The Road to Regulation and Legalization

Twice each year (L.A. in September and NYC in June), the International Cannabis Association hosts the World Cannabis Congress & Business Exposition. The L.A. Convention Center’s West Hall was about half full three days this September as around 40 of the cannabis industry’s top companies were represented along with other canna-leaders. Perusing the booths uncovered an industry on the verge of a powerful birth. We spied silver-and-plastic extraction contraptions, canna insurance agents, grow tracking software companies, cannabis lawyers, CBD-infused hemp dog food visionaries, cannabis venture capitalists, loads of advocacy associations and edible purveyors galore. Overall, the mood bubbled rather optimistically on what seemed to be the inevitable legalization of cannabis in more states, especially California.

Drug Policy Alliance founder and CEO, Ethan Nadelmann, kicked off this “cannabis means business” expo with a rousing keynote speech followed by canna rock star Melissa Etheridge’s inspirational talk. Three days of seminars and networking on the trade show floor culminated on Friday afternoon with a heartfelt speech by cannabis hero and iconic entrepreneur George Zimmer (formerly of Men’s Wearhouse who recently launched Uber-for-tailoring retailers and digital tux and suit rental company, Generation Tux).
Zimmer admonished everyone who loves cannabis to finally quash prohibition by rallying around one and only one California legalization initiative and then work together to get it passed much like the other recreational states. “There’s room for collaboration not just competition,” says self-proclaimed “conscious capitalist” and prison reform advocate Zimmer. “We are on the right side of this issue,” he says. “Our leaders, for the most part, are spineless hypocrites unwilling to risk the repercussions by supporting cannabis legalization.”

Dixie Elixirs, which now has a state-of-the-art facility in Northern California, was a major sponsor and for good reason. Pitching their company as “the future of cannabis,” Dixie’s sales manager, Mark Roach, demonstrated with their exquisite artisanal THC/CBD products how the company is looking way ahead to regulation even before it happens. Dixie and most of the other edible, elixir, confections and drink companies were also embarking on the same road to regulation by adding nutritional facts to their many products as well as exact milligram stats, strain tracking stamps, tamper resistance features and even timelines as to when the THC high would potentially hit.
Ready to meet the world’s top cannabis experts and learn all about this burgeoning new industry, which expected to hit $35 billion by 2020? The second annual Cannabis World Congress will be held next year at NYC’s Javits Center from June 15-17.
cwcbexpo.com