As you're probably aware, cannabis has rapidly evolved into a big-money industry. According to the duo of Arcview market Research and BDS Analytics, worldwide sales expanded to $10.9 billion in 2018, which was more than triple what was recorded globally just four years earlier ($3.4 billion). And the reality is, this is just the tip of the iceberg.
Yet when it comes to burgeoning marijuana markets, there's one that clearly stands at the head of the pack: the United States.
Even though the U.S. federal government has remained steadfast on its stance that cannabis is a Schedule I substance -- i.e., it's wholly illegal, considered prone to abuse, and lacking in recognized medical benefits -- it's been willing to take a hands-off approach to marijuana regulation at the state level. As a result, 33 states have legalized medical marijuana in some capacity, with 11 of these states also legalizing adult-use consumption.