Pubdate: Sun, 30 Aug 2015
Source: Columbus Dispatch (OH)
Copyright: 2015 The Columbus Dispatch
Contact:  http://www.dispatch.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/93
Author: Mary Beth Lane

CONFERENCE GIVES TIPS ON POSSIBLE 'CANNABIZ'

As Ohioans prepare for a Nov. 3 vote on legalizing marijuana, budding 
entrepreneurs are looking at whether they could earn a living from it.

For some, cannabis could become a cannabiz.

This is what Troy Wade is contemplating if marijuana is legalized in Ohio.

"I have an interest in the business. I want to be an entrepreneur, 
start my own shop or whatever," said Wade, 28, an East Side resident 
who runs table games at the Hollywood Casino on the West Side.

Wade was among the people attending a cannabis conference on Saturday 
at the DoubleTree Hotel in Worthington. It continues today.

About 80 paid registrants are attending "Cannabis Academy," said 
Tiffany Bowden, co-founder of sponsor group ComfyTree. The group, 
based in Louisville, Ky., promotes marijuana legalization, education 
and entrepreneurship.

The conference was scheduled in preparation for the vote on Issue 3, 
the ResponsibleOhio ballot issue to legalize marijuana.

"We are all about education - and if it doesn't pass, what is next" 
for marijuana-legalization efforts in Ohio, Bowden said.

Conference attendees, many sipping complimentary cans of a hemp 
energy drink, listened to presentations by spokespeople for ResponsibleOhio.

Representatives of other marijuana-legalization groups, Ohioans to 
End Prohibition and Ohio Rights Group, also gave presentations. These 
groups oppose ResponsibleOhio and the proposed constitutional 
amendment on the November ballot because it would create 10 growing 
sites owned exclusively by investors.

That amounts to a monopoly that would squeeze middle-class and 
lower-income Ohioans out of the marijuana business, said Sri Kavuru, 
president of Ohioans to End Prohibition.

"We feel like opening up the market to everyone will benefit 
consumers and patients, and it's good public policy," he said.

ResponsibleOhio spokesman and grower Alan Mooney said Issue 3 would 
not create a monopoly.

"There's plenty in this for everyone," he said, adding that he 
believes that legalized marijuana in Ohio will spawn tens of thousands of jobs.

ComfyTree has no political ties and is not promoting one Ohio 
marijuana-legalization initiative over another. It is a cannabis 
education and entrepreneurship group that offers training to people 
interested in growing marijuana or in working elsewhere in the 
industry, Bowden said.

The all-inclusive weekend package, including Cannabis Academy 
courses, seed-toharvest Grow School and other education, cost $299.

Four states and Washington, D.C., have legalized marijuana, and 24 
states have legalized it for medicinal use.

ComfyTree (a blend of comfort and tree, which is street slang for 
marijuana, Bowden said) has sponsored cannabis conferences in other 
states and in Washington, D.C., and plans to hold another conference 
in the Columbus area in November.

Conference attendees and others also browsed the free "CannaBazaar" 
in the hotel lobby, an exposition of cannabis-related goods. Vendors 
sold merchandise including hemp coffee, dog treats, body lotions and 
more, and T-shirts bearing the legalization promotional slogan "Weed 
Be Better Off."

Devin Morris, 20, and Sekai Cox, 19, both of Wadsworth in Medina 
County, said partial proceeds from the T-shirt sales would be shared 
with legalization groups. They also have established a website, 
www.passthetree.com, that carries legalization news, merchandise and 
other items.

"We want to make it the Google for the marijuana-legalization world," 
Cox said. "We are here to inform people. (Legalized marijuana) is 
going to be socially acceptable here soon."
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom