Inside America's Billion-Dollar Weed Business: The Grass is Greener

In a city with dispensaries as common as coffee shops, Denver is undoubtedly the epicenter of the legal marijuana movement. And if you’re in the business of bud, it’s a good place to be: Colorado accounted for a third of the country’s 2.7 billion dollar marijuana market last year.

But with being America’s fastest growing industry, comes growing pains. Marijuana is still illegal on the federal level, which has led to conflicting state laws, restrictive regulations, and endless problems for cash-only marijuana business owners and operators.

VICE News meets the investors cashing in on the green rush and finds out how fractured marijuana laws are causing the American market to miss out.

Watch “Amsterdam’s War on Weed” – http://bit.ly/1dekkrJ

Medical Marijuana Patients Are Getting Fired — And There’s Not Much They Can Do About It – http://bit.ly/1JgWUk1

Medical Marijuana Laws Don’t Cause Teens to Start Smoking Pot, Study Finds – http://bit.ly/1e1XJ2l

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50 Comments

  1. Josh Greenburgstien on April 15, 2019 at 9:28 pm

    the guy who is a ceo of a company in colorado says dont open a business in colorada.



  2. Kiemark Camacho on April 15, 2019 at 9:29 pm

    The weed legalized it everywhere except Philippines 🙁



  3. SAHYAS SPICES Spices on April 15, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    Good



  4. atafits on April 15, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    how about housing discrimination due to cannabis use, this should be on the forefront!



  5. whatit isn't on April 15, 2019 at 9:30 pm

    Government sucks



  6. Lesvinx on April 15, 2019 at 9:33 pm

    sorry Im not a highschool dropout



  7. Yu Suzuki on April 15, 2019 at 9:40 pm

    Instead of Blacks moaning about getting jailed for cannabis dealing they should invest in the legitimate cannabis industry. Blacks are always at the bottom



  8. dok nox on April 15, 2019 at 9:40 pm

    Wow. Its like im three years late to the party. Lol



  9. Product Plugs on April 15, 2019 at 9:43 pm

    You can actually get legal hemp online delivered straight to your door at 2chop.shop it’s amazing I love it



  10. Wayne S. on April 15, 2019 at 9:45 pm

    That thumbnail…I know that guy…Smiley!



  11. ron hat on April 15, 2019 at 9:47 pm

    Hopefully ISIS will bomb this place. Using drugs of any sort, and tobacco and alcohol are drugs, are indications of a weak mind. These are all people who cannot tolerate everyday life because they do not know how to make their lives better without drugs. Anyone with such limited mental capabilities is danger to be near. I am an American and I am an atheist. All you druggies have your excuses and are fast to blame the other person. Unfortunately, sane people are forced to pick up your pieces and feed your offspring.



  12. Fergal Oneill on April 15, 2019 at 9:48 pm

    That stuff freaks your mind out



  13. ron hat on April 15, 2019 at 9:50 pm

    Alcohol is the same. Lots of people and companies make and sell alcohol because there is lots of money to be made. And the government likes it because of taxes. I have seen many people killed by this garbage but then those who do it are already weak minded.



  14. erick chavez on April 15, 2019 at 9:51 pm

    who are the investors



  15. Lucas Farias on April 15, 2019 at 9:54 pm

    the government will take all



  16. dok nox on April 15, 2019 at 9:55 pm

    The argument is always that they don’t want to legalize cannabis because the kids will get their hands on it. News flash the kids already get cannabis easier than adults can. When I was in highschool practically everyone smoked and about a third of kids sold shit. If we regulate it properly it will reverse. Kids still get alcohol but its harder to get than weed. Why? Because its regulated. For some reason people are less likely to do a legal drug as opposed to something illegal. I say legalize the shit just to stop people from smoking spice and k2. I’d rather have a thousand potheads than one spice addict around me.



  17. Nature Lover on April 15, 2019 at 9:55 pm

    Marijuana is the only safe & healthy thing to do. Even more than legal prescription pills. The only side effects are happy hungry sleepy(not always in that order tho). It can help with depression, bi polar, insomnia, anxiety & panic attacks, seizures, ptsd, epilepsy, & many types of physical pain, not to mention the positive feedback on recent studies with types of cancer & leukemia too. & technically marijuana is not a drug..drugs are manmade chemicals, marijuana is a plant. But if some really do consider it a drug..alright, but its not a dangerous one, no one has ever died solely from smoking weed & its not a gateway to shit if you’re smart about it. A lot of shit thats legal can be a gateway drug. Alcohol is as bad as crack/cocaine & meth & heroine is, & tobacco/nicotine is bad for health too people die from all that shit in one way or another every day. It really is just a plant yet its still mostly illegal, while shit you CAN die from is still legal..thats fucked up. Personally im not against smoking weed for medical purposes, as long as its not near kids, & the smoker is at least 18 or 21, thats reasonable enough. I hope its legalized soon.



