There's no question that when it comes to marijuana, Vancouver is recognized worldwide as being a leader in the move away from prohibition.

Acknowledging our city's love of the herb, CEO Alex Rogers knew that Vancouver needed to be a stop for the International Cannabis Business Conference, a traveling event Rogers founded that gives businesses in the industry an opportunity to network and learn from other professionals in the field.

The first conference was held earlier this year in San Francisco, and another will be held in Berlin in the spring.

The event kicked off yesterday, and will continue today at the Hyatt Regency in Vancouver.

Speakers including Dr. Gabor Maté, Dr. Jokūbas Žiburkus, and UBC Professor M-J Milloy took to the stage to discuss various topics, including marijuana and addiction, the therapeutic potential of cannabinoids, and new research on the drug. Today, Kirk Tousaw, Donald MacPherson, and Ed Rosenthal will be featured speakers.

Yesterday, we spoke with Rogers about his goals for the conference, and his thoughts on the future of cannabis in Canada. 

"[Canada] is the first G7 country in the world to [legalize recreational use], and I think it's important that they do it well, because I think the world is going to actually take Canada's lead more than the United States' lead," said Rogers.

Watch the full interview in the video below.