Jim Belushi Speaks to Investors at Cannabis Investing Forum Cartagena
Cartagena, Venue for the Cannabis Investing Forum
May 11, 2019
The city of Cartagena, Colombia hosted the first industrial medical cannabis fair and Cannabis Investing Forum between Thursday and Saturday, bringing together more than 1,300 attendees and 60 exhibitors, including former vice president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, and comedian Jim Belushi.
“I have been involved for more than 10 years, dedicated full time as an activist, promoting the legalization of drugs in different countries of the world. I have learned, I give lectures, I know the industry and I am committed to it ”. The statements correspond to former Mexican president Vicente Fox, who was visiting Cartagena during the medical cannabis industrial fair.
This meeting lasted three days in which more than 1,300 attendees and 60 exhibitors spoke about the sector, learned about experiences, scientific advances and in common they talked about how an issue that was a generator of violence now is health.
The former president, who was in the Presidency for six years from 2000, declared himself pleased with the discussions held about how the sector is progressing with the research, export and scientific implementation of cannabis. He argues that many countries have gone from taking the plant from criminals and illegality, to placing it at the service of a business sector in a legal framework, with the payment of taxes, dedicating the plant to solving health problems.
Fox, who is a member of the board of directors of Khiron Life Sciences Corp, a Colombian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is a leader in research on this front, believes that Latin America has a great opportunity in the development of cannabis. Research affirms that the region may have 68 million potential patients.
“It is a very effective medicine in health sectors such as neurology, epilepsy, stress or pain. The benefits of the plant have already been proven and there is much more to learn, ”said Fox, who also took the opportunity to criticize the position of the governments of the United States, Venezuela and Mexico regarding silver.
In 2016, in Colombia, Law 1787, promoted by Senator Juan Manuel Galán, allowed the cultivation and manufacture of inputs and products from this plant for medicinal purposes. Its author, in dialogue with El Espectador, was very satisfied with the interest that the industry and the spirit of the law have aroused. "That they bet on scientific research, which will allow breaking the stigma that the substance has," he said.
Galán, who was a senator for three terms, went further and spoke about the regulation of cocaine. “I believe that it is time for us to move forward in proposing a regulation for coca, because it has nutritional and medicinal properties and an ancestral use recognized by indigenous people in Colombia for cold, height, fatigue and food. However, there are Colombian scientists such as Marisol Duque who have been carrying out very important research work to recover liver tissue from the liver through a very promising and very interesting treatment with coca leaf ”.
The political leader also stated that a change in the political proposal against drugs is necessary. "We have to move from the war on drugs to a policy that does not seek a world free of drugs, but a world free of drug abuse."
In a lecture scheduled on the first day of the event, nuanced by humor, American actor Jim Belushi, known for his work in film, television and comedy, spoke about the uses of cannabis and how he decided to enter the production business. He told, amid jokes, that he has a farm in Oregon where he produces the product and even invites friends to try the variety he grows, and helps them with stress problems.
“It is an incredible medicine. 80% of people in the world have someone suffering in the family, with seizures or because they have lost a relative. Either way, that family collapses and that is constant in the United States and the world. This medicine helps families so that they do not collapse ”, he assured.
Later, the actor affirmed at a press conference that his company does not have Colombian workers, but it does have Mexican workers, and it even helps them learn English. He also referred to legalization. He said that in the United States it was a change with political conditions and made a comparison with the liquor in California and how it achieved its formality. Finally, he spoke of a group that made a small protest about the event, indicating that they understood what was happening, because they had an addicted brother and they know about the effects of the family, but also that cannabis can be used for good. "It is an educational process" concluded the actor.
Iván Arias, president of the PlantMedco company, has planted seven hectares in the department of Quindío with greenhouse and cutting-edge technology. He pointed out that it is a high investment business and remember that the only thing that can be exported is CBD cannabbis, not psychoactive. According to Arias, this sector can exceed exports of flowers and coffee.
“According to a calculation made by the Universidad del Rosario, the contribution of the cannabis industry to the country's GDP is 0.4%. One hectare planted, with its technical conditions, documents, legality, permits and scientific developments, can cost a million dollars ”, he declared.
Colombia, due to its climatic conditions, also has a very important value. Experts consider that in the year three harvests of the product can be taken. “In Canada, a gram is worth three dollars to produce. Here it is worth 30 to 50 cents on the dollar, that's why they are looking at Colombia as the great producer, ”said Arias.
According to the Grand View Research report, the global cannabis market can reach 146,000 million dollars in 2025 for its medical applications in diseases such as cancer, mental disorders, chronic pain, among others.
