$1.7 Billion Medical Marijuana Market to Rival Viagra Sales This Year, According to Report

By Dennis Romero Thu., Mar. 24 2011 at 7:05 AM

DEA

Buddha is gold.

Born in California in 1996, medical marijuana has grown from a baby bud to a full-blown industry flower that has blossomed across the nation.

Legal in 15 states, medical pot sales this year are projected to reach $1.7 billion, according to the self-proclaimed "first ever investor-grade analysis of the medical marijuana markets" released this week.

That number nears the $1.9 billion annual sales number for Viagra.

Not that the comparison is fair: Viagra gets you up. For many, marijuana is a pain killer and, arguably, a depressant.

Still, the report, The State of the Medical Marijuana Markets 2011, makes it sound like we're all in on the ground floor of a green rush. (Where do we sign up?).

Money does grow on trees, apparently.

"We're witnessing the beginning of a legal business ecosystem forming around medical marijuana," the report's editor, Ted Rose, told reporters.

The survey and analysis by by See Change Strategy LLC states that the number of "markets" -- states where medical weed is sold -- will double in the next five years.

An increase in medical-legal states is projected. But demand for pot in states where weed is legit will also expand, according to See Change.

The report also says 24.8 million people are eligible to get doctor's recommendations and buy pot in medical marijuana states.

Rose, editor of the report, in a statement:

Medical marijuana markets are rapidly growing across the country and will reach $1.7 billion this year. We undertook this effort because we noticed a dearth of reliable market information about this politically charged business.

Smokin.'

Tags:

dispensaries, marijuana, marijuana business, medical marijuana, pot shops, see change industry

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Jer

This is correct! - With any luck ,, medical authorities will before long believe and see the actual ability of medical benefits of the plant--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Semi di Cannabis

Kamagra

Medical Marijuana Inc (OTC: MJNA) is pleased to announce that studies have ... 2011 before market open and will host a conference call and webcast at 11:30 ...

COME@MEBRO

love the last line. good article.

Kung Sow

Dude, no way man thats like totally insane man. Wow.

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Leonard Krivitsky, MD

I believe it is a matter for the majority of people to see that the whole cannabis prohibition, the whole DEA "dogma" that "marijuana is a dangerous drug without accepted medical use" be exposed in its anti-scientific, deceptive nature. Cannabis is not physically addictive as it lacks the recognizable "physical withdrawal syndrome" (like opiates, or alcohol, for example); the so-called "gateway drug theory" has been proven to be nonsense by a scientific research, and was even declared "half-baked" by a recent study; drug Marinol, much touted by the DEA, is not at all the same as medicinal cannabis which, as opposed to Marinol, has over 70 active compounds interacting in therapeutic ways. Cannabis decriminalization is followed by a decrease (not an increase) in "teenage use", as the example of Portugal clearly shows, and (with another major scare-tactic disintegrating), smoking cannabis does not increase one's risk of lung cancer; combine all this with the violence-suppressing qualities of cannabis use, its propensity to be a "safe alternative" to alcohol/hard drugs, its remarkable medicinal properties, and then see if the DEA "dogmas" have any factual foundation and not just an empty talk that is being enforced by a version of philosophical "radical pragmatism" which basically "allows" its followers to disregard the truth in favor of, let's say, DEA "dogma", with such a dogma being constantly "reinforced" by a consciousness of "guilt" and "fear". "Radical Pragmatism" was at the basis of Illinois patients being denied their medicine, because the DEA intimidated enough "law-makers" with the "non-existing entity" of a "gateway drug theory. The same way, some rogue politicos in Montana are trying to trample the will of Voters of that state by "repealing" the medical marijuana law! So, what we (and I mean, all of us) need to do is spread this scientific knowledge (along with the refutation of "dogma"), so that even for the politicians this becomes a question of either siding with fear and ignorance (which will assure one kind or "legacy"), or with science, progress and compassion, which will bring a totally different "legacy" altogether; I doubt that any of these crooks will enjoy a "legacy" of him remaining silent when the modern-day "storm-troopers" dragged a cancer-afflicted granny to jail for using medicinal cannabis. Let's not forget to ask our politicians as well as to why they are "crying broke" and yet, at the same time keep financing the so-called "marijuana enforcement" while most of the country wants this rather harmless natural substance decriminalized altogether, and definitely legalized when it comes to its many remarkable medicinal uses.Today, 8:08:04 AM– Flag – Like – Reply – Delete – Edit – Moderate