A three-day cannabis industry convention kicked off in Oakland on Thursday.

The New West Summit is drawing a lot of entrepreneurs and investors interested in this growing market, especially now that recreational weed is legal for adults over 21 in California.

But the conference was not without controversy since it was being held at the Marriott hotel where striking workers are on their sixth day on the picket line.

The organizer of the fourth-annual Cannabis Industry Summit holds up a large bag of weed that he wants to hand out in order to make peace with the striking workers making a lot of noise outside the Oakland Marriott City Center.

“So this is how to bring people together in this world,” Jim McAlpine said.

He also ordered pizza to feed the picketers, which was gobbled up, but the offer of pot didn’t go down as smoothly.

“We are looking for job protection and a little bit of weed isn’t going to do that,” picketer Wei-Ling Huber said.

“I side with you,” McAlpine said. “They need to pay you better wages and they need to treat you better. I am more than happy to support you in any way I can. Outside of what I can’t do which is cancel this event which what I want you to understand without literally going bankrupt and not being able to feed my family. I have to do this.”

The hotel chain has said its proposal matches the economic terms of the last contract and says they are not waiving cancellation fees since they are open for business, but they will address guests concerns on a case-by-case basis.

After the event, the organizer makes a promise to give a donation to their cause, one restaurant worker who’s staffed this same conference in previous years, hopes to again in the future help smooth things over.

Following a handshake and hugs, some of the workers accepted handfuls of green buds with a smile.

This conference, which focuses on the technology, science, and investment trends of the cannabis industry, continues through Saturday. The last day is a job fair.

The cannabis conference organizer says they are going to be sending out representatives of those companies that are hiring to let the striking workers know about new employment opportunities in this fast-growing industry in case they are ready to switch jobs.

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