I’ve just completed covering the second Southwest Cannabis Conference & Expo. The first was in Phoenix, Arizona, which at least has a medical marijuana program. But this event was held in Fort Worth, Texas, where even the medical CBD oil treatment recently legalized for epileptic children is still controversial.
It’s the first marijuana event I’ve covered where there were active drug-sniffing dog units patrolling the expo floor. And with items for sale that can be used to smoke misdemeanors and extract felonies, maybe that’s not so surprising.
One highlight of Sunday’s presentation was a panel of retired NFL football players, sponsored by the Gridiron Cannabis Coalition, advocating for medical marijuana and describing their battles with injuries and pharmaceuticals.
Jim McMahon, quarterback of the ’85 Bears team memorialized as the “punky QB” in the Super Bowl Shuffle, spoke with tremendous sincerity about his use of cannabis and his battle with CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). I caught him after the panel presentation for a quick Q&A:
The panel also included Ricky Williams, the Dolphins and Saints running back who set numerous NFL records. Williams was also the first well-known case of a pro-football player using marijuana for medical purposes. Fellow panelist Marvin Washington, who played defensive end for the Jets, Niners and Broncos, said that in 10 years, Williams will be properly recognized as the pioneer for medical marijuana and athletes.
I also got a sit-down interview with Marvin Washington, who, like me, went to college in the great state of Idaho, leading to an intro and closing to this interview I’ll always personally treasure.
You can find my entire coverage of the Southwest Cannabis Conference & Expo, including remarks from the incredible 10-year-old Alexis Bortell, the inspiring Montel Williams and the numerous activists and entrepreneurs fighting for marijuana reform in the Lone Star State on my Soundcloud page.
(Photo Courtesy of Sports Mockery)
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