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“We have come a long way from the days of civil disobedience,” she said.

Photo by Mike Bell / PNG

“We are just on the verge of being one of the first countries in the world to legalize cannabis for recreational purposes. I would say the cannabis industry is about to take off and we have the potential to do a lot of good for the world.”

Black said the potential risks of cannabis can be managed with evidence-based education.

“The prohibition of cannabis causes great harm to families, and to countries. People are being jailed, children are been taken away, people’s lives are being ruined, they’re not allowed to travel, they can’t get jobs,” she said.

“The harms of prohibition far, far outweigh the little risks around cannabis that need to be managed.”

She said “the sky is not going to fall” once legalization of cannabis for recreational purposes takes effect Oct. 17.

“There are great economic benefits to the country and communities and we will lead the world in repealing this tremendously harmful prohibition that we have been living under for 100 years,” she said.

Just under 1,000 participants attended the conference, which is aimed at businesses rather than consumers, said Alex Rogers, International Cannabis Business Conference’s founder and CEO.

He described the conference as the world’s leading international business cannabis event.

“I’m a hippie. I live in Oregon. It’s all Cascadia for me, bro,” he said.

“The vibes are just really good in Vancouver. Toronto didn’t have nothing to do with weed years ago. B.C. had everything to do with weed.

“That’s what this conference is based on — it was formed by activists. Then we started making money and becoming real business people.”

kevingriffin@postmedia.com

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