Pardon the cliche, but the marijuana industry is budding before our eyes. Even though cannabis sales have existed behind the scenes for decades, we're beginning to see the impact of how big a legalized marijuana industry could be. Last year, legal global sales sprouted to $10.9 billion, which more than tripled worldwide legal weed revenue from 2014. Looking ahead, sales could quadruple by the time 2024 rolls around.

Although the entire world is an opportunity for the cannabis industry, it's the United States that happens to be the crown jewel. Despite estimates varying wildly on Wall Street, one constant is that the U.S. will run circles around other countries when it comes to total sales.

To date, 33 U.S. states have given the green light for physicians to prescribe medical marijuana to patients for select ailments. Additionally, 11 states have given the all-clear for recreational consumption, with eight states – Washington, Colorado, Oregon, California, Nevada, Massachusetts, Maine, and Alaska -- currently selling adult-use marijuana in licensed retail dispensaries.

What happened with the other three recreationally legal states, you ask? Well, as you're about to read, sales should begin fairly soon.

Illinois: Sales to commence on Jan. 1, 2020

In late June, Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, put pen to paper and officially signed HB 1438 into law, legalizing recreational weed in the Land of Lincoln, and expunging the criminal records of nearly 800,000 residents with nonviolent crimes who had previously possessed or purchased cannabis. The bill sets up a timeline to commence marijuana sales as of Jan. 1, 2020.

Among U.S. states, Illinois has a chance to be one of the major players in the marijuana industry. When the duo of Arcview Market Research and BDS Analytics released their newest report, "State of the Legal Cannabis Markets," they pegged Illinois for $1.14 billion in annual pot sales by 2024. That should be good enough for 10th-highest among the 50 states.

Illinois represents an intriguing market for a number of U.S. multistate operators, including Cresco Labs (OTC:CRLBF), which aims to have a presence in 11 states. Through organic expansion and acquisitions, Cresco has five retail locations near highly populated Illinois cities and suburbs, and is likely going to be one of the state's top-three cannabis players by market share. According to a June press release from the company, Cresco will also be allowed to open up to five additional dispensaries come January 2020, doubling its presence to the state-maximum of 10 retail locations. 

This upcoming sales launch in Illinois nicely complements Cresco's push into the California market via its pending acquisition of cannabis distribution company Origin House.

Michigan: Sales should start in the first quarter of 2020

Unlike most states, which have set relatively concrete dates when adult-use marijuana sales would begin, Michigan's official launch date has been met with a lot of question marks and shoulder shrugging as the state outlines its game plan. Residents voted to legalize recreational marijuana in Nov. 2018.

What we do know is that licensed medical marijuana dispensaries are initially the only businesses that'll be able to obtain a recreational retail license. Since these stores have already been vetted by Michigan's regulatory agencies, this should speed up the licensing approval process.

Unfortunately, recreationally licensed stores will still to wait for growers to obtain state licenses for adult-use production. Yes, the state differentiates crops between medical and recreational, and will therefore require growers to obtain separate licenses depending on where their cannabis will wind up (cue the eye roll). This puts the first crop of recreational cannabis in licensed dispensaries sometimes in the first quarter of 2020 (most likely), with sales commencing no later than late March 2020. 

Michigan's legalization should be viewed as a nice boost for MedMen Enterprises (OTC:MMNFF), which is in the process of establishing a significant presence in California and Florida. MedMen's pending all-stock acquisition of PharmaCann will give the burgeoning upscale retailer access to six new states, including the Wolverine State. Arcview and BDS Analytics has forecast $1.48 billion in legal weed sales for Michigan by 2024, making it the fifth-most valuable state in the country for marijuana spending.

As a side note, it's also worth mentioning that MedMen expects to open up to 10 retail locations in Illinois, too. 

Vermont: Retail sales may begin by July 2021

The wait will also be over for Vermonters in due time, although they'll be waiting a bit longer than folks in Illinois and Michigan.

In January 2018, Vermont became the first state to use the legislative process to legalize recreational marijuana. This is a fancy way of saying that the state's lawmakers voted in favor of legalizing adult-use marijuana, rather than putting the measure to vote on a statewide ballot. Though this history-making moment did legalize adult weed consumption, it did not authorize the sale of recreational pot.

Vermont's lawmakers have been discussing and formulating a plan on a recreational sales timeline for more than a year. One of the most recent bill iterations called for cultivation license to be issued in Feb. 2021, with laboratory testing and wholesaler shipments commencing in April and May 2021, respectively. By sometime in mid-July 2021, retail sales could begin.

The issue has been the difficulty in reaching a consensus on the excise tax rate to be charged, and in assuaging Gov. Phil Scott's (R-Vt.) concerns about impaired driving. Scott has said he wouldn't sign any retail legislation that didn't include specific guidelines on saliva testing for cannabis impairment. Assuming some sort of consensus can be reached, Vermonters should be less than two years away from adult-use sales beginning. 

