Ron Strider
Well-Known Member
Marijuana entrepreneurs, enthusiasts, educators and non-profits headed to the Phoenix Convention Center to learn more about the marijuana industry and what its future may look like.
Many attendees and exhibitors at the third annual Southwest Cannabis Conference and Expo have a positive outlook about the industry's future. Why? Because the conference is about education and, by extension, challenging stereotypes.
"We're not pushing the commercialization of marijuana. We're pushing the educational understanding of marijuana as medicine. That's what this conference is about," said Demitri Downing, executive director of the Marijuana Industry Trade Association and the three-day event's organizer.
Downing said he is hoping to create an environment where anyone can learn about marijuana and its therapeutic and medicinal benefits.
Anyone, including Arizona lawmakers. Free passes are available to lawmakers interested in learning more about the industry, Downing said.
"I would encourage those who want to regulate marijuana in a responsible manner to understand branding, marketing and advertising thoroughly."
What to expect
The event kicked off on Thursday with a crash course into beginning a career in the marijuana industry and a boot camp for investors curious about opportunities in the "world's fastest-growing industry."
On Friday, the exhibition floor opened and educational sessions continued.
About 250 exhibitors showcased their products and services on the exhibition floor.
Products such as grow lights, machinery to aid in packaging marijuana and consumables like marijuana-infused soft drinks and syrups were on display.
You can't leave with cannabis-infused products. They are just featured at the event, not sold.
Sessions and speakers
Friday's sessions focused on cultivation, branding and the medical-marijuana business among other things.
Will Humble, who was instrumental in implementing the state's medical-marijuana laws, spoke Friday.
Humble, a former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, said that he didn't anticipate there would be so many people applying to obtain medical marijuana.
If he had anticipated the number, he said, he would have lowered the cost of the card. He called the price of the card his biggest mistake in devising the program's regulation.
The cost to apply for an Arizona medical-marijuana card is $150, or $75 for people who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Speakers to look for on Saturday
On Saturday, sessions and speakers will focus on the future of cannabis, recreational marijuana and medical-marijuana users.
Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico and an advocate of legalizing drugs, is set to speak.
He is also a vocal critic of President Donald Trump.
Fox became a vocal advocate of legalizing drugs after leaving office in 2006.
In 2015, Reuters reported that Fox said Mexico would legalize marijuana within a decade. His comment came shortly after the Mexican Supreme Court approved growing marijuana for recreational use.
Other speakers include:
Cheryl Shuman. Called the "Martha Stewart of Marijuana," Shuman is a self-made billionaire who manages a $100 million hedge fund to invest in the cannabis industry. She speaks at 2 p.m.
Marvin Washington. A retired NFL player who played for 11 years, Washington will speak about using medical marijuana as a way to combat prescription opioid abuse. He will appear as part of a panel with other former NFL players.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Southwest Cannabis Conference and Expo kicks off in Phoenix
Author: Will Flannigan
Contact: Contacting Republic Media | AZ Central
Photo Credit: Aydali Campa
Website: azcentral.com: Phoenix and Arizona local news, sports and entertainment
Many attendees and exhibitors at the third annual Southwest Cannabis Conference and Expo have a positive outlook about the industry's future. Why? Because the conference is about education and, by extension, challenging stereotypes.
"We're not pushing the commercialization of marijuana. We're pushing the educational understanding of marijuana as medicine. That's what this conference is about," said Demitri Downing, executive director of the Marijuana Industry Trade Association and the three-day event's organizer.
Downing said he is hoping to create an environment where anyone can learn about marijuana and its therapeutic and medicinal benefits.
Anyone, including Arizona lawmakers. Free passes are available to lawmakers interested in learning more about the industry, Downing said.
"I would encourage those who want to regulate marijuana in a responsible manner to understand branding, marketing and advertising thoroughly."
What to expect
The event kicked off on Thursday with a crash course into beginning a career in the marijuana industry and a boot camp for investors curious about opportunities in the "world's fastest-growing industry."
On Friday, the exhibition floor opened and educational sessions continued.
About 250 exhibitors showcased their products and services on the exhibition floor.
Products such as grow lights, machinery to aid in packaging marijuana and consumables like marijuana-infused soft drinks and syrups were on display.
You can't leave with cannabis-infused products. They are just featured at the event, not sold.
Sessions and speakers
Friday's sessions focused on cultivation, branding and the medical-marijuana business among other things.
Will Humble, who was instrumental in implementing the state's medical-marijuana laws, spoke Friday.
Humble, a former director of the Arizona Department of Health Services, said that he didn't anticipate there would be so many people applying to obtain medical marijuana.
If he had anticipated the number, he said, he would have lowered the cost of the card. He called the price of the card his biggest mistake in devising the program's regulation.
The cost to apply for an Arizona medical-marijuana card is $150, or $75 for people who are eligible for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
Speakers to look for on Saturday
On Saturday, sessions and speakers will focus on the future of cannabis, recreational marijuana and medical-marijuana users.
Vicente Fox, the former president of Mexico and an advocate of legalizing drugs, is set to speak.
He is also a vocal critic of President Donald Trump.
Fox became a vocal advocate of legalizing drugs after leaving office in 2006.
In 2015, Reuters reported that Fox said Mexico would legalize marijuana within a decade. His comment came shortly after the Mexican Supreme Court approved growing marijuana for recreational use.
Other speakers include:
Cheryl Shuman. Called the "Martha Stewart of Marijuana," Shuman is a self-made billionaire who manages a $100 million hedge fund to invest in the cannabis industry. She speaks at 2 p.m.
Marvin Washington. A retired NFL player who played for 11 years, Washington will speak about using medical marijuana as a way to combat prescription opioid abuse. He will appear as part of a panel with other former NFL players.
News Moderator: Ron Strider 420 MAGAZINE ®
Full Article: Southwest Cannabis Conference and Expo kicks off in Phoenix
Author: Will Flannigan
Contact: Contacting Republic Media | AZ Central
Photo Credit: Aydali Campa
Website: azcentral.com: Phoenix and Arizona local news, sports and entertainment
