Colorado's Explosion

Colorado introduced it's medical marijuana program in 2001, conflicting laws with our federal government kept the size relatively small. During President Obama's campaign he pledged to end DEA medical marijuana raids. Attorney General Eric Holder reaffirmed this new US policy during a press conference. Only people violating both state and federal law would be prosecuted.

Christina Davidson, a writer for the Atlantic, is road tripping across the country. A cannabis dispensary caught her attention at a recent stop in Nederland, CO. It didn't take her long to conclude that the medical marijuana industry was keeping the local economy afloat. Business has been booming since the fears of federal raids has dwindled.

At the beginning of this year, only 2000 people had applied for Colorado's Medical Marijuana Registry since the system was established on 2001. In the past six months, the registry has grown to nearly 10,000. The registry card is actually optional under Colorado law--a doctor's note is sufficient--so it's difficult to determine the precise number of medicinal users. About thirty dispensaries currently operate to provide verified patients with locally-grown kind bud, up from just a handful in previous years. And the number of dispensaries is expected to double to 60 by the end of 2009.

Davidson's next stop in Colorado was to "Meet the Marijuana Snack Kings of the Future", a new startup named Ganja Goods. Shaz Swartz, a 43 year old ex marine, and his partner Garrett Miller hope to perfect the science of cooking with cannabis. Aspiring to standardize dosages in edibles, ensuring the customer knows exactly what to expect before eating their baked goods.