Pubdate: Sun, 21 Feb 2010
Source: Los Angeles Daily News (CA)
Copyright: 2010 Los Angeles Newspaper Group
Contact: http://www.dailynews.com/writealetter
Website: http://www.dailynews.com
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/246
Author: Connie Llanos, Staff Writer
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?115 (Cannabis - California)

ALL THINGS MARIJUANA BLOOM AT CONVENTION CENTER

There were cannabis creams and THC soda, doctor green thumbs, hemp 
nurses, and even a marijuana chef all taking part in the green 
festivities at HempCon 2010.

Thousands of medical marijuana consumers, advocates and vendors 
crowded the Los Angeles Convention Center Saturday for the three-day event.

Sporting an artificial marijuana leaf lei, Pomona resident Lastarr 
Lang said the convention is a chance for medical marijuana patients 
to learn about new products while vendors promote their gadgets - but 
for smokers like her it's also about building community.

"There's a lot of people who benefit so much from marijuana...it's 
good to see them all here enjoying the great atmosphere."

A lupus patient, Lang said marijuana helps her control chronic pain.

"If I wasn't smoking I would be on Vicodin, Naproxin or some other 
narcotic," Lang said. "I'd become a zombie."

For medical marijuana smokers, the convention offered a massive 
selection of rainbow-colored glass pipes in every size and price 
range imaginable. There were also vaporizers on display, for those 
who prefer inhaling cannabis rather than smoking it, and reusable pot 
containers for those interested in going green.

Tucked between a hydroponic water system vendor and hemp retailer was 
also Chef "Herb."

Herb Seisel III by birth, the 25-year cooking vet said that after 
cooking in restaurants and hospitals for more than two decades he 
realized that he wanted his food to help people.

By coming up with a line of THC cooking oil and butter, Seisel said 
he can help patients get their daily dose of cannabis while savoring 
delicious meals.

"The THC lingers a lot longer when you eat it...it creates a better body high."

Convention attendees had to take his word for it. No marijuana 
consumption of any kind was allowed at HempCon, even in edible form. 
Even garden specialists had to use rosemary plants or fakes to 
simulate the plant.

The irony of hemp not being allowed at a hemp convention reflects the 
controversy over conflicting laws about marijuana use in California.

Since 1996 medical marijuana has been legal under California state 
law thanks to Proposition 215 and the Compassionate Use Act. In 
recent years, the number of dispensaries has exploded, with an 
estimated 800 to 1,000 in Los Angeles alone.

But marijuana - medical or otherwise - continues to be illegal under 
federal law. And Los Angeles city officials have launched new efforts 
to reduce the number of dispensaries.

Some convention attendees still felt nervous speaking publicly about 
their drug usage.

"There are still people who will harass you if they find out you're a 
smoker," said Debbie, a 54-year-old woman who refused to give her last name.

The Palm Springs resident said she was pleased to see the marijuana 
community out in full force, and she hoped that smoking would be 
legal soon. But until then she still felt she had to hide her 
marijuana use, even though she's been smoking more than 40 years.

"So many people are still ignorant," Debbie said.

"They believe it's reefer madness...and that may never change."
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MAP posted-by: Richard Lake