EVERETT — The Cannabis Cup logo depicts George Washington smoking a joint. At the weekend’s marijuana expo at Comcast Arena, George had lots of followers. Some emulating him even had his gray hair.
The two-day weekend event had three designated “medicating” sections for people over 21. You know, like a beer garden. Only more aromatic.
Vendors offered bong hits and samples of pot brownies.
“This is a trade show,” said Dan Skye of High Times, the venerable cannabis magazine that hosted the event. “Just like if you were at a natural products expo, you’d be sampling their natural food, their little morsels.”
Based on the booths, it’s clear that many professions have their hand in the pot of the booming marijuana industry. Lawyers, bankers and insurance brokers rubbed elbows with growers, stoners and artists.
Items ranged from industrial to practical, with $13,000 vacuum-purge ovens for solvent extraction to $15 pocket kits to test potency before you light up. An iPhone case with a groove on the back, to aid in rolling joints, was $30. Glass toking pipes sold for $10 to $35,000.
Women in black mini-dresses peddled heavy machinery, as at any trade show. Swag consisted of rolling papers and stash containers. Seminars were held on law, business and cooking with cannabis.
Medicating was only allowed in restricted areas outside the arena. That’s where most people could be found.
For some, the expo was business and pleasure.
“This is fun, but I’m here buying seeds and talking to people and seeing business partners,” said Jerry Whiting, owner of Shoreline medical cannabis company LeBlanc CNE. “I’m a farmer. This is a chance to collect genetics.”
His company specializes in cannabidiol-rich (CBD) strains. Patients want CBD to get well. Stoners want tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) to get high.
“This is the first time I’ve ever done something like this,” said Arizona dispensary owner Debbie Hunter, perusing pot-specific software programs. She brought five of her 20 employees to check out the goods.
Interest was keen at Bedtime Brownie, a Seattle edibles company.
“I’m surprised they had this in Everett,” said owner T.J. Werth. “That’s shocking. Seattle is one thing. It really shows the signs of the times.”
Skye said about 5,000 attended Saturday’s event, with as many expected Sunday, which ended with a trophy ceremony.
“We give out awards for the very best cannabis merchandise. It’s the Academy Awards of pot,” Skye said. “People get very excited.”
They also got hungry. Food trucks stayed busy.
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.
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