OAKLAND, CA – The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) announces that former President of Mexico Vicente Fox will be the keynote speaker for its flagship event, Cannabis Business Summit and Expo.

Fox served as President of Mexico from 2000 to 2006, and since his presidency has become a notable proponent for a legal, regulated cannabis industry, actively supporting cannabis legalization in Mexico and the United States. Prior to his presidency, Fox was also a highly successful business leader at Coca-Cola, rising from a position as a route supervisor to ultimately become president of Coca-Cola Latin America.

Once considered an unlikely advocate for cannabis, the former conservative leader of Mexico began speaking on the record in favor of legalization in 2011, attributing his support of cannabis policy reform to Mexico’s escalating problems with drug violence and corruption. Citing it as “a change of paradigm,” President Fox sees ending marijuana prohibition as a vehicle for peace in Mexico, removing a vital instrument of power, control, and authority from the hands of cartels in Latin America. During his keynote speech, President Fox is expected to discuss the social injustices created by the war on drugs and how the adoption of legal cannabis regulations by global governments would impede the cartels’ long standing history of abuse and violence. His experience raising himself through the ranks and eventually leading a major corporation also offers important lessons for the cannabis professionals attending NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit.

In 2011, Fox collaborated with the Cato Institute, a renowned public policy research organization and think tank, at its “Ending the Global War on Drugs” conference. At the event, Fox called for an end to the war on drugs, alongside prominent global figures including former Secretary of State George Shultz, former Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, and former Mexican foreign minister Jorge Castañeda, highlighting the harms of prohibition and recommending realistic policy alternatives.

President Fox began his career as a route supervisor for Coca-Cola Mexico, working his way up to become head of Coca-Cola Mexico, and then president of Coca-Cola’s entire Latin America division. During his time leading Coca-Cola Mexico, Fox increased sales by nearly 50 percent, growing the product to become Mexico’s top-selling soft drink. After leaving Coca-Cola, Fox began his political career, winning the 1995 election for governor of his home state of Guanajuato. He won the presidency of Mexico in 2000, ending seven decades of Mexican government rule by the PRI political party.

NCIA’s 4th annual Cannabis Business Summit & Expo will be held at the Oakland Marriott City Center in Oakland, CA, June 12-14, 2017. The most influential cannabis business trade show in the U.S., NCIA’s annual event prepares the cannabis industry with best practices and methods to succeed in the everchanging regulatory environment, to strengthen the cannabis community’s collective voice, and to advocate for cannabis policy reform at the national level.

NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit & Expo 2017 is expected to sell out, with more than 4,500 attendees. Those interested are urged to purchase passes as soon as possible at CannabisBusinessSummit.com or by calling (888) 409-4419. Prices for registration will increase after May 19.