One thing I really like about the medical marijuana industry is the general feel of networking events and celebratory gatherings. No, people are not lighting up joints left and right (a myth I’ll touch on eventually as part of this series of posts). I simply find the overall vibe of these events very agreeable. I […]
Read MoreDispensary/Retail Store Business News
Chris Walsh: Dispensary Owners Are All Potheads! Myths About MMJ
We’ve had this blog up and running for about a month now, and during that time I’ve had the opportunity to talk to several dozen dispensary owners, lobbyists, vendors, investors, lawyers and other key players in the industry about the current landscape. These individuals have given me some solid insight into this crazy sector, where […]
Read MorePot Proponent’s Remarks About New Colorado Medical Marijuana Laws Perplexing
Last week, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a bill that will introduce another round of sweeping changes to the state’s medical marijuana industry, according to this Associated Press story in the Denver Post. There was little fanfare surrounding the signing. And rightfully so: It was more of a procedural step, as the industry has been […]
Read MoreChris Walsh: Take a Deep Breath – Clarification on Medical Marijuana Laws Coming Soon
What was that loud sucking sound you just heard? The collective inhale (of air and, in many cases, smoke) of the medical marijuana industry after U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder vowed yesterday to clarify the federal government’s stance on pot laws passed by individual states. The exhale has yet to come, as everyone – from […]
Read MoreWhat Does Shift in Amsterdam Weed Laws Mean For Medical Marijuana Efforts in U.S.?
Many medical marijuana entrepreneurs look to Amsterdam with a tinge of jealousy. Ok, that’s a gross understatement: They are extremely jealous. The European city is the global mecca of marijuana, home to some of the most relaxed pot policies in the world. This is the city, after all, where the average Joe can walk into […]
Read MoreArizona’s Medical Marijuana Industry Trapped in Limbo, Thanks to Governor
This was supposed to be a big week for Arizona’s fledgling medical marijuana industry. The permit process for new dispensaries was officially set to begin this Wednesday – setting the gears in motion and paving the way for medical pot centers to open up in the state. Notice how I’ve been using the past tense? […]
Read MoreMedical Marijuana Statistics Highlight Opportunities for Dispensaries, Weed Businesses
Earlier this year, the financial analysis company See Change Strategy made waves when it released the first comprehensive report on the medical marijuana industry, complete with market size and growth estimates. For most industries, this type of data is readily available from multiple sources. But that certainly isn’t the case for the medical marijuana sector, […]
Read MoreProposals Would Help Legitimize Medical Pot, Ease Financial Pressures on Marijuana Dispensaries
You’ve got to be happy to see this development: Federal lawmakers submitted a proposal in Congress this week to “allow medical marijuana dispensaries to take the full range of business expense deductions on their federal tax returns, just like other legal businesses are permitted to do under the law,” according to an article in the […]
Read MoreChris Walsh: How Will Dispensary Owners Fare if Weed is Legalized?
The drumbeat tied to the legalization of marijuana in Colorado is growing in intensity and will only get louder as we head into 2012. At the forefront of these efforts is Sensible Colorado, an organization hoping to get an initiative on the ballot next year asking voters to make the use and possession of pot […]
Read MoreLots of Interest Among Colorado Investors in Pot Dispensaries, Marijuana Businesses
A group of investors interested in the medical marijuana industry gathered in Denver yesterday for a meeting spearheaded by CDS Management Services, Vicente Consulting, Centennial Seeds and CSSB Private Bank. The turnout was strong, with several dozen people on hand in a conference room at the swanky Oxford Hotel. The level of participation in the […]
Read MoreChris Walsh: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Largely Absent From Pot-Focused Kush Expo
I attended the Mile High Kush Expo over the weekend, and I was quite surprised by the makeup of the exhibitor pool. I was expecting a solid mix of vendors/suppliers and dispensaries, but there was a noticeable lack of participation by the latter group. Most of the booths were occupied by lawyers, insurance agents, doctors […]
Read MoreColorado Dispensaries, Vendors Active in Medical Marijuana Meeting Scene
It’s been a busy week on the meetings and networking front. I’m quickly learning that there’s no shortage of opportunities to meet others in this industry here in Denver, which many regard as the capital of the nation’s medical marijuana scene. You’d certainly get that impression with the lineup of events this week. As we […]
Read More