Art, Forums, Concerts... and a Lot of Cannabis: Everything You Need to Know to Enjoy Expogrow 2014

For the third consecutive year, the Expogrow fair will be held in the Basque Country, becoming one of the most complete and attractive events in the industry and one of the main thematic fairs in Spain. And not only that, but it can claim to be the biggest fair in Europe with over 12,000 m2 of space used, with 5,000 in the pavilion and another 7,000 outdoors.

Its main objectives include generating and strengthening the French presence in the event (without neglecting the domestic market); and it is going well, since last year, according to statistics, 40% of attendees, amid professionals and the public, came from France.

This year's discussion will focus particularly on cannabis clubs and their regulations and will be directed mostly by Spanish and French associations. Although the scope of medical marijuana and the political situation in France and in Spain will also be discussed. 

III International Social Forum

For professionals, 'Expogrow' offers a great business opportunity and the chance to make contact with companies in the cannabis industry. But, further than the fair and an enjoyable food and rest area, the event will also hold numerous activities, animations, conferences, a night music festival, and the III International Social Forum. 

The Social Forum will feature speakers from various sectors, some of international significance. Marc and Jodie Emery will be among them, one of the most recognized couples within the cannabis movement. Marc is an activist, politician and businessman from the Canadian marijuana seeds industry known as 'Prince of Pot' who, until less than a month ago, was imprisoned in the United States after having been extradited for selling seeds. His wife Jodie is a recognized speaker dedicated to the field of media and politics. They will both explain what is the legal status of marijuana in Canada and the reality of Marc’s case.

Another attendee, Dina Browner, is one of the pioneers of the medical marijuana movement in Southern California, who also inspired the character of a popular television series in the United States. For his part, Paul Stanford is the president of Hemp, the cannabis and hemp foundation, and also of THCF Medical Clinics. The Uruguayan Raquel Peyraube, with another talk, is a medical doctor and specialist in problematic drug use. Specialists from France and Spain will also participate.

Concerts and live music

Beyond the formal part, there will also be time for leisure. The event will host a music festival that will welcome up to fourteen artists. From the French Naâman, to Cuban and Brazilian rhythms from Lariba, EAE (Eskorzo Afrobeat Experience), UGE (ex-guitarist from Extremoduro and Clandestinos), Little Pepe & The CoolTrance and Chauchinatown and the Revolutionary Brothers. However, the main artist will be the British activist and 'reggae' star Macka B. The artist has over thirty years of experience between the UK and Jamaica and has dedicated his last song, 'Medical marijuana card' to the legalization of medical cannabis and to the struggle for an authorisation with which patients may obtain medical marijuana.

If all you want is to just enjoy yourself for a few days, this is also your place: surfboards, a human football, Basque sports, and even a Formula 1 simulator and relaxation sessions are waiting for you.

III Expogrow Cannabis Cup

One more year, you’ll be able to participate in the Cannabis Cup, one of the main activities of the fair. It is a "strain tasting" which aims to disseminate the innovations that seed banks achieve every year. Finally, once cannabis lovers and companies have been brought together, the crowning touch will be the awards to the best seeds in different modalities.

In this sense, III Expogrow Cup has several categories like best sativa, best indica, best dissolvent extraction and best autoflowering genetics. Besides, there will be other prizes to the best 'stand', best seed bank, best product, best fertilizer and an award to recognize the work of the activist of the year.

As an improvement, the organization of the show has changed the system with which the members giving the final verdict are chosen: the participants are now the jury. Nevertheless, there will also be a special jury to give the special awards to the best hash and the best weed.

Expogrow Art 

An event of this magnitude deserves to keep improving. So for the first time this year, the fair will promote Expogrow Art, a photo contest for amateurs that intends to invite anyone to take pictures about marijuana, its uses, consumption or other aspects. The best colour photography, the best black and white pic and the best photo montage or creative photo will be awarded with prizes of 300 euros. These will be chosen among the photos submitted until September 1st, since the winning pictures will be exhibited during the fair.

The truth is that the experience of last year left a unique aftertaste. No wonder, after having received more than 13,000 participants, moved by curiosity and the desire to learn more about the world of marijuana. Expectations for this year are equally ambitious, and it is expected that the links between cannabis lovers will grow even stronger.

We would like you to experience all this first-hand by coming to the stand of Dinafem: next week. We will be publishing all the information regarding our presence at this fair, where we will also be playing at home. Moreover, we are preparing a contest you cannot miss, for you can win great prizes in seeds only by passing by. See you at Expogrow!

--------------------