Blog post: Day Two, Cannabis Business Conference Latin America; Santiago, Chile

June 27, 2002.   Day Two

Well, this truly WAS a networking event! Short snappy presentations, then small groups of your choice for 45 min, then breaks with food at high tops, then repeat, then delicious lunch at high tops, then repeat. The net result was a lot of one on one conversations and with 75 or more here you pretty much had a good idea of what people were doing and who they were. There was a BIG Colorado presence and no California visibility. Who knew there was that much going on in the neighborhood. Everyone from Colo was connected to LA and were Spanish speakers.

The presentation went well but I had a completely different take on what was going on, plus I mentioned people who presented the first day as examples and many were very appreciative and came up to me later. I got a good list of subscribers, was invited at the end to the Patagonia Farms family’s  suite for wine and pizza, got a brother in law’s recipe for an infusion with just terpenes and no skunk smell—his wife does clinical research and is Chilean but raised in MD.  took photos of that city view of the Andes, and all very inclusive, hospitable, friendly, thoughtful people.

The unique part was Peruvian. Remember the quiet woman I mentioned on Day One? She is with Pachamama Medicinals in Lima. Well the last speaker was another woman, Peruvian lawyer, who does licensing for the cannabis business in Peru and who I had also connected with but who didn’t know the Pachamama people. After her presentation, I stayed at her table and we were a rather odd assortment with some quiet types who hadn’t said much at this point.   The conversation turned to indigenous challenges in Chile and in Peru, and it turns out that the Pachamama investors (small start up) are in Denver!  One had grandparents and parents who were curanderos (shaman) in in the Amazon. He has medicinal meds made from the herbs they used (still gathered on small plots there) and made in Denver with full spectrum hemp.  Ultimately, we had quite a nice combined Peruvian connection and we shall see where it goes. Interestingly, this function wasn’t to sell anything or buy anything—it was just connecting and learning about the industry. Other than this, it didn’t feel it at all appropriate to sell myself or anything. It would have been culturally crass in my opinion.

I ended the day with my favorite empanadas and fitful sleep. Looking around this room I’m glad there is a 12 pm checkout! Have to be at the airport by 5 and will hope for an upgrade with my puny miles. I leave grateful for the experience, new friends, new opportunities, and a bit lighter on materials.

My love and affection to you all,  Dede