It looks like most US states will legalize marijuana-for medical use.
I’m wondering how to invest in this-I think it will be a huge market. Plus, compliant doctors may well decide to extend the use of pot to ailments like depression, anxiety, etc.
Which means that whoever is first in the growing, processing, and distribution will make a fortune.
Any ideas of how to invest in this coming bonanza?
Haven’t read it, but perhaps this book will provide some insight: Growgirl: How My Life After The Blair Witch Project Went to Pot by Heather Donahue.
Unlikely. Got a cite? I’m glad I live in CA.
Joe
Contract with the pharmacy or dispensaries of the medical marijuana to advertise your speedy pizza delivery franchise on all their bags and containers.
Scalp Burning Man and Phish tickets.
How likely are doctors to go hog-wild writing prescriptions even if it is legalized? Unless this is something doctors have been pushing to get nation-wide, the demand is going to start pretty small… that said, I’d think the main way to capitalize on it would be to already own a small but failing tobacco farm or processing plant. Getting out of tobacco and into marijuana would turn things around, and you’d already have the infrastructure in place for growing, harvesting or processing leafy burnables.
Even where it is illegal, there are many grow operations run by dedicated, determined individuals. If/when it becomes legal in their locality, they will almost certainly go legit. Growing dope, while it can be extremely lucrative, is not easy and success is definitely not guaranteed. Here is a Cracked article that explains some of the pratfalls involved in the legal weed business. Basically, startup costs for a big operation are high, complying with regulations (getting rid of waste, building grow houses to code, etc) can be challenging and expensive, competition is fierce, growing (good) weed is (really) hard, and you’re still operating in an industry that has been criminal for most of it’s modern existence and still attracts a criminal element. In addition, even in states where it’s legalized it’s still illegal under Federal law, so the hammer could fall from them at any time.
Bankrolling a competent growing operation (investing in startup costs, etc) could make you a lot of money, IF the operation was successful (a big if). It seems the chance of someone taking your money and running could be high. Investing in a dispensary would probably be a safer bet, as would investing in a distribution-level organization (someone who went around to all the growers, bought their product, graded and consolidated it, and sold it to dispensaries at a markup).
I’ve heard the marijuana industry in California being compared to a gold rush, and it’s worth noting that during a gold rush the best way to get rich is by selling shovels. So maybe setting up a grow store to sell lights/insulation/hydroponics equipment to the huge influx of naive first-time growers?
WTF would I [theoretically] want with a grow house? I would prefer greenhousing the little darlings in a barn structure [sound plays when page is opened.]. I would also go with aeroponics to better control the nutrients going in, so I could flush out the chemicals prior to harvest. I could better control the lighting and temperature in a structure better suited to growing in. The lack of need to hide the grow op makes it much easier - not having to worry about thermal detection or the smell lets one move to a more convenient structure. Starting with quality seeds instead of bagseed would also help - you could custom grow to need, indicas for the couchlock aspect, sativas for the mental expansiveness.
Good weed isn’t hard, you just need to be organized and know what to do. People do go to school for agriculture after all.
I agree.
“Complete home grow kit, just add seeds: $299.99. Mention this ad to get a free bong.”
Has anyone else seen this show: http://http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/american-weed/
You don’t have to be the sharpest tool in the shed to grow and sell pot.
Oh, I don’t know. The small town near me (in Colorado) of 275 people has 3 dispensaries.
Only has 2 bars.
When I said grow house, I meant “structure meant for growing weed,” not “actual 3-bedroom house that I convert to growing weed.” Your hypothetical greenhouse is exactly what I meant. You can’t just slap that thing together, when weed is legalized you’ll have to build it to code. You’ll probably be required to have some sort of ventilation system. Maybe the codes will dictate that you need a fire-suppression system. All the air handlers for the ventilation system, the pumps for your hydroponics system (you’re right, no one grows clones in dirt anymore), and especially the grow lights need plenty of electricity, which will require the building be professionally wired, etc.
In addition, your hydroponics/aeroponics system will use lots of inorganic fertilizers, and you’ll surely end up with some fertilizer waste at some point (your system won’t be 100% efficient, no matter how well thought out it is). If you’re running an illegal growing operation you can just dump that shit in a stream. Once you’re legit, you’ll be expected to dispose of it properly, which can be expensive.
The type of setup you describe would not be cheap to design and build. Once up and running it would require diligent care and maintenance. Producing high-quality bud in commercial volumes from such a setup would not be what most people would call “easy.” It would be a full-time job. That’s EXACTLY why people go to school for agriculture - because it’s not something that’s inherently easy, it’s a skill you have to learn. Of course running a high-tech aeroponics greenhouse is far from impossible, to someone with the right training and dedication it would be likely be a rewarding profession. But it would take a lot of hard work.
That’s the main thrust of my argument: many people think “Oh, when it’s legal I’ll just buy a trailer, plant a few clones, sit on my ass until harvest and then make a ton of money.” The reality is that to be competitive you’ll need a purpose-built, high-tech grow facility that is expensive to start and not especially easy to maintain.
I just saw a similar company install a new dairy barn on the farm closest to us. The farmer poured a pad, and had the electrical drop ready. The contractors came, and in 1 week had the steel building up, electrified and plumbed in to the neighbors septic system. I could probably be ready to start up a weed ranch here if I wanted to convert one floor of my barn and put out 3-5 pounds a month with under $10K investment. A aeroponicist who pours the water and fertilizer out is wasting water - you can test the ‘water’ and add nutrients to it to make up the ones removed by the plants. One does not plant 100 plants and wait until they are finished, one plants a cycle of plants so there is always something coming ready to harvest so ones time is not wasted and one has a steady income. [I know a grower in NY state that has a lovely 4 section greenhouse and a small cloning facility. He puts out around 2K a month. Though he didn’t go to school for agriculture, he was a microbiologist who studied cloning and genetic manipulation back in the late 70s. He got into mucking around with weed genetics and sort of wandered into the business on the side and does it now.]
Very likely. It’s legal in WA and anyone can get a recommendation. Most regular doctors won’t do it, but there are a lot of doctors who do nothing but give people marijuana recommendations. If you have $100, you can easily get one. Most of the conditions it’s legal for here are not things that many people have or that can easily be faked, but intractable pain is the one that anyone can claim.
I understand what you’re saying, and I more or less totally agree with you. I know the concept of crop rotation to ensure a steady supply, and basics of hydro/aeroponics (from growing tomatoes in my kitchen) What I’m trying to say is that making a living growing weed commercially in a legal environment isn’t as easy as some people think it is - there’s a common misconception that it’s as easy as popping a few plants into 5 gallon buckets, watering daily, and then harvesting them. Not saying that you believe that, just that a lot of people do. The truth of course, is as you describe it - good indoor grow operations involve significantly more care than that, and require at least a few thousand dollars in start-up costs, more if you’re starting from scratch. It’s probably not harder than you think, but it’s a lot harder than many people think.
I fear the title of “Doper” ain’t gonna be what we’re used to around here anymore.