The Business of Cannabis

This chapter provides an overview of the business of cannabis. The business landscape for cannabis is unlike that of any other industry due to the unique nature of the cannabis plant, its complex history and current legal status, and the wide range of regulations in jurisdictions where cannabis has recently been legalized. The chapter first provides an overview of the specific U.S. states and countries where legal cannabis businesses exist. The chapter then describes the various types of cannabis businesses. These include “plant-touching” businesses that directly handle the cannabis plant and “ancillary” or supporting businesses that play a role in the industry but do not directly handle cannabis. Next, the chapter describes the various channels and locations through which eligible individuals can purchase cannabis and the unique characteristics and available products for each. Finally, thoughts on the future outlook for the cannabis industry are provided.