The potential economic growth generated by New Jersey's nascent legalized cannabis industry was demonstrated at a cannabis entrepreneur conference held near Newark Liberty International Airport. The conference-goers exuded confidence that the brave new world created by the Garden State's recent legalization of cannabis for adult recreational use will spark up the sweet smell of success.
"Cannabis is the new emerging industrial revolution. It's sweeping the globe. Get in on it, or get run over by it," said Gaetano Lardieri, a Newark native, Ironbound resident, and retired pharmaceutical executive who was one of the chief organizers of the Real Cannabis Entrepreneur Conference held at the Renaissance Newark Airport Hotel this past weekend. "People need to think about transferring whatever business or entrepreneurial skills they have over to the cannabis space. This is the type of event where people need to network to make the connections needed to fully take advantage of the new opportunities being created."