Cannabis has captured the attention of the world. From December 17-19, 2010, the Colorado Convention Center will be buzzing with thousands of medical marijuana experts and enthusiasts in what is being billed as the largest cannabis lifestyle convention to ever take place on planet Earth – KushCon II.

The NORML Women’s Alliance fundraising weekend begins a day early with a business-to-business networking event sponsored by the Medical Marijuana Business Alliance and Kush Magazine on Thursday, December 16, where the elite of the cannabis industry will gather to celebrate the movement and to organize product and service giveaways expected to raise more than $100,000 for the charity.

The international media has extensively covered the “Stiletto Stoners” phenomenon, fascinated by professional women’s use of cannabis. Celebrities like Melissa Etheridge and Alanis Morissette are putting a new face on this controversial plant.

Riding that wave, the national office of NORML, the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, announces the NORML Women’s Alliance steering committee’s first annual major fundraising weekend event at KushCon II.

Photo: Cheryl Shuman ​Heading up the steering committee for the fundraising weekend is former Beverly Hills NORML Executive Director Cheryl Shuman. Shuman is the director of public relations and media for the Kush brand including Kush Magazine, Kush Conventions and DailyBuds.com, a social media network for the cannabis community.

“It’s my job to remove the negative stigma and stereotypes of a cannabis user,” Shuman said. “Real women and men behind the marijuana reform movement are taking a stand to make a change by boldly coming out of the closet to educate the public at KushCon II.”

Shuman brings 25 years of experience working with media, celebrities, marketing and health care in Beverly Hills. She found her passion in the cannabis movement since 1996, working as an activist and legal cannabis patient. Since using cannabis therapy, she has survived cancer and injuries from two car crashes.

“The therapeutic value of socialization and the building of family and community should not be underestimated,” Shuman said. “The right of patients to peaceably assemble – to socialize and build family and community, and network and organize – is paramount for their health and recovery. KushCon II is the center of the universe for patients and activists.”

“We as a modern society can fiscally improve our budget by moving cannabis from the criminal sector into the lawful sector,” Shuman said. “This is not a left or right issue — it’s really common sense. Regulation and taxation of marijuana could produce billions of dollars in additional tax revenue, as well as save on the enormous costs of law enforcement. Bottom line is the prohibition of marijuana has been a fiscal fiasco.”

Among the more than 400 vendor booths spanning more than 300,000 square feet will be everything from extreme skateboarding demonstrations to local DJs and headline artist concert series.

KushCon II will have something for every member of the family including gourmet cannabis cooking demonstrations, cultivation experts, more than $100,000 worth of giveaways including a complete $46,000, 28-foot Growbots mobile growing system, blown glass, hydro lights, leather jackets, cannabis lifestyle clothing and more.

“This will be the place to finish your last minute Christmas (KushMas) shopping, or win some fantastic prizes,” Shuman said.

The KushMas party will continue throughout the weekend with a daily concert series featuring artists and DJs such as the Flobots, The Dirty Heads, Mickey Avalon, Asher Roth, Mic Master Mike, Aaron Lewis of Staind, War, and former Santana lead singer Gregg Rollie.

This is the second time Kush Magazine and dailybuds.com have brought the cannabis convention to Denver. In April 2010, KushCon descended on the Denver Convention Center with thousands of patrons perusing hundreds of booths.

In addition to entertainment, KushCon II is really about the dissemination of information about the cannabis culture. There will be breakout rooms with speakers from within the medical cannabis industry and the cannabis movement, including growing expert Ed Rosenthal, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, U.S. Congressman Jared Polis, Matt Cook of the Colorado Department of Revenue, attorneys Rob Corry and Warren Edson, and Brian Vicente.

Medical information for patients about marijuana and its uses will be presented by Dr. Robert (Bob) Melamede.

Keynote speakers from NORML include founder Keith Stroup, Sabrina Fendrick, Greta Gaines, Anne Davis, Russ Belville and Cheryl Shuman. There will also be speakers from other activist and nonprofit organizations from around the world.

With all of the recent news about cannabis, Kush hopes to continue with efforts towards legalization.

“The cannabis movement is not just the ‘Stiletto Stoners’ or the medical marijuana patients or the stereotypical Deadheads from the 70s,” Shuman said. “It includes a broad cross section of Americans who should have the right to responsibly use marijuana without the fear of prosecution.”

“As prohibition of alcohol finally ended, it is our goal to have the same outcome — end the prohibition of marijuana,” Shuman said. “We invite you to join us in building a better informed, kinder and more compassionate world.”

KushCon II will be cannabis free and open to the public (no medical marijuana card required to enter), with all ages welcome.