RIONEGRO, Colombia - Like many drug barons in Colombia, Federico Cock-Correa wants to sell his product globally. Just 15 miles outside Medellin, Mr. Cock-Correa is looking to replace vast acres of flowers with marijuana plants, with plans to export the harvest. But unlike the brutal heroin and cocaine trade that once flourished nearby, his operation has the government's stamp of approval. Last year, President Juan Manuel Santos spearheaded an overhaul of Colombia's 30-year-old drug laws, which formally legalized medical marijuana for domestic use. Crucially, the new law also allowed the commercial cultivation, processing and export of medical marijuana products - like oils and creams - although not the flower, the part of the plant normally rolled into a joint. [continues 1003 words]
NEW YORK (AP) - Men and women in business suits mixed with hippies sporting blazers printed with marijuana leaf patterns Friday during the last day of the Cannabis World Congress and Business Exposition. The three-day conference at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center was a gathering of professionals and advocates from nearly every facet of the emerging marijuana industry. Even though restrictions on the drug remain tight in New York, the community gathered to exchange ideas and explore business opportunities. "We are here showcasing the cannabis industry and showing what they do," said Dan Humiston, president of the International Cannabis Association, which organized the conference. [continues 231 words]