May 11, 2019
The city of Cartagena, Colombia hosted the first industrial medical cannabis fair and Cannabis Investing Forum between Thursday and Saturday, bringing together more than 1,300 attendees and 60 exhibitors, including former vice president of Mexico, Vicente Fox, and comedian Jim Belushi.
“I have been involved for more than 10 years, dedicated full time as an activist, promoting the legalization of drugs in different countries of the world. I have learned, I give lectures, I know the industry and I am committed to it ”. The statements correspond to former Mexican president Vicente Fox, who was visiting Cartagena during the medical cannabis industrial fair.
This meeting lasted three days in which more than 1,300 attendees and 60 exhibitors spoke about the sector, learned about experiences, scientific advances and in common they talked about how an issue that was a generator of violence now is health.
The former president, who was in the Presidency for six years from 2000, declared himself pleased with the discussions held about how the sector is progressing with the research, export and scientific implementation of cannabis. He argues that many countries have gone from taking the plant from criminals and illegality, to placing it at the service of a business sector in a legal framework, with the payment of taxes, dedicating the plant to solving health problems.
Fox, who is a member of the board of directors of Khiron Life Sciences Corp, a Colombian company listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange and is a leader in research on this front, believes that Latin America has a great opportunity in the development of cannabis. Research affirms that the region may have 68 million potential patients.
“It is a very effective medicine in health sectors such as neurology, epilepsy, stress or pain. The benefits of the plant have already been proven and there is much more to learn, ”said Fox, who also took the opportunity to criticize the position of the governments of the United States, Venezuela and Mexico regarding silver.
In 2016, in Colombia, Law 1787, promoted by Senator Juan Manuel Galán, allowed the cultivation and manufacture of inputs and products from this plant for medicinal purposes. Its author, in dialogue with El Espectador, was very satisfied with the interest that the industry and the spirit of the law have aroused. "That they bet on scientific research, which will allow breaking the stigma that the substance has," he said.
Galán, who was a senator for three terms, went further and spoke about the regulation of cocaine. “I believe that it is time for us to move forward in proposing a regulation for coca, because it has nutritional and medicinal properties and an ancestral use recognized by indigenous people in Colombia for cold, height, fatigue and food. However, there are Colombian scientists such as Marisol Duque who have been carrying out very important research work to recover liver tissue from the liver through a very promising and very interesting treatment with coca leaf ”.
The political leader also stated that a change in the political proposal against drugs is necessary. "We have to move from the war on drugs to a policy that does not seek a world free of drugs, but a world free of drug abuse."
In a lecture scheduled on the first day of the event, nuanced by humor, American actor Jim Belushi, known for his work in film, television and comedy, spoke about the uses of cannabis and how he decided to enter the production business. He told, amid jokes, that he has a farm in Oregon where he produces the product and even invites friends to try the variety he grows, and helps them with stress problems.
“It is an incredible medicine. 80% of people in the world have someone suffering in the family, with seizures or because they have lost a relative. Either way, that family collapses and that is constant in the United States and the world. This medicine helps families so that they do not collapse ”, he assured.
Later, the actor affirmed at a press conference that his company does not have Colombian workers, but it does have Mexican workers, and it even helps them learn English. He also referred to legalization. He said that in the United States it was a change with political conditions and made a comparison with the liquor in California and how it achieved its formality. Finally, he spoke of a group that made a small protest about the event, indicating that they understood what was happening, because they had an addicted brother and they know about the effects of the family, but also that cannabis can be used for good. "It is an educational process" concluded the actor.
Iván Arias, president of the PlantMedco company, has planted seven hectares in the department of Quindío with greenhouse and cutting-edge technology. He pointed out that it is a high investment business and remember that the only thing that can be exported is CBD cannabbis, not psychoactive. According to Arias, this sector can exceed exports of flowers and coffee.
“According to a calculation made by the Universidad del Rosario, the contribution of the cannabis industry to the country's GDP is 0.4%. One hectare planted, with its technical conditions, documents, legality, permits and scientific developments, can cost a million dollars ”, he declared.
Colombia, due to its climatic conditions, also has a very important value. Experts consider that in the year three harvests of the product can be taken. “In Canada, a gram is worth three dollars to produce. Here it is worth 30 to 50 cents on the dollar, that's why they are looking at Colombia as the great producer, ”said Arias.
According to the Grand View Research report, the global cannabis market can reach 146,000 million dollars in 2025 for its medical applications in diseases such as cancer, mental disorders, chronic pain, among others.
