VOA标准英语2015--Vendors Display Marijuana Products at Washington Expo

Vendors¹ Display Marijuana Products at Washington Expo

You wouldn’t expect a marijuana expo in the U.S. capital, since it's still against federal law to possess the drug. And since it is still illegal to sell pot in the city, there was no marijuana at the trade show held this past weekend — at least none in sight — but there were small, startup businesses with products designed to grow the weed or consume it.

“I love marijuana so it's best to find out what everyone is starting to do for it,” expo attendee Keith Carey said.

Visitors at the sold-out trade show ranged in age from their 20s to 70s.  Many came because they were curious, now that Washington has legalized possessing small amounts of marijuana for personal use.

“I was just interested in what comes with this new legislation that passed, sort of, 'What are the things we can start looking into to take advantage of the new freedom we have?' ” visitor David Jackson said.

On display were lighting² systems and planters. Eric de Feo, co-founder of  Roots Planter, said his seedling³ planter was designed for indoor vegetable gardens.

“We really didn't start getting traction⁴ with this product until it was suggested you can use this for cannabis,” he said.

Visitor Rosina Memolo said she might have found the system that works for her. “I plan to plant my lettuce⁵, my tomatoes, my cucumbers, if the bugs⁶ don't get them, and marijuana,” she said.

In Washington, it's now legal to cultivate up to six marijuana plants at home.  David DeGraff, owner of the Grow School in Colorado, said anyone can learn how to cultivate the weed through his online classes — "how to set up their grow room properly, how to water and fertilize⁷, how to solve problems in the grow room that might occur.”

Users who want to know more about the many strains of marijuana can turn to free apps from the online service Leafly. Co-founder Cy Scott said the most popular variety is called Blue Dream.  

“It's a pretty readily available strain, and it’s also one that doesn't put you to sleep like so many do, so people really like it,” he said.

How can you know if your marijuana is safe to consume?  Terron Gray of Uplifted Healing Services has a mobile machine for that purpose, and for a fee, he'll check your pot for potency⁸, pesticides⁹ and fungicides.   

"And I'll take my machine to whatever residence or wherever you want to be to test your cannabis," he said.

Chris Wrights' Maryland-based company, Scentless¹⁰, found a new air-purification market for marijuana.

“We've designed filters for the indoor gardens and tents that will remove 100 percent of the odors so you can grow it discreetly,” Wrights said.

And those looking for drug paraphernalia¹¹ could find plenty at the expo.   

After seeing all the products, visitor Katie Eye said she was considering a career change. “There are plenty of businesses ... a lot of marketing¹² opportunities, sales for the future,” she said.

She’s not alone. Like others, she believes she can make a pot of money with legal pot.

1 vendors   

n.摊贩( vendor的名词复数 )；小贩；（房屋等的）卖主；卖方

参考例句：

• The vendors were gazundered at the last minute. 卖主在最后一刻被要求降低房价。
• At the same time, interface standards also benefIt'software vendors. 同时，界面标准也有利于软件开发商。 来自About Face 3交互设计精髓

2 lighting   

n.照明，光线的明暗，舞台灯光

参考例句：

• The gas lamp gradually lost ground to electric lighting.煤气灯逐渐为电灯所代替。
• The lighting in that restaurant is soft and romantic.那个餐馆照明柔和而且浪漫。

3 seedling   

n.秧苗，树苗

参考例句：

• She cut down the seedling with one chop.她一刀就把小苗砍倒了。
• The seedling are coming up full and green.苗长得茁壮碧绿。

4 traction   

n.牵引；附着摩擦力

参考例句：

• I'll show you how the traction is applied.我会让你看如何做这种牵引。
• She's injured her back and is in traction for a month.她背部受伤，正在作一个月的牵引治疗。

5 lettuce   

n.莴苣；生菜

参考例句：

• Get some lettuce and tomatoes so I can make a salad.买些莴苣和西红柿，我好做色拉。
• The lettuce is crisp and cold.莴苣松脆爽口。

6 bugs   

adj.疯狂的，发疯的n.窃听器( bug的名词复数 )；病菌；虫子；[计算机]（制作软件程序所产生的意料不到的）错误

参考例句：

• All programs have bugs and need endless refinement. 所有的程序都有漏洞，都需要不断改进。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The sacks of rice were swarming with bugs. 一袋袋的米里长满了虫子。 来自《简明英汉词典》

7 fertilize   

v.使受精，施肥于，使肥沃

参考例句：

• Fertilizer is a substance put on land to fertilize it.肥料是施在地里使之肥沃的物质。
• Reading will fertilize his vocabulary.阅读会丰富他的词汇。

8 potency   

n. 效力，潜能

参考例句：

• Alcohol increases the drug's potency.酒精能增加这种毒品的效力。
• Sunscreen can lose its potency if left over winter in the bathroom cabinet.如果把防晒霜在盥洗室的壁橱里放一个冬天，就有可能失效。

9 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

10 scentless   

adj.无气味的，遗臭已消失的

参考例句：

11 paraphernalia   

n.装备；随身用品

参考例句：

• Can you move all your paraphernalia out of the way?你可以把所有的随身物品移开吗？
• All my fishing paraphernalia is in the car.我的鱼具都在汽车里。

12 marketing   

n.行销，在市场的买卖，买东西

参考例句：

• They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
• He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。