BY GORDON STRIBLING
CANNABIS TRADES ASSOCIATION TRADE
AND NETWORKING SHOW. OCTOBER 19
Cannabis is rarely out of the headlines these days.
But wherever you sit on the recreational use debate, it’s fair to
say that the vaping industry has fully embraced legal CBD. There
was plenty for vaping to take on board from the speeches and
conversations that took place throughout the day at the CTA
Trade and Networking Show in October.
After inconveniencing a moody taxi driver by requesting his
service, I arrived at Birmingham’s National Motorcycle Museum,
which coincidentally is the venue for the fourth annual Vapouround
Awards. I popped my press pass on and headed to the main room
where a rousing speech by expert and advocate Professor Mike
Barnes set the tone for the day.
The trade area sat between the two conference rooms. On my
first lap, I had a chat with Robert Sidebottom. Robert is managing
director of Eco Vape, so it was interesting to talk to him about how
non-vape CBD products have found their way onto their shelves
in recent months.
The event was considerably busier than I was expecting.
However, it was still intimate, which allowed everyone plenty of
time to discuss issues, promote products and, as you’d expect
from a networking event, schmooze.
Recent political events on the UK and international stage certainly
added to the excitement and feeling of camaraderie among the
attendees, many of whom have been in the industry since long
before CBD entered the vaping lexicon.
Much like a vape expo, almost everyone had a personal CBD
story to tell and many of the stories were incredibly moving. The
industry looks destined to grow even bigger in the next 12 months,
so it was rewarding to be part of the conversation before the big
names with dollar signs in their eyes inevitably sweep in.
The speeches and Q&As proved fruitful, particularly with regards
to the regulations around the sale of CBD e-liquid and the
unprocessed CBD ‘flower’ that has landed some vape shops in hot
water. The association’s members didn’t pull any punches during
the Q&As, but marketing director Tom Whettem and compliance
director Guy Coxall remained cool under pressure.
I had a thoroughly enjoyable and enlightening day. The CTA has
its critics but despite the politics, everyone in attendance seemed
passionate about CBD and keen to ensure that the industry
doesn’t fall foul of the Medicines and Healthcare products
Regulatory Agency.
We in the vaping industry have been here before with the TPD so
I’m confident that the best and brightest will stay the course and
continue to help change lives of people in the years to come.
VM20 | 131