Flower Expo Massachusetts 2025: A Legacy-to-Legal Story and the Future of Retail

Held in Northampton, MA in June 2025, Flower Expo Massachusetts brought together the pioneers, cultivators, and retail leaders shaping the future of cannabis in the Commonwealth. Two standout sessions captured the pulse of the industry: a keynote oral history with Chemdog himself, and a retail panel featuring Canna Provisions CEO Meg Sanders.

TL;DR

• Greg “Chemdog” Krzanowski, originator of the iconic Chemdog strain, shared his journey from outlaw grower to legal cannabis pioneer with Canna Provisions and Smash Hits Cannabis.
• Meg Sanders, CEO of Canna Provisions and 14-year industry veteran, joined fellow retail leaders to break down how to survive (and thrive) in today’s unforgiving Massachusetts cannabis retail landscape.
• Key themes: price compression, personalized customer service, and knowing your numbers — especially cost per transaction.
• Watch both sessions below and explore Smash Hits strains and Canna Provisions locations in Holyoke, Lee, and coming soon to Pittsfield.

The Oral History of Chemdog: A Legacy That Defined a Generation

Moderator: Dan McCarthy, Media Specialist + AI Strategy Leader, Canna Provisions
Guest: Greg “Chemdog” Krzanowski, Director of Cultivation, Smash Hits Cannabis

“Spell it D-O-G. Not D-A-W-G.” — Greg “Chemdog” Krzanowski

In this intimate fireside chat, Greg “Chemdog” Krzanowski traces the underground lineage and unlikely rise of one of the most influential strains in cannabis history. From humble East Coast beginnings to becoming the genetic backbone of countless modern cultivars, Greg’s story is equal parts survival and revolution.

His path wasn’t easy. A casualty of the drug war, Greg lost everything — only to re-emerge in the legal market as the beating heart behind Smash Hits Cannabis, the in-house flower brand of Canna Provisions. His legacy-to-legal journey stands as a testament to resilience and the power of doing it right, without selling out.

Massachusetts Retail Panel: Lessons From the Front Lines

Panelist Highlight: Meg Sanders, CEO, Canna Provisions
Moderator and panelists: Industry leaders across Massachusetts retail

If there’s one takeaway from this candid panel discussion, it’s this: retail in Massachusetts is not for the faint of heart.

Meg Sanders, who’s helped shape the industry since its inception, cut straight to the chase: success means understanding cost per transaction, staying obsessive about customer experience, and resisting the race to the bottom through price wars and deep discounting.

Retail isn’t a commodity game. It’s a relationship business. And for brands that build trust through consistency, curation, and education, there’s still a path forward.

Why This Matters for Massachusetts Cannabis

• It’s no longer about just opening doors. It’s about staying open.
• It’s not about flooding menus with products. It’s about knowing which products matter — and why.
• And it’s not about abandoning legacy values. It’s about channeling them into the legal framework with integrity.

Whether you’re a new consumer, legacy operator, regulator, or investor, the insights shared at Flower Expo 2025 are a blueprint for what’s next.

Explore More

Check out the Smash Hits strains on our menu — the living expression of Chemdog’s legacy.
Visit our stores in Holyoke, Lee, and coming soon to Pittsfield, MA.

FAQs

What is the Chemdog strain and who created it?

Chemdog is a legendary cannabis strain known for its potency and gassy profile. It was created by Greg “Chemdog” Krzanowski, who now leads cultivation at Smash Hits Cannabis.

What was the main message of the Massachusetts Retail Panel?

The panel emphasized that data-driven operations, personalized customer service, and sustainable pricing models are key to surviving the current cannabis retail climate in Massachusetts.

Who is Meg Sanders?

Meg Sanders is the CEO of Canna Provisions and a 14-year veteran of legal cannabis. She’s known for her leadership in retail strategy and compliance-forward operations.

Where can I buy Smash Hits cannabis?

Smash Hits Cannabis is exclusively available at Canna Provisions stores in Holyoke, Lee, and soon Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

What is Flower Expo Massachusetts?

Flower Expo Massachusetts is a premier B2B cannabis industry event held annually in Northampton, showcasing the best in cultivation, retail, and cannabis innovation.

Coming Next

If you liked this, stay tuned for more dispatches from the front lines of cannabis retail, brand storytelling, and the evolving legal landscape.