Federalization of marijuana will be the next evolution of legal marijuana

The federalization of Marijuana will change the landscape of the localized marijuana industry and will be the next evolution of legal marijuana. The federal legalization will bring more basic business tools to marijuana entrepreneurs, such as banking, access to federal loans and grants, interstate commerce, etc. What will be the consequences of Federal legalization? The creation of a legalized marijuana market is an economic force in every state that has embraced the creation of a legalized marijuana market. The industry continues to transform into a legitimate and substantial economic influence, and it brings with it a rise in work for ancillary businesses. When Federal legalization occurs, it is important to communicate to your Federal lawmakers the importance of a legalized scheme that protects the local small marijuana business owners who pioneered the space. Federal legalization means the risk that keeps the big corporations out of the market place disappears. It was the same risk that allowed small business owners to enter the marijuana space and successfully launch their businesses, with capital that they derived from their retirement accounts, home equity loans, and savings for the most part. Banks generally don't loan to marijuana companies, so the companies that exist now are primarily self-funded under the state licensing system. It is a scary concept to reckon with as a small state-licensed marijuana business owner. When federal legalization occurs, the field of competition gets a lot bigger and your competitors' pockets get a whole lot deeper.

I believe that Federal legalization is right around the corner, and that we need to educate lawmakers about the importance of protecting small to midsize locally owned companies. Locally owned companies are critical to a state or locality's economic viability. Marijuana has a positive impact on local businesses, hiring local employees, and investing revenue back into the community, because it has diversified the economy in countless cities, boroughs, and counties. There is a reason for the movement of Shop Local when there is a real tangible economic value to communities when the community has strong locally owned business actors as part of its economic base.

A total federal scheme that absorbs the existing state licensing programs could wipe out State programs and the State could lose control of the existing State-based industry. The mom pop shops, as well as smaller marijuana businesses, would suffer. Federal regulations could be superseded by State regulations and businesses will have to adapt quickly to meet a heightened level of compliance. This total scheme approach would not be ideal. State regulatory schemes are working, they are keeping the public safe while fostering business growth and economic activity. A better approach would be to leave the Federal Government up to the State s to keep it a State s rights issue. The State's restrictions are intact, to the extent they are constitutional. The power to regulate and issue licenses locally will aid in the protection of the State's local business actors. Because let s face it, the Feds have enough on their plates, and honestly, they have never gotten the laws right on marijuana, I don't trust them to get it right this time around either, because I don't trust them to get it right.