Marijuana competition and trade show lights up in Saskatoon

Things are getting a bit hazy in downtown Saskatoon this weekend.

An annual marijuana competition and trade show has taken over the O'Brians Event Centre. It's the fifth annual Prairie Medicinal Harvest Cup.

Jeffrey Lundstrum, an organizer of the event, said people from across Canada have flocked to the city to take part in the event.

"It brings together growers, medicinal users, as well as people trying to obtain licenses and get involved in the license program," Lundstrum said.

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Dana Larsen came to Saskatoon from Vancouver to attend the Cannabis Cup. He said medicinal marijuana dispensaries may be a contentious issue, but it needs more rapid movement.

We should have events like this across Canada to bring awareness to medical cannabis (and) the benefits for it.-Glenn Price

"There are perhaps some legitimate community concerns around these dispensaries and those are best dealt with at the civic level with bylaws and regulations," Larsen said.

The contentious issue has recently been at the forefront in Saskatoon. In August, a new medical marijuana dispensary opened its doors on Second Avenue.

In September, the owner received an email warning from Health Canada to cease all activities with medical marijuana within 30 days. If the Saskatchewan Compassion Club does not stop, Health Canada said it will refer the case to the RCMP.

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For Glenn Price, the advantages of medical cannabis far outweighs the side effects of other prescription drugs.

"We should have events like this across Canada to bring awareness to medical cannabis (and) the benefits for it," Price said.

According to 2014 data from Statistics Canada, 77 per cent of the time Saskatoon police stop someone suspected of having pot, they lay a charge.

For now, Lundstrum said the close-knit community has one plan.

"We're gonna keep doin' what we do and hope for the best," he said.

The doors open at noon on Sunday with the event wrapping up at 6 p.m. CST.

Find more information of the Prairie Medicinal Harvest Cup here.