| Photo: HempCon 2010 |
| HempCon 2010 Los Angeles is already a huge success, with thousands of festive attendees on the convention floor. Stay tuned, San Francisco… your turn is in April. |
A three-day celebration of all things cannabis opens Friday in downtown Los Angeles.
HempCon 2010 Los Angeles, at the L.A. Convention Center, will host exhibitors from across the country who’ll be showcasing products and services relating to medical marijuana and the movement to legalize pot, reports the Los Angeles Daily News.
Smoking and marijuana won’t be allowed at the event.
“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 branch of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws.
| Photo: Cheryl Shuman |
| Cheryl Shuman, NORML 90210: “This is our time” |
According to Shuman, more than 150,000 people are expected to attend.
“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.”
“I think what you’ll find 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 is showcasing booths from medical marijuana collectives, retail vendors, graphic and Web designers, appliance manufacturers and cultivation experts, according to Shuman.
Plenty of food stalls are available in case the munchies strike.
Actor Cheech Marin also will be there. He’s promoting his new documentary, Light Up America.
Marin, who was at the Convention Center Thursday for a news conference, said he supports “across-the-board” legalization with restrictions similar to those of alcohol, according to NBC Los Angeles, who apparently thought it would be cool to use the name “Toke of the Town” as their headline without bothering to link to this site.
“It’s a movement whose time has come. It’s inevitable,” he said. “Society since the Bible has needed a socially acceptable intoxicant, and here it is. This has been our drug of choice. It’s… much healthier, has more benefits than alcohol.”
“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.”