Beauties hand out blunts, hugs at California Cannabis Business Expo

Models reportedly gave out free hugs and more than 10,000Ā joints at a recent cannabis convention held at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina.

But according to Brad McLaughlin, CEO of the online medical marijuana marketplace BudTrader.com, many of the vendors at the expo needed the hugs the most.

ā€œSome of the biggest players in the marijuana industry pulled out of this event,ā€ said McLaughlin, citing worries about their legal future in light of recent comments by new Attorney General Jeff Sessions and White House press secretary Sean Spicer.

ā€œThere’s confusion and uncertainty in our industry,ā€ he said. ā€œPresident Trump made some promises during his campaign that he’s going to allow the states to decide on recreational marijuana Ā and he would supportĀ medical marijuana.ā€

Anti-marijuana sentiment in the Trump administration ā€œkind of took the wind out of the sailsā€ of the third annual California Cannabis Business Expo.

ā€œThey’re afraid to make any noise or be seen right now,ā€ McLaughlin said.

That’s one reason BudTrader decided to give away hugs and joints of a variety called Purple Train Wreck.

Noting ā€œa lot of negativity in American politics lately, especially towards medicinal marijuana, we at BudTrader are all about positive energy,ā€ McLaughlin said in a statement. “It’s impossible to be angry when you are smoking a joint and hugging a supermodel. This idea could change the world! Imagine if peace talks in the Middle East were moderated by supermodels giving out blunts — we would have peace in no time.ā€

Models were advised to ask for ID if someone wanting a joint looked younger then 35 or to ask for ID if they were unsure of someone’s age.

Costing between $2.50 and $10 apiece, the pre-rolled joints were donated by a local dispensary who is an advertising partner..

One accidental hug-getter was a San Diego police officer patrolling the event outside.

ā€œShe was in the middle of the hug, when she realized he was a police officer butĀ she had already committed to it,ā€ McLaughlin said. ā€œHe was cool about it.ā€

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