Weed industry gets serious at Vancouver cannabis conference

[No smoke and mirrors, this conference is all business. Elianna Lev/Yahoo Canada News]

Walking through the doors of the Vancouver hotel hosting the International Cannabis Business Conference, there’s one thing that’s noticeably absent: smoke. Unlike at other conventions, there aren’t any attendees huddled around outside the revolving doors, puffing away — on any kind of substance.

It could be that the ICBC (no relation to the bank), which each year takes place in a different city, intends to attract a different type of marijuana enthusiast, one who is serious about the business and lifestyle of the plant. The event isn’t about sampling the products, as they do at tournaments like the Cannabis Cup. Instead, its participants attend to make contacts and talk about the major issues Canada faces as it moves towards the legalization of marijuana.

Here are a three things I learned from the conference.

Its price weeds out its participants

Although tickets to the two-day event were upwards of $600, those exhibiting felt the price was worth it to attract the kind of business they were looking for.

Dana Larsen, director of Sensible BC, advocates for policy reform, has a stand at the convention showcasing his line of creams and illustrated parody books, with titles such as Green Eggs and Hash.

[Some light reading at the cannabis conference. Elianna Lev/Yahoo Canada News]

“This event is more industry-focused,” he says. “It’s more expensive to attend and there’s no free pot with your ticket like at the other events, but it’s a good industry event.”

Taryn Mann, who runs Miss Envy Botanicals, a line of massage and topical products, agrees.

“The ticket prices are a little bit higher to weed out the people who aren’t in the industry to be in the industry,” she says. “It’s less recreation, more business oriented.”

Suitable swag

Instead of pens and stickers emblazoned with a company’s logo, the swag at this event is tailored to the industry. If you’re low on rolling papers or lighters, you’re in luck here. Many of the booths, and even the convention’s swag bag, hawk said customized items. Also popular: soft carrying containers to hide your stash. When it comes to munchies, there aren’t many booths aimed at marketing snacks. A booth sampling coconut water appeared to be the only one promoting something not directly related to pot, though it is known to be incredibly quenching.

Tommy Chong is still alive

[Tommy Chong in the flesh, ladies and gents. Elianna Lev/Yahoo Canada News]

Many faces from Vancouver’s health and advocacy scene were in attendance, including Cannabis Culture’s Jodie Emery, addiction expert Gabor Mate, pot personality Watermelon. But the most famous face, and a featured speaker, was Tommy Chong. Despite a recent online rumour that he’d passed away, Chong confirmed he’s going strong. Mostly.

“Parts of me are dead,” he told the crowd. “But most of me is here.”