Ā MoCannBizCon and Expo is an event designed specifically to prepare the Missouri medical cannabis industry, businesses and license applicants for success in what will be one of the larger medical cannabis markets in the U.S.. Visitors learn how to grow cannabis, test it for purity and get crop insurance, among other things.
Photos by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
A crowd of almost 1,500 people was estimated on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the MOCANN – BIZCON Expo at Union Station. People interested in getting into the cannabis industry could stop by company booths related to the growth and selling of the product. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
Expo volunteer Donna Schneider (left) listens to Jack Quade, from PerkinElmer, a global company that makes machines that test materials and substances on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the MOCANN – BIZCON Expo at Union Station. Quade said that the machines have applications in the cannabis industry where cannabis needs to be tested for purity. Quade said there are no cannabis testing labs in Missouri yet. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
Monty Sowersby (left) and his son, Christopher Cross, share a laugh with volunteer Tracey Shanklin as they try gummy candy infused with cbd oil – a non hallucinogenic extract from cannabis, on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the MOCANN – BIZCON Expo at Union Station. CBD oil is used to relieve anxiety and inflamation among other uses. Cross started a company called Infused Edibles. Cross said that he has AIDS, but was saved by the combination of marijuana and CBD oil. “In my mind and in my heart, I know that marijuana saved my life,” he said. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
Patrick Wilson, from Virginia, works for Green Health Docs as a patient advocate on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the MOCANN – BIZCON Expo at Union Station. Wilson said he had PTSD and depression and was helped by the use of marijuana. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
Zachery Post, from Florissant, shows one of the strains of marijuana that he developed on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the MOCANN – BIZCON Expo at Union Station. “There is a lot of stigma about marijuana and I’m trying to educate people about the benefits,” he said. Post runs the Elite Home Growers Academy. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
Products that appear to be marijuana are displayed in tamper resistant display cases on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the MOCANN – BIZCON Expo at Union Station. Jahabow, a company based in Owensville, Mo., makes the cases for many businesses such as jewelry companies and pawn shops where secure display cases are needed. The balls that appear to be marijuana are actually green colored cotton balls. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com
Todd Statzer, Director of Environmental Sciences at urban-gro, talks about the science that goes into developing a cannabis growing system on Monday, March 11, 2019, at the MOCANN – BIZCON Expo at Union Station. The company, based in Colorado, is in the horticulture and cannabis cultivation industry. Photo by J.B. Forbes, jforbes@post-dispatch.com