From The Weed Street Journal archive. This article was published before James Buddsey took over the site and is queued for review and update.
Medical marijuana has been spreading to many states at an awfully slow clip despite its legitimate benefit to society, and it legalization in California in 1996. There are a tremendous amount of obstacles in the way including restrictive federal laws, conservative bigots, and apprehensive politicians.
However, we as medical marijuana advocates are viewing something beautiful take place before our eyes, the rise of big marijuana business. Many people might cringe regarding the concept of Big Pharma controlling medical marijuana, but allowing big business to infiltrate a multi-billion dollar market could allow tremendous amount of money to pour into advertisements and political leverage and funding. When ever business finds opportunity in America a political backing arises, we see it with the financial industry (that political backing brought down our nation, but that is a different story), big tobacco, and big alcohol.
Scotts Miracle-Gro has already voiced their interest in medical marijuana, and is considering purchasing many small businesses that already sell medical marijuana growing products. The CEO Jim Hagedorn told the Wall Street Journal that he wants to purchase companies that sell soil that medical marijuana grower’s favor and make it more accessible in stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s around the nation. (Source)
Medical marijuana businesses are getting more organized creating coalitions like the Coalition to Reschedule Cannabis are constantly submitting petitions to local, state, and federal government systems. Money tends to be the driving force in our political system and as more people begin to cash in on this crop I am very sure greed will drive political action.
Last but not least, more studies are being released on marijuana’s efficacy as a drug. The DEA has even given 55 licenses to Big Pharma companies to grow cannabis for research, and three bills have been introduced in the senate that would protect medical marijuana businesses and reschedule cannabis.
We are about to hit a couple huge milestones in medical marijuana legislation, and more businesses will push for legalization on a federal level as more money flows into the legitimate side of medical marijuana. There will be a big win soon for patients who suffer because of the ridiculously draconian laws.
Hang in there and keep fighting,
The Weed Street Journal
