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After 15 months of negotiations, activists' dream of hosting a health expo extolling the medical benefits of cannabis on the family-friendly PNE fair grounds is finally coming true.
"It was very difficult," said Mark Klokeid, organizer of the first ever Health Expo at the PNE Forum, which runs June 28 to 30.
"It's a professional, family-oriented venue," continued the former cancer patient.
"They had to understand that we were trying to do this in an educational manner, to educate people that would not normally know that we have a federal system in Canada and that medical marijuana is a great pharmaceutical product... that no one has ever died from and doctors are prescribing."
Klokeid said the Pacific National Exhibition, which is normally home to more mainstream events such as the annual summer Fair, eventually agreed to house the expo, provided there is a 70-to-30 per cent split between general health content and marijuana education.
To that end, the fair features a number of doctors from around North America, alternative and natural health products, sensory deprivation tanks and – oh, yes – the Kush Cup, a competition for the best strain of marijuana, now in its second year.
Only people who hold federal medical marijuana licenses are eligible to judge the contest, and enter a 20-by-40-foot vapour tent set up inside the Forum, which is guarded by VPD officers.
Canada currently has about 20,000 medical marijuana license holders, more than half of whom live in B.C.
The event extends to other venues as well, including a comedy night at the Centre for Performing Arts featuring Charlie Murphy, Eddie Murphy's brother, of the Dave Chappelle show, and Trailer Park Boys Randy and Lahey (actors Patrick Roach and John Dunsworth).
Longtime activist Jodie Emery, who is married to jailed "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery, said the event has given expression to a growing movement, beyond those in just the medical marijuana community.
"Cannabis has a culture," she said. "We have a culture that includes art and music, movies, books, poetry, songs, rituals, symbolism, legends. I mean, everything that makes up a culture, the Kush Cup has, so there's kind of a celebration part."
Tickets to the Health Expo are available at the PNE for $10 per day or $25 for a weekend pass. UBC students and employees can get 50 per cent off at the door.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: metronews.ca
Author: Kate Webb
Contact: Contact | Metro
Website: Activists realize dream of hosting pro-medical marijuana expo at PNE | Metro
"It was very difficult," said Mark Klokeid, organizer of the first ever Health Expo at the PNE Forum, which runs June 28 to 30.
"It's a professional, family-oriented venue," continued the former cancer patient.
"They had to understand that we were trying to do this in an educational manner, to educate people that would not normally know that we have a federal system in Canada and that medical marijuana is a great pharmaceutical product... that no one has ever died from and doctors are prescribing."
Klokeid said the Pacific National Exhibition, which is normally home to more mainstream events such as the annual summer Fair, eventually agreed to house the expo, provided there is a 70-to-30 per cent split between general health content and marijuana education.
To that end, the fair features a number of doctors from around North America, alternative and natural health products, sensory deprivation tanks and – oh, yes – the Kush Cup, a competition for the best strain of marijuana, now in its second year.
Only people who hold federal medical marijuana licenses are eligible to judge the contest, and enter a 20-by-40-foot vapour tent set up inside the Forum, which is guarded by VPD officers.
Canada currently has about 20,000 medical marijuana license holders, more than half of whom live in B.C.
The event extends to other venues as well, including a comedy night at the Centre for Performing Arts featuring Charlie Murphy, Eddie Murphy's brother, of the Dave Chappelle show, and Trailer Park Boys Randy and Lahey (actors Patrick Roach and John Dunsworth).
Longtime activist Jodie Emery, who is married to jailed "Prince of Pot" Marc Emery, said the event has given expression to a growing movement, beyond those in just the medical marijuana community.
"Cannabis has a culture," she said. "We have a culture that includes art and music, movies, books, poetry, songs, rituals, symbolism, legends. I mean, everything that makes up a culture, the Kush Cup has, so there's kind of a celebration part."
Tickets to the Health Expo are available at the PNE for $10 per day or $25 for a weekend pass. UBC students and employees can get 50 per cent off at the door.
News Hawk- Truth Seeker 420 MAGAZINE ®
Source: metronews.ca
Author: Kate Webb
Contact: Contact | Metro
Website: Activists realize dream of hosting pro-medical marijuana expo at PNE | Metro
