BINGHAMTON, N.Y. -- Farmers and business owners from across the region come together for the first ever Southern Tier Hemp summit. 

Discussions focused on the future of industrial hemp products in the state, as well as the success of medical marijuana.

Farmers from across the nation spoke about the economic benefits they're seeing from growing the product.

Organizers of the summit hope the public will leave with a better understanding of the industry.

"Really the goal for this summit and the goal in general is to create a self-sustaining, robust industry around hemp that includes farmers, that includes retail businesses, that includes manufacturing," said Kaelan Castetter, Castetter Sustainability Group CEO.

Currently in New York, farmers looking to produce the crop must be tied to a research industry.

It's currently illegal to grow hemp in New York State unless you're linked to a research institution.