Though Vermont is a relative small fry compared to the likes of Michigan and Illinois, legal retail sales will be a positive for Curaleaf Holdings (OTC:CURLF). That's because Curaleaf is in the process of acquiring privately held multistate dispensary operator Grassroots for $875 million in a cash-and-stock deal. Grassroots will provide Curaleaf with access to seven new states, including Vermont.

It's possible new states could launch recreational pot sales before Vermont, but for the time being, these are the three states that are "on-deck" to commence recreational sales next. 

From the first sneeze to the first snow, many around the nation experience the trials and tribulations of seasonal allergies. The thought of treating allergies to weed with weed can make some pause, but the science is sound.

According to Americans for Safe Access, decades of research led to a breakthrough in treating skin allergies when a team from the University of Bonn in Germany studied THC’s effect on inflammation. Already genetically engineered to not react to cannabinoids generated in their brain, the team used mice and found that the animals’ ears became red and swollen.

The scientists realized what this meant – that cannabinoids act like a brake, preventing the immune system from running out of control and triggering inflammation.

Using ointment with THC, researchers carefully applied lotion to the ears of the mice and found that the medicine had some remarkable effects. With less swelling and irritation, the THC seemed to alleviate some symptoms of skin irritation and allergies.

The National Eczema Association also believes that marijuana or cannabis holds promise in treating skin conditions. They state, “Cannabinoids, however, have a powerful anti-itch effect. There are receptors in the skin that interact with cannabinoids that could reduce the symptoms and appearance of AD. These effects happen through a constellation of interactions between phytocannabinoids and our endogenous cannabinoid system.” Simply put, natural chemicals secreted by marijuana or cannabis trigger a response from our own bodies.

So, how does it work? Humans have cannabinoid receptors. And when activated, much like the body sends white blood cells to infection, these receptors can ignite to help fight an allergic reaction.

With so much known already about the potential benefits for marijuana on the skin, it’s no wonder studies are just beginning to scratch the surface for individuals who are looking for healthier alternatives to regular medications. In fact, an Eos Scientific recently unveiled research that showed in a study of 2000 UK adults:​

Here are three things to know about marijuana and allergies:

CBD and cannabis may help block histamines

Released in your body’s system, histamine can cause major issues. From itchy eyes to a scratchy throat, histamine is your body’s reaction from antibodies appearing. CBD and cannabis products help reduce antibodies by blocking histamine, triggering less allergic reactions in the body’s system.

Antihistamine treatments are just the beginning

With new studies underway, researchers are just starting to connect the dots to the power of decreasing histamine in the body and the effect on lower histamine on multiple diseases and conditions. From Multiple Sclerosis to eye allergies, to brain cancer treatment, and even the risk of dementia,  scientists are looking at the powerful benefits and risks of histamine on the body.

Cannabis is a heckuva anti-inflammatory

From eczema to joint pain, cannabis has been proven time and time again to help alleviate troublesome symptoms. Even better, researchers unlocked why cannabis is so effective at helping inflammation. With research showing that the genetic makeup of cannabis offers nearly 30 times the power of aspirin to inhibit inflammation, research from over three decades ago lit a spark in scientists overseas to better understand the genetic makeup of cannabis cells- beyond the reach of the US Federal Government. Building a research superhighway, using molecules from bacteria and plants, Tarig Ahktar recently demonstrated the ability to circumvent the restrictions in place in studying cannabis, and find equal compounds elsewhere in the bodies of animals, plants and more.

Arthritis often causes a dramatic lifestyle change that’s accompanied by depression and/or anxiety. But that doesn’t have to be the case. 

One-and-a-half million people in the United States suffer from rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In fact, The Arthritis Foundation estimates that three times as many women as men have the disease and it affects individuals of all ages, but primarily women ages 30 to 60. 

Commonly affecting the hands and feet of the body, RA is considered an autoimmune disease, where the body attacks joints, leading to inflammation and pain as well as a loss of motion. With a diagnosis comes a rapidly-changing lifestyle, often causing activities and hobbies that were once loved and now off-limits. Through stories on the National Rheumatoid Arthritis Society website, many individuals have shared that arthritis has caused a dramatic lifestyle change that’s often accompanied by depression and anxiety. But that doesn’t have to be the case. 

Changing perceptions around cannabis with arthritis 

With patients young and old experiencing the debilitating effects of rheumatoid arthritis, individuals like Pearl Schomburg are advocating for doctors to mention the effects of cannabis in office. Pearl explained to Newshub, “Cannabis balm was the first thing I discovered and was shocked by how well it worked.” The Arthritis Foundation recently shared information about CBD and marijuana on their website to educate patients around its use. Recognizing the potential to treat both inflammation and pain, they advise to always discuss CBD and cannabis with your care team and make sure to contact the manufacturer to see proof of a third-party analysis for purity.

Promising new studies on CBD and cannabis in treating RA

In a 2018 study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine, researchers found that terpenoids, which exist in cannabis, offer anti-inflammatory properties, but didn’t offer as much relief as purified CBD. Often used in chronic inflammation and for pain, purified CBD offered better relief in the study over other mixtures, including CBD.

