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Pot Fans Unite At Cannabis Conference In NYC

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- At this conference, everyone had marijuana on the brain.

On Friday, members of nearly every facet of the emerging marijuana industry gathered at the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center for the annual Cannabis World Congress and Business Exposition.

Men and women in business suits mixed with shorts-wearing hippies sporting blazers covered with prints of marijuana leaves. Customized lighters and packets of gummy bears sat next to the traditional pens, stickers and mints on marketing tables.

PHOTOS: Cannabis World Congress Expo

Christine Ianuzzi, the organizer of the expo, told WCBS 880's Peter Haskell the marijuana business is flourishing.

"Well it's going to be growing to over 30 billion by 2020," Ianuzzi said.

The exhibits ranged from accounting and legal services to dispensary owners and growers, Ianuzzi said. In all, there were more than 100 exhibitors, including Chris Husong of Elixinol who sells a hemp product.

"It's a dietary supplement," Husong said. "They take it in either a tincture, a capsule, oral paste."

Organizers said their main goal is to disseminate information to the business community.

Keynote speakers included former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee and longtime advocate for marijuana legalization.

The three-day conference ended Friday.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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