As talks around legalising marijuana continue to progress in Australia, it’s becoming increasingly important to directly engage with the complexities of cannabis. While the densely layered stigma surrounding the misunderstood plant is still gradually peeling back, there remains much to understand and learn about what is now the latest superfood to be made legally available for consumption in Australia. This is where the country’s largest cannabis event comes in.
Now in it’s third year, the Hemp Health & Innovation (HHI) Expo & Symposium is once again planning to spread through Sydney’s Rosehill Gardens for two days of nothing but engaging interactive and multifaceted experiences surrounding hemp food, medicinal and health products, fabrics and textiles, clothing, beauty products, building materials, gardening and hydroponic equipment and more. Set for 12th and 13th May, HHI will aim to increase awareness around all the benefits hemp and cannabis plants offer.
You may have already gotten a taste of just how focused the festival is this year. Just ten days ago (on 4/20 of course), local artists Craze Co and Ballin’ On a Budget collaborated with HHI on a subtle but powerful (and attention grabbing) protest that saw cannabis plants being placed throughout Sydney, aimed at creating public discussion around legalisation. “Who are we hurting?” was the main message, and there’s little doubt that will be expanded upon during the actual event.
“HHI Expo is Australia’s only large scale hemp and cannabis event. People are in desperate need of more information about this incredible plant and we’re extremely proud to have founded an event where information is at the ready from trusted, reliable and export sources”, offered HHI Expo Founder Michelle Crain. “We hope that by posing the question ‘Who Are We Hurting?’ we are able to spread awareness and create conversations around the many uses the cannabis and hemp plants offer”.
The experiential and educational aspects of HHI will be focused through the symposium, which is designed to make information on medicinal cannabis and other uses more accessible to a wider audience. HHI have managed to once again call upon some of Sydney and the world’s leading doctors, pharmacists, academics, research associates, authors, and entrepreneurs for a wide range of presentations, conversations and Q&A sessions. Last year, for example, HHI included Sydney-based research associate Anastasia Suraev (Lambert Initiative for Cannabinoid Therapeutics) who spoke about the productive relationship between cannabis and epilepsy; you can read out chat with her over here.
Though the last two years have been very well attended, HHI will undoubtedly see substantial growth this year, particularly with the recent development which saw federal legislation pass allowing the human consumption and sale of hemp foods in Australia. This will be a valuable part of the event, with the expo featuring a massive range of new, exciting (and delicious) exhibitors, many of whom will be presenting guests with samples and taste tests of the best hemp foods in Australia.
There should be plenty of surprises and a schedule released closer to the event. To keep up to date subscribe to the HHI social media channels using @hhiexpo (Facebook, Instagram and Twitter).
You can go ahead and grab a ticket to the event at the official HHI website HERE.
If you really want to make the most of the weekend, make sure you grab one of the VIP tickets, which includes VIP entrance on both days, a ticket to the exclusive HHI after party on the Saturday night, a VIP expo showbag including a lanyard and HHI t-shirt, and vouchers and gifts from some of the exhibitors with a value of over $60. Note that all Australian armed forces veterans are able to enter the event for free upon presentation of their DVA or retired ID card upon entry.
This post is presented in partnership with the Hemp Health & Innovation (HHI) Expo & Symposium.
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