Lukáš Běhal: legalizes America, Europe will follow

"People are finally starting to realize that cannabis is one of the most versatile plants," says the head of the Czech hemp fair. 

What is Cannafest? Fairs, festivals, meetings?
The fair because it takes place on the traditional exhibition space, the show everything for hemp, festival evokes the name itself, and as far as meetings: we are represented 170 companies from 20 countries around the world. We hold three-day conference, where they will perform 25 speakers from doctors, patients and scientists. We have a movie theater, where we start documentaries about the versatile use of cannabis, great workshops zone, where we introduce hemp as a natural resource, building materials, textiles, food and other things. So Cannafest it all together.
 
When I look at the guest list, there are academics, activists, journalists ... not much to argue?
No exchange of views, of course, goes up in the first place, because only discussion moves us somewhere. Conferences take place over three days, everyone has a theme. The first day's hemp as a natural resource, the second day is devoted to cannabis in medicine (that we insist) on Sunday, then have a space activists. Moreover, people are not purely into one group - are physicians with activist philosophy and activists engaged in the therapeutic utilization.
 
Who will be the main star of the show?
We do not focus on celebrities, but trendy. This year, it's without doubt the use of cannabis in medicine, lecturing on Cannafest will be experts from the US, where cannabis is experiencing a big boom. Another important group are specialists from Israel, where for several years running state program Cannabis to pharmacies and currently has about 19,000 registered patients. This is completely different than what is being prepared for us.
 
Cannafest is therefore purely your actions?
How to say ... some Czech organizations can play more on their own turf. Cannafest is for himself, and if someone appeals to us, we try to find maximum opportunities for mutual cooperation. Well, other then sometimes draw from him whom we bring here.

Given how Cannafest grows, it will probably be a fitting philosophy ...
We strive to connect maximum experts from around the world, so we moved on the whole issue and that it was for the benefit of all. Cannafest campaigning around the world, experts and lecturers have their own appeal to us. After four years, is part of the exhibition is so stable and profitable, that we can afford to invest in professional programs.
 
What can Czechs think about cannabis?
It's very diverse. Some still do not have the awareness to what you can use cannabis and are scared of him. Decades of lying propaganda simply someone had to leave marks. Search for all money - hemp has been used in many industrial sectors, which he did displeased need stationery or pharmaceutical barons, and therefore came up with this propaganda that maligned cannabis patients and throwing them into one bag with those who use cannabis for recreational purposes. People started to worry about the industry and buried. Fortunately, this is now turning and people are beginning to realize that cannabis is one of the most versatile plants. In America, where the original was propaganda, have been widely legalizes. When it works there, and Europe will follow and the release could occur in our country. It is actually happening now, but it's very slow.
 
That is fine, but the state apparatus reacts sometimes very nepředvídavě ...
Fair organizing to take place in accordance with the applicable laws of the Czech Republic. Before the start of the fair to meet with police and control individual departments. This is how it works this year for five years, and we do not want to change anything.
 
How many people are waiting for this year?
Well, still it rises, I hope here lying down! Last year it came for three days in total 25,340 visitors, this year we want to definitely overcome.
 
How do you convince "couch potato"?
Hemp is a big topic that appears a growing phenomenon. People were already beginning to understand that
It affects us all, it's not a pastime of teenagers or revolt mániček. Everyone should get unbiased information - you never know if she will or hemp on his loved ones need.
  
Cannafest in numbers:
3 halls Industrial Palace
20 countries
25 lecturers
170 companies
10,200 meters square of exhibition space

International Fair of hemp and medicinal herbs Cannafest was held this year for the fifth time. Traditionally opened its doors in November, from 7 to 9 11th 2014 at the Exhibition Grounds in the Prague center.

Its place at the fair this year had exhibitors offering growing technology, fertilizers or seeds, vaporizers and smoking accessories. Not even the manufacturers of cosmetics, clothes, food or media dealing with cannabis enlightenment or organization for companies that use cannabis as a natural resource or fight for legalization and medical use of hemp.