A three-day celebration of all things related to medical marijuana opens today in downtown Los Angeles -- but don't expect to see any of the green stuff.
HempCon 2010 Los Angeles, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, allows exhibitors from across the country to showcase products and services while promoting medical marijuana and the movement to legalize pot. Smoking it at the event, however, is verboten.
"There's not going to be any cannabis -- but we're trying to spread the word," said Cheryl Shuman, executive director of Beverly Hills NORML 90210, a new branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
More than 150,000 people are expected to attend the event, the medical marijuana activist said.
"Los Angeles is the heartbeat of the entire cannabis community," Shuman said. "Everyone looks to Southern California for leadership and guidance. Now is the time to come out of the closet."
Fourteen states allow legal medicinal use of cannabis.
Last month, the Los Angeles City Council gave final approval to an ordinance aimed at ending the proliferation of illegal marijuana dispensaries while giving qualified patients access to the drug. There are currently an estimated 1,000 marijuana dispensaries across Los Angeles.
"I think what you'll find (at the convention) is that the negative stereotype of the laid-back stoner is wrong," Shuman said. "People who need and use medical marijuana include business professionals, lawyers, doctors, teachers and corporate types."
HempCon will showcase booths from collectives, retail vendors, graphic/Web designers, appliance manufacturers and cultivation experts, Shuman said.
Keynote addresses will be delivered by Shuman and Frederic Rhoades, a medical marijuana activist also from the Beverly Hills office of NORML.
Topics to be discussed include the impact of the Los Angeles medical marijuana ordinance; Assembly Bill 390, which would legalize marijuana in California; and taxing and regulating cannabis to revitalize the state's economy.
And there will be plenty of food stalls in case of naturally occurring munchies.
"My goal is full legalization for responsible adult use so California can save its economy," Shuman said. "We have such momentum now. This is our time."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: Contra Costa Times
Contact: Contra Costa Times
Copyright: 2010 Bay Area News Group
Website: HempCon 2010 to be held this weekend at L.A. Convention Center
HempCon 2010 Los Angeles, at the Los Angeles Convention Center, allows exhibitors from across the country to showcase products and services while promoting medical marijuana and the movement to legalize pot. Smoking it at the event, however, is verboten.
"There's not going to be any cannabis -- but we're trying to spread the word," said Cheryl Shuman, executive director of Beverly Hills NORML 90210, a new branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
More than 150,000 people are expected to attend the event, the medical marijuana activist said.
"Los Angeles is the heartbeat of the entire cannabis community," Shuman said. "Everyone looks to Southern California for leadership and guidance. Now is the time to come out of the closet."
Fourteen states allow legal medicinal use of cannabis.
Last month, the Los Angeles City Council gave final approval to an ordinance aimed at ending the proliferation of illegal marijuana dispensaries while giving qualified patients access to the drug. There are currently an estimated 1,000 marijuana dispensaries across Los Angeles.
"I think what you'll find (at the convention) is that the negative stereotype of the laid-back stoner is wrong," Shuman said. "People who need and use medical marijuana include business professionals, lawyers, doctors, teachers and corporate types."
HempCon will showcase booths from collectives, retail vendors, graphic/Web designers, appliance manufacturers and cultivation experts, Shuman said.
Keynote addresses will be delivered by Shuman and Frederic Rhoades, a medical marijuana activist also from the Beverly Hills office of NORML.
Topics to be discussed include the impact of the Los Angeles medical marijuana ordinance; Assembly Bill 390, which would legalize marijuana in California; and taxing and regulating cannabis to revitalize the state's economy.
And there will be plenty of food stalls in case of naturally occurring munchies.
"My goal is full legalization for responsible adult use so California can save its economy," Shuman said. "We have such momentum now. This is our time."
NewsHawk: Ganjarden: 420 Magazine - Cannabis Culture News & Reviews
Source: Contra Costa Times
Contact: Contra Costa Times
Copyright: 2010 Bay Area News Group
Website: HempCon 2010 to be held this weekend at L.A. Convention Center
