabis exists in the first place.
More from that activation can be seen here:
https://www.fatnugsmag.com/faces-of-cannabis/buds-and-buyers-bash/
Happy Cabbage, GreenLists, and the Power of Face-to-Face
At the heart of the night were Happy Cabbage and GreenLists, two organizations that clearly understand cannabis as a relationship-driven industry. Danny Gold of Happy Cabbage spoke directly to something I’ve felt for a long time.
“Cannabis has always been a relationship-driven, face-to-face industry,” Gold said. “Traveling the country and seeing the positive energy at buyer-focused events, we knew the local industry needed this desperately. Even in a tight market, this state will sell more than $1B of cannabis in 2025. When you can get a substantial portion of that business in a single room for a few hours, everyone can knock out three months’ worth of missed connections over email, Zoom, and driving store to store.”
As someone who loves cannabis and lives inside this culture, that rings true. Trust in cannabis is built by breaking bread, passing a joint, and looking someone in the eye. That is our culture. That is how community is formed.
Gold also addressed the reality that retailers are hard to get out of their stores.
“Our team called every store within 100 miles of Denver with personal invites, and the feedback was clear. If the room is curated well, retailers will show up. They want to connect with peers just as much as brands want to connect with them.”
That effort showed. The room felt balanced because Buyers were present and Brands weren’t begging for attention. Everyone belonged there.
Cirrus Social Club and the Future We Want
When Danny talked about Cirrus Social Club, it was clear why the venue mattered so much. “Cirrus is a magical place,” he said. “What Arend has built is truly beyond anything I’ve seen in a consumption space. He’s the best host in cannabis, and the staff at Cirrus is trained to Michelin star standards.”
That level of care allowed excellent food, a consumption-friendly but not smoky indoor space, and compliant sampling to coexist without friction. People wanted to stay. People wanted to come back.
“I think people thought this was impossible to do in 2025 in Colorado,” Danny said. “I hope a few walked away inspired about what 2026 can be.” I know I did.
This Is the Cannabis Industry I Want to Be In
That night reminded me why I fell in love with cannabis in the first place. Not just the plant, but the people, community, and our culture. There’s nothing like the freedom to enjoy ourselves while working, building, and connecting with others who are like-minded.
There was no drama, tension or fear around consumption. Just people doing business, sharing stories, laughing, and trusting each other in a way that feels increasingly rare. This is how the cannabis industry should operate. Free to enjoy the plant responsibly while building something real together. That is how trust is built. That is how community grows.
The Buds & Buyers Bash, powered by Happy Cabbage, GreenLists, PAX, and hosted at Cirrus Social Club, did not just throw a great event. It showed us what is possible when we stop fighting our own culture and start designing spaces that honor it.
And honestly, nights like that are why so many of us are still here.
