Economy

Up in smoke: Marijuana markets struggle amid economic hurdles

Industry groups are calling on state lawmakers to make regulatory changes.
Various marijuana buds for sale are displayed at The Green Cross cannabis dispensary in San Francisco, Wednesday, March 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu)

Legal marijuana markets in many states are struggling to excel in an oversaturated, heavily regulated environment, putting entrepreneurs out of business and leading to depressed tax collections

Thanks to slowing consumption growth and plummeting prices, the total value of cannabis sold legally in the United States dropped last year for the first time ever, according to Whitney Economics, a cannabis consulting, data and economic research firm. The dollar amount sold in older markets, such as Colorado, Oregon and Washington, has been falling for years. 

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