Is There A Pot Of Gold At The End Of The Marijuana Rainbow?
b"With Jeffrey M. Zucker, Entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Green Lion Partners
With regulated cannabis now legal in 24 states and in the District of Columbia, the industry is moving out of the shadows and into the above-ground economy. Jeffrey M. Zucker, along with his involvement in various entrepreneurial ventures, is the co-founder of the leading cannabis industry firm Green Lion Partners.
This fairly rapid level of acceptance of cannabis can be attributed to several factors including the value it has brought to the economy and to the medical world. This acceptance, in turn, has spawned a host of new companies, such as growers, sellers, and cultivators who are facing the challenges of working with a product that\\u2019s still against Federal law. Probably the largest hurdle for those who actually touch the plant itself concerns banking. What do you do with all that cash?
There\\u2019s a solution for most problems and, in this case, software firms such as Flowhub, compliance companies such as Metric, and security services which transport money to safe locations are stepping in to circumvent some of the obstacles.
Jeffrey and his colleagues and partners in the business of cannabis are presenting the argument that a safe and regulated system would work to the benefit of all concerned.\\xa0 At this point, marijuana is still a Class One drug, along with heroin, LSD, and cocaine, drugs with highly addictive and abusive potential. Marijuana doesn\\u2019t fit into that category and, in addition, has an incredible number of medical uses. A movement is presently underway to either have cannabis classified as a Class 2 drug or\\u2014 which is the hope for the future\\u2014to have it declassified altogether.
A Facebook site called Mass Roots is stepping in where traditional methods of running a business normally would function. Mass Roots began as simply a social network for cannabis users and aficionados but has now grown into a platform for cannabis-related businesses to advertise directly. Although not yet on the NASDAQ, Mass Roots is listed on the Bulletin Board with a stock price of about 80 cents.
With more and more states legalizing marijuana, the full potential of the cannabis industry will grow along with the general acceptance on a national level.\\xa0 In the meantime, Jeffrey Zucker deals with the complexities of navigating the restrictions and prohibitions of a successful industry hopping and skipping its way to the mainstream of the business world.
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Steve Pomeranz: I don't partake in the use of cannabis, but I am interested in how its wider acceptance and emerging legality is moving out of the shadows and into the above-ground economy.\\xa0 I've conducted a few interviews on this subject already, but a newer wrinkle has come to my attention and I want to discuss it right now.\\xa0 My guest is Jeffrey M.\\xa0 Zucker, he co-founded the leading cannabis industry firm Green Lion Partners and runs a portfolio of Angel Investments, as well.\\xa0 Hey, Jeffrey, welcome to the show.
Jeffrey Zucker: Thanks for having me.\\xa0 Glad to be here.
Steve Pomeranz: Let's begin broadly and hone into the main subject today.\\xa0 I think cannabis is now legal in 24 states, plus DC?\\xa0 If so, what's the pace of adoption by new states at this juncture?
Jeffrey Zucker: That's a great question.\\xa0 We're really excited for this year, 2016.\\xa0 Cannabis legislation could be on up to 7 or 8 ballots at this point.\\xa0 It's been pretty fast-moving, for the most part.\\xa0 In the acceptance, in terms of the industry, it\\u2019s really gaining traction, I'd say throughout the United States, as people see the kind of help that it can bring to both people's health as well as the economy.
Steve Pomeranz: I'm sure there's a whole bunch of industries that have s..."