Marijuana Business Magazine - May-June 2018

FROM THE CEO'S DESK A s a student in my undergrad and graduate programs, my natural inclination was to pursue studies that would give me excuses to satisfy my wanderlust. Languages, cultural studies and international business classes all featured prominently in my academic schedules. I am very excited to find my passion is coming full circle, as the career my life has led me to – the cannabis industry – is experiencing its own form of wanderlust, by spreading far beyond the borders of the United States. The international cannabis industry – sometimes, it still astounds me that we are even talking about such a thing. And yet, it’s real, it’s happening, and it’s happening now . In fact, it’s happen- ing so quickly that even highly experienced veterans of the industry – entre- preneurs and advocates who have spent years and even decades immersed in development of this marketplace, and who are therefore highly attuned to it – are scrambling to catch up to a train that has already left the station. Whether you’re already on that train, just jumping on now or simply look- ing to find a good place to join the trip, this issue of Marijuana Business Magazine and our upcoming MJBizConINTL conference will bring you up to speed on what you need to know to chart the path for your own busi- ness interests. From Germany’s emerging medical marijuana program and Canada’s groundbreaking recreational cannabis legalization to Lesotho’s MMJ aspirations and an investment guru’s insights into international oppor- tunities, you’ll come away from these articles with a keener understanding of how quickly the markets are moving, and where the best places are to get involved. As we explore the topic of the global cannabis industry in this issue, we also want you to join the MJBizDaily team Aug. 14-16 in Toronto for MJBiz- ConINTL, as we bring the industry’s top trade show to the world. You can learn more about MJBizConINTL at mjbizcon.com (where you can see info about all our conferences). The international event will highlight Canada’s role as the cannabis industry’s current hub of global commerce and also bring together entrepreneurs, investors, policymakers, academics and sci- entists from around the world to chart the future of that once-dreamed-of reality: the international cannabis industry. See you there! Cassandra Farrington President & CEO, MJBizDaily Cannabis Wanderlust 8 • Marijuana Business Magazine • May-June 2018