The pot business is booming around the country. In Colorado, their new “green market” has created between 7,500 and 10,000 new jobs. Retail sales of the drug, have raised nearly $19 million for the state’s coffers. If it were legalized everywhere in America, the tax revenue from its sales could be as high as $3 billion. The full market value for marijuana that is legally sold will be about $10 billion.

With all this going on, you might be thinking about opening a dispensary. You don’t have to be in a state where it is fully legal like Colorado and Washington state but there are 23 states and the District of Columbia that allow it to be used for medicinal purposes. If you live in a state that allows its sale, you may want to consider looking at cannabis consultants. A whole new cottage industry of American cannabis consulting has sprung up to help would be business owners navigate the rough waters to open a successful shop.

Why does anyone need cannabis consultants?

The rules vary from state to state on what the regulations are, what permits you need and where you can set up your new business. You will need a cannabis license. In medical marijuna states, you will need a business license for selling medical marijuana. Some states do not allow it’s sale anywhere too close to a school, for instance. This person can help you get all of that paperwork sorted out. There are also sometimes issues with when things are filed and you will want that help.

This person can also help craft a cannabis cultivation business plan. This will have a lot of the elements of a traditional business plan but with the added features of a marijuana business. Security and your banking are two things you need to really think about. In Colorado, all the places that sell marijuana are not allowed to use a bank for it (because it is still illegal on the federal level) so all of their business is done in cash, which the state won’t accept for the fees they are required to pay. You need to think about how you are going to deal with that. You also have security issues both for your product and all that cash. Other aspects of the plan like your marketing plan how you want finance your endeavor.

So, your paperwork is either in order or on its way. Now you need to fins a place to locate your business. Who is your clientele going to be? Is this a medical marijuana dispensary where you don’t need a store front? Are you opening an edibles store in Denver? Those factors will influence what you get. Some states have specifications for the medical marijuana facility design. You need cannabis consultants to make sure you get all of this right.

Despite the issues and the hurdles and all of the like that come with starting a marijuana business, people are clearly making money all over the country. If you do your homework and get with some decent cannabis consultants, you should be able to make a real go of it.