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The inside dope on marijuana Comedian Tommy Chong is one of the speakers scheduled to appear at the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference Nov. 19, in Ashland. Courtesy photo Tuesday Nov 1, 2016 at 2:58 PM Nov 1, 2016 at 2:59 PM By Julie Akins for the Mail Tribune An upcoming marijuana conference could bring in a quarter-million dollars and add to Ashland's cachet as a center of the growing marijuana industry. “This is bigger than the international business conference," according to Alex Rogers of Ashland Alternative Health, organizer of the Oregon Marijuana Business Conference. "It was sold out last year, and it’ll be sold out again this year.” Comedian, actor and cannabis activist Tommy Chong will be a speaker at the convention, scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 19, at the Ashland Hills Hotel & Suites. Chong is planning to create a large grow in the area, according to Rogers, which is one reason for his presence. He’s also knowledgeable about the industry and has been an activist for legalization for decades. Last year's conference drew about 600 people, and this year Rogers expects about 800. The purpose of the conference, aimed primarily at growers, is to go over the policies and regulations affecting people in the industry. “All the rules change so quickly, and growers, our main audience, need informative talk about policies, rules and regulations,” said Rogers. “One year of not having it is like five years of not having a conference in another business. Things change so quickly from year to year. There’s also lots of disinformation out there.” One topic sure to be discussed at the conference is taxation, Rogers said. Several local governments, including Jackson County, Medford and Ashland, are asking voters to impose a 3-percent local tax on marijuana sales. Cannabis businesses are feeling a pinch due to increasing taxes, large-scale competition and falling prices, he said. Marijuana prices have dropped for patients and recreational users because the supply is large. As a result, some growers have opted to sell their product on the black market to make more money. “Most growers want to stay legal. Higher fees push some to consider selling at a higher price out of state,” Rogers said.  But, Rogers said, legal pot is a very viable market. “There’s still a lot of money to be made. Not the crazy amounts we saw during prohibition, but still a really good living. Anyone who says $250,000 isn’t a good income isn’t correct.” Speakers at the conference will discuss ways to maximize profits while staying within the margins created by policies, taxes and regulations. “If you want a Coors and you want to pay less, you’ll do that," said Rogers, drawing an analogy between pot growers and craft brewers. "But for those who want a craft beer, they’ll pay more, and it will be available. This industry will be modeled after the boutique market. There will be people who want better marijuana and will pay extra." In addition to Chong, conference speakers will include marijuana author Ed Rosenthal, OLCC chairman Rob Patridge and Breeze Botanicals owner Brie Malarkey, according to the conference website. For more information about the conference, see OregonMBC.com. — Email Ashland freelance writer Julie Akins at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter at twitter.com/@julieakins.