Jim Belushi has had a lot of fun as a Hollywood actor. In such films as Real Men and The Principal and as the voice of Demon in Snow Dogs, he established himself as a versatile performer who could take on both serious and comedic roles.

According to The Numbers website, Belushi’s films have grossed almost US$1.5 billion at the box office.

Belushi has also demonstrated his versatility off-screen, becoming a cannabis farmer in 2015. He’s a licensed marijuana producer in Oregon, operating the 38-hectare Belushi’s Farm in the Rogue Valley.

On the company’s website, he declares that he created it as a “gateway to healing”.

“Every time I cultivate the land, I get pulled more and more into the medicine and the joy of this work,” Belushi stated. “We sun-grow all natural and rigorously tested cannabis.”

He’s even suggested that his brother John would still be alive if he had been a pothead rather than self-medicating with other drugs to cope with chronic traumatic encephalopathy from playing football.

Belushi will share his story as a keynote speaker at the Grow Up Conference, Expo and Awards, which takes place from June 20 to 22 at the Victoria Conference Centre (720 Douglas Street, Victoria).

The president and cofounder of Grow Up Conference, Expo and Awards, Randy Rowe, told the Straight by phone that those who register will appreciate hearing about Belushi’s efforts to build his own cannabis brand.

“He’s a full-fledged cannabis farmer,” Rowe pointed out.

Belushi isn’t the only big name from the cannabis world at the conference, which is in the heart of Victoria.

One of the cofounders of High Times magazine, Ed Rosenthal, is also on the speakers list. Often called the guru of ganja, he's the author of Ed Rosenthal’s Marijuana Grower’s Handbook, which Rowe describes as the “bible” for cannabis cultivators.

Another speaker is Simon Smit, a 105-time winner of the Cannabis Cup. A legend in cannabis horticulture, Smit’s Amsterdam-based company, Serious Seeds, was inducted into the High Times Hall of Fame in 2007.

“He’s going to be talking about what it takes to become a cup winner,” Rowe said. “But more importantly, he’s going to be talking about genetics and breeding. I mean, if you want to learn a little bit about genetics, you’ll be learning from a master here.”

The cofounder and co-owner of Vancouver’s Village Bloomery, Andrea Dobbs, will also be a speaker at the event.

In addition, the Grow Up Conference, Expo and Awards will feature a 2.5-hour “speed networking” event in which licensed producers, including microgrowers, can have one-on-one meetings with retailers, including Dobbs. Rowe said that this will enable producers to speak directly with individual shopkeepers.

“You get 10 minutes with a retailer,” he said. “You give them your elevator pitch and then you move on to the next one.”

On “Budtender Day” on June 22, budtenders will be able to meet growers of products that they’re selling. And Rowe noted that those who register as VIP members of the conference will be admitted into a "Meet the Exhibitors Party".