Food Evolution: Edible Marijuana

Commonly known as "edibles," and medical marijuana foods as "medibles," marijuana-laced foods is becoming big business in legal states.

The marijuana brownie, is a very traditional method of dosing. The plant can also be baked into cookies and occasional users will pair the drug with mashed dates into a candy like substance. Eating marijuana slows the effects of the drug, but can also increase the strength of the effects. Controlling dosage amounts sometimes takes a learning curve, especially if the user has been more familiar with the smoking method.

However, potency in marijuana food products varies. The potency of commercial products are up for debate. The results of a Denver Post investigation into the potency of the claimed amount of THC in commercial products showed that many of the products had inconsistent amounts of THC. Some were over the stated amount, while others fell short of their claimed amount, some by as much as two-thirds.

Legal Marijuana Market

Legal marijuana business is among the fastest-growing markets in the United States, in California alone cannabis industries is about $ 1.3 billion, while on Washington and Colorado the estimated purchased of marijuana products is about $370 million. Sixty four percent of the total demand of cannabis product in Colorado State is purchased by the client through retail medical and adult-use markets. The effects of full legalization of marijuana-pot products in Oregon and Alaska will add a combined $275 million in retail sales in just a full year of operation; on the other hand Arizona State is fastest growing major cannabis market expanding from $35 million in 2013 to $155 million in 2014.

Over the next five years, the marijuana industry is expected to continue to grow. Investment in marijuana related business is expected to be skyrocketed in 2015. Firms, entrepreneurs and private investors want to capitalize on this fast and volatile market. Based on the study of The ArcView Group, a cannabis industry investment and research firm based in Oakland, California, found that the U.S. market for legal cannabis grew 74 percent in 2014 to $2.7 billion, up from $1.5 billion in 2013, also include in the report are the projected year for legal marijuana in 2015 and projects 32 percent growth in the market. Public opinions about the use of marijuana substance has gain positive effect in the Americans, and half of the population think pot should be legal for both medical and recreational purposes.

The Federal government however is very reluctant to pass the full legalization of marijuana products especially the use of recreational marijuana. They still classify cannabis as a Controlled Substance Act as a no medical value and can create serious mental health issues- despite reports by Drug Policy Alliance that cannabis is less harmful than alcohol and tobacco. Donations to the political efforts to legalize cannabis have remained constant despite the vastly expanded opportunities for passing legalization in more states making lack of political funding one of the top risks facing the future of the cannabis industry.