HALLOWEEN POT CONVENTION CANCELED AT PONTIAC SILVERDOME

Pontiac -- A controversial Halloween weekend pot party at the
Silverdome has been canceled, the city said Tuesday.

Pontiac Mayor Leon Jukowski said promoters of a three-day
International Cannabis Convention at the 80,000-plus seat facility
have called off the event after discussions with city and law
enforcement officials.

"I think it's (cancellation) a good thing," Jukowski said. "All the
feedback I got on this (from residents) was negative. And considering
drug problems we already have in Pontiac, I thought it was somewhat
disrespectful to even consider having it here.

"The event was not the type of activity I wanted to be associated
with Pontiac, and there were too many questions about the state
medical marijuana laws and what could or could not take place inside
the Silverdome. The promoters thought one thing and we thought
another," he said. "It's best they take it somewhere else."

The promoter, Medical Marijuana Inc., predicted 25,000 to 50,000
people would attend. The event was billed as a trade show to discuss
the holistic benefits of marijuana. Promoters did not return phone
calls Tuesday.

Pontiac Police Chief Val Gross said he and others in law enforcement
and city government were surprised to learn of the Oct. 29-31 event
through an advertising flier and were initially concerned about
illegal use of marijuana and sales of smoking-related paraphernalia.

The flier, which advertised "vaporization tents and edibles" for
state card-holding marijuana users, featured a photo of a giant
marijuana plant sprouting through the Silverdome roof and a smiling
jack-o'-lantern smoking what appeared to be a marijuana cigarette.

"A pumpkin smoking a blunt? Pot growing through the Silverdome roof?
And 400-some vaporization tents?" Jukowski said. "If this was a
matter of a discussion on the legal use of marijuana by patients it
would be one thing, but it appeared clear this was something else."

Jukowski said it was his understanding the promoter was looking to
move the event to Cobo Centerin Detroit sometime next year.

David Austin, director of events and marketing at Cobo, said Tuesday
the venue has "no contracts with anyone at this time."

"We are talking with a couple people, and talks are pending regarding
dates this year and next year," he said. "But nothing is certain
until contracts are signed, and that hasn't happened."

Silverdome officials could not be reached for comment.

Since April 2009, it has been legal for individuals licensed through
the state of Michigan to use marijuana for health reasons and also
for state-licensed caregivers to grow the herb and provide it to a
small number of patients.