2016: A Monumental Year in Legislation
It’s now been a month since the election results made headlines, but as I sit here and write this letter only days have passed since Nov. 8. The United States made history
in 2016, for various reasons, but I want to focus on one — the massive support for the legalization of marijuana.
California, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada voted to legalize recreational marijuana, bringing the grand total to eight states. Plus 29 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. That means the majority of the country in one way or another now has the ability to participate in this growing market. What does this mean for you, the greenhouse grower? It’s no shock that the ornamentals market has seen its ups and downs over the past several years, and growers continue to look to expand into emerging markets, such as vegetables, hops, hydroponic produce, etc. But now, more growers than ever before have the chance to tap into a market that is expected to grow exponentially. Some experts even predict $8 billion in sales next year!
That’s why we at GPN decided to publish the 2017 Guide to Cannabis Production. We know you have questions, and we want to provide the answers. This supplement to our traditional publication is intended to offer greenhouse growers like you the information you need if you are considering a move into cannabis.
On the following pages, you’ll find an infographic map detailing current legislation in all 50 states, guidelines on building a new structure, thoughts on common misconceptions in the market, information on new products and much more.
This is an exciting time for horticulture, and I’m so happy to be able to share this new supplement with you.
Please feel free to contact me with any questions as you dive into the cannabis market, or reach out to share how progress is going!
Jasmina Dolce is managing editor of GPN magazine. She can be reached at jdolce@greatamericanpublish.com.
