Celebrating 170 Budtenders at Tsunami House in Las Vegas: A High-Energy Labor Day Kickoff
A Labor Day Salute to the Frontlines of Cannabis Retail
On the eve of Labor Day Weekend, The Grow Up Co-op brought together over 170 budtenders, retail staff, and brand leaders at Tsunami House in Las Vegas for a night that was part appreciation event, part industry activation, and all around good time. This was anything but a typical happy hour; it was an intentional celebration of the people moving cannabis forward on the ground every single day.
Hosted by The Co-Op’s CEO Tina Ulman, the August 28th Budtender Happy Hour served as a thank-you to the industry’s unsung heroes: the retail workers who recommend, educate, and elevate cannabis products to consumers. These are the hands and voices driving sales, building brand loyalty, and shaping what modern cannabis culture actually looks like.
The event also reflected The Co-op’s broader mission to strengthen the cannabis retail ecosystem through authentic relationships, shared momentum, and culture-forward community building. If the energy inside Tsunami House was any indication, it’s working.
A Packed House of Industry Leaders and Everyday Legends
The guest list featured representatives from over 22 dispensary teams, plus product specialists, community partners, and plus-ones that made the space feel less like a work event and more like a family reunion. The Co-op believes budtenders deserve spaces where they can bring a friend, let loose, and feel fully welcomed. The open invite for significant others and ride-or-die friends was a thoughtful, refreshing change from typical industry mixers.
The Co-Op’s internal brands — THC Design, Uncle Arnie’s, Voon and Revelry Supply Co. — anchored the night’s sponsorship lineup, highlighting the collective’s strength and collaborative spirit. Together with Tsunami Labs and Incredibles, who partnered to co-host the event, the mix of sponsors amplified the evening’s energy and reflected the Co-Op’s ethos: support good products made by good people, and build together.
These brands contributed to the infrastructure and vibe of the night, from supplying flower to sponsoring the DJ and event photography. Together, they helped fund and co-create a memorable experience that delivered real ROI in the form of retailer goodwill, product exposure, and brand affinity.
Community Building, One Joint at a Time
While the cocktails and cannabis flowed freely, the highlight of the night came in the form of a rolling competition featuring flower from THC Design. Friends in retail from different dispensaries went head-to-head in three categories: fastest roll, biggest roll, and best overall joint.
The contest sparked connection. Retail teams who usually only see each other on social media were suddenly in friendly competition, rolling side-by-side, swapping stories, and forming relationships that will ripple across dispensary floors and brand partnerships in the weeks and months ahead.
Did someone say cake?
Also worth noting: the event doubled as a birthday celebration for one of The Co-Op’s Smokesmodels, Tavi, a core part of the crew and a reminder that joy is always part of the business plan. That birthday cake moment? Iconic.
Thoughtful Details Made the Difference
In classic Grow Up Co-op fashion, the event wasn’t just well-attended—it was intentionally designed.
Every decision, from allowing guests to bring a plus-one to curating the DJ setlist, was rooted in hospitality and purpose. The Co-op understands that relationships don’t happen over spreadsheets—they happen over shared experiences. And when the people who recommend your product feel valued, supported, and seen? They move mountains.
Rave Reviews That Keep Rolling In
More than a week after the event, The Co-op team is still fielding glowing DMs, thank-you notes, and shout-outs from attendees. From Instagram stories to in-person hugs, the message was clear: this was the best cannabis industry event many of them had ever attended.
Attendees highlighted the intentionality of the space, the welcoming vibe, and the simple but profound feeling of being recognized for their work. In an industry that often overworks and underappreciates its retail teams, this kind of acknowledgment goes a long way.
This feedback offers affirmation, yes, but we revere the strategic insight. In today’s competitive cannabis market, retail relationships are the new marketing. And events like this prove that when you invest in your frontlines, your brand wins.
What’s Next for The Co-op’s Event Series?
Tina and the team aren’t slowing down. The next Budtender Happy Hour is already in the works for both Las Vegas and Reno, closing out the year with one final celebration in each market. We’re also proud to be supporting CannaLand 2025 in Arizona alongside Deep Stories Events.
The Co-op plans to continue hosting these events, building long-term trust, loyalty, and buzz for the brands in its portfolio.
For The Co-op, this isn’t just event marketing. It’s community infrastructure. And as the cannabis space matures, these kinds of thoughtful, people-first activations will be the foundation on which lasting brands are built.
Final Takeaway
In a market flooded with product drops and flashy pop-ups, the Budtender Happy Hour at Tsunami House stands out for a major reason: it centered people.
It wasn’t about clout. It wasn’t about pushing units. It was about bringing the cannabis community together, breaking bread, passing joints, and building the kind of connections that actually drive this industry forward.
And that’s exactly what The Grow Up Co-op is here to do.