  18. Dominique Ford on April 15, 2019 at 9:56 pm

    this happening while others sick got court etc yeah know where I stand with my court shit families health other real ones etc locally and globally



  19. Emile Emile on April 15, 2019 at 9:56 pm

    2018/09/18 weed fully legal for adult consumption in private.
    South Africa is truly the most diverse country ever 🌬💨💨❤️🇿🇦



  20. Daphnie Hinojosa on April 15, 2019 at 9:56 pm

    Hell yea, oh I love my cannabis 💚



  21. Savaliya Mahesh my mo 7567209892 on April 15, 2019 at 9:57 pm

    Yes u India Gujarat Mahesh Patel import export development agriculture machinery import export development my my WhatsApp number 756 720 9892 all over world government call Big discussion agriculture product



  22. Mark Bland-Kelly on April 15, 2019 at 9:58 pm

    If federal law says its illegal, then people shouldn’t have to pay federal tax on it. Change the law or stopped getting paid



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  24. OforillyDAGOD on April 15, 2019 at 10:01 pm

    At what stage does marijuana becomes medicinal?

    Was is always medicinal? Or do we have miracle workers adding such properties to the already existing plant 😂?



  25. That Guy on April 15, 2019 at 10:01 pm

    Vote Rand Paul he will legalize federally



  26. Alex Bjorn on April 15, 2019 at 10:02 pm

    I am allergic to the Federal Government… Is there a CBD oil for that condition?



  27. Bigwyske 80 on April 15, 2019 at 10:05 pm

    How much for 20…?



  28. Javus Bonmon on April 15, 2019 at 10:06 pm

    🚬🚬🚬😯😎



  29. Luca grasso on April 15, 2019 at 10:08 pm

    The truth is section 280E benefits the government enormously and I don’t see it changing anytime soon. So good job feds u are now the richest mob ever



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  31. Angela Mclean on April 15, 2019 at 10:09 pm

    Hi… Please send more.. we need it.. It helps to relax from everyday stress.. Thank you… Lol



  32. Kurlyon Thomas on April 15, 2019 at 10:09 pm

    it might not be planned out how you think it is but yet still it is done the right way down here sometimes we still run into the problems but in your country we do not create problems like that all we do not have issues like that we move a lot and we get around a lot let me know how you think I say less actions speak louder than 💯 words



  33. Maritza Ramos on April 15, 2019 at 10:09 pm

    Smh i hate white ppl they always makein rules that should b the law their no such thing at law for weed u guys made it up smh



  34. Scot Hodgson on April 15, 2019 at 10:12 pm

    UK grow some good bud but shhhhhhhhhhhhh it’s illegal



  35. cerventes du sanglier Et du cochon on April 15, 2019 at 10:13 pm

    Vas te faire enculer American et tes putes aussi !!! Non business



  36. Edzel Mejia on April 15, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    I really like this video.



  37. Kurlyon Thomas on April 15, 2019 at 10:14 pm

    I can bring a security unit in your direction if you only give me the opportunity



  38. Nixavation on April 15, 2019 at 10:14 pm


  39. rakeem jones on April 15, 2019 at 10:15 pm

    Next up Africa to legalize it



  40. Luca grasso on April 15, 2019 at 10:15 pm

    Lol wow u know after watching this I’m calling it the gov is the biggest mafia on the planet. Section 280E was only put in place cause the convicted coke dealer they’re referring to I believe is Pablo Escobar was smart nd pulled off a move to deduct his business expenses from his cocaine empire. But These are legit businesses that are being treated like drug lords because this ridiculous tax code is being applied to them. GET MARIJUANA OUT OF SCHEDULE 1 this is so crazy. We’ve gotta start makin moves like the Canadians



  41. Fernando 0ND3AD0 on April 15, 2019 at 10:15 pm

    Weed the best sensation ever



  42. Peacze on April 15, 2019 at 10:16 pm

    Hey,
    I found a hemp company that offers fair retail prices and even does wholesale. They are family owned and their packaging is eco conscious. They carry a variety of products from organically grown hemp flowers to tinctures, topicals, chocolates and more.

    http://lddy.no/7jkr



  43. Andrew Glendenning on April 15, 2019 at 10:18 pm

    Medicalpot.shop Domain For Sale



  44. Bruno on April 15, 2019 at 10:18 pm

    That girls neck is really long



  45. Avi Entertainment on April 15, 2019 at 10:20 pm

    Its a plant marijuna this not cociane etc drugs its a plant u duffer its soil for grow plant Legal in India weed is legal for public lord shiva smoke cillium i think alcohol is chimacal made its not natural jai shiva



  46. alejandro jaramillo on April 15, 2019 at 10:21 pm

    I`m from Colombia and I`m searching some investors for a new family cannabis company, or maybe some clients for export our next product, someone know were i can find it?? a web page related with that or anything that could help me I will appreciate that.



  47. Sunny Karia on April 15, 2019 at 10:23 pm

    I don’t get why many countries ban weed(like in mine) weed just make people so friendly and peaceful, why wouldn’t anyone want that?



  48. Jeremy Childress on April 15, 2019 at 10:23 pm

    Typical
    Stupid US law could eventually push business up to Canada
    Big Government sucks



  49. JosephCecilHorne SmithJunior on April 15, 2019 at 10:24 pm

    Yes!‼️💚🙏🏻🎨🏳️‍🌈Beautiful ALL!❗️
    Cleanliness A+!‼️💟
    And Yes Cannabis!❗️💛
    And More!‼️💙Wow!❗️
    And!❗️💜
    MEDICINE MAN !‼️🧡❗️



  50. David McC on April 15, 2019 at 10:26 pm

    I rather grow my own smoke, rather than making these non-smokers richer than they already are.