Psoriasis, a condition where cells build on top of the skin and cause pain and redness, is often coupled with RA and offers treatment that can be very expensive. John S. from Minneapolis explained that his medicine came in the form of a shot billed to insurance at $60,000 each year creating a debilitating pattern of relying on pharmaceutical medicine that is often inaccessible. Would he explore CBD and cannabis? He explained, “It’s been on my mind; a year ago, I wouldn’t have even thought about integrating CBD, now I’m looking at reviews online.” In fact, MedicalNewsToday cited 2016 research that suggested that cannabinoids offered benefits to individuals with psoriasis.

New uses on the horizon

With the market ever-changing, not only are tinctures available, but patches as well. In 2016, a study found that placing CBD on the body in a topical fashion offered some relief for pain and inflammation over other methods. CBD comes in many forms, including: 

• Topicals: Creams, patches, balms and lotions applied directly to the skin
• Edibles: Food and drink-related CBD and THC-infused items that are consumed by mouth
• Vapes: Oil that is heated and inhaled into the lungs
• Tinctures: Drops taken by mouth with or without flavor 
• Dissolvables: Fairly new to the market, bath bombs are infused with CBD to help with relaxation and healing

As the cost of medicine continues to rise, CBD and cannabis offer a more affordable solution to many experiencing the effects of RA, inflammation and psoriasis.

House of Cannabis, a new pot shop in Twisp, WA, is seeing a steady increase (about 52%) of customers coming in aged 50 and older. Mainly focused on pain relief, House of Cannabis has been both startled and empowered by the number of older adults coming in for the first time.  “Arthritis is probably the most common issue people are dealing with in their hands, back and legs,” shared Cindy Knutson, the retailer’s general manager and state-certified medical cannabis consultant. “We’re seeing a shift in mindsets and the market,” Knutson continued, notating that adults who typically wouldn’t have spoken about cannabis or CBD are now sharing with their friends.

You definitely learned a thing or two about these notable figures during your classroom studies, but we bet your teacher didn’t mention that they all smoked weed. We’re here to school you.

People love smoking weed. They always have, and they always will. So, it should come as no surprise that some of our favorite historical figures we learned about in school dabbled in the recreational (and medicinal!) cannabis scene.

While these historical celebrities probably didn’t quite use the Tsunami 1000X Vaporizer Pen, they certainly got the job done somehow. Here are some of the most notable examples, from George Washington to Joan of Arc.

George Washington

After founding our nation, Washington retired to a farm in Mount Vernon. There, he mostly grew hemp. Entries in Washington’s diary strongly suggest he had an affinity for the medical use of marijuana. 

Shakespeare

At Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-Upon-Avon, researchers found clay pipes with cannabis residue. When you combine that with the mention of a ‘noted weed’ in one of his sonnets, it’s not hard to imagine Shakespeare enjoying a hand-rolled while doing his writing. Our take? Imagine Hamlet if Shakespeare had an Arcatek Button Cube at his disposal, instead of some old clay pipes. 

Alexandre Dumas

Although known primarily for The Three Musketeers andThe Count of Monte Cristo, Dumas was also a hash enthusiast. In fact, he even helped found an organization called the Club des Hashishchins. In English? The Club of Hash-Eaters.

Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc was burned at the stake for heresy, having claimed to receive visions and messages from the Archangel Michael. Although there’s no written record of Joan of Arc consuming cannabis, she came from a village that was well-known for its medicinal herbs,  including cannabis.

Pharaohs of Egypt

Egyptian civilization lasted nearly 3000 years, during which time a great number of pharaohs ruled the land around the Nile. When researchers examined the mummy of Ramesses II, cannabis pollen was found in abundance. In addition, medical records from the Egyptians also describe numerous uses for cannabis.

JFK

This one isn’t exactly a secret. Predating the drug war, JFK was said to use marijuana to cope with back pain. In fact, one account from John F. Kennedy: A Biography tells of JFK enjoying three joints with a woman named Mary Meyer. Perhaps it’s for the best that JFK existed before he could get his hands on a Tsunami Microscope Waterpipe.

Carl Sagan

At age 35, astronomer Carl Sagan wrote an essay under a pen name advocating for the legalization of marijuana. In fact, his wife even served on the board of directors at NORML.

Christopher Columbus

When Columbus set sail for the New World, it’s said that he made sure to bring plenty of cannabis seeds. If his crew were to get shipwrecked or marooned, at least they could plant some crops.

Hua Tuo

You may not have heard of him, but Hua Tuo is known for having invented the world’s first anesthetic. The recipe? Powdered cannabis mixed with wine. While it’s not great by modern medicine’s standards, it does sound like a good time.

Queen Victoria

Despite being a symbol of everything prim and proper, Queen Victoria was certainly given cannabis for its medicinal purposes. In fact, her private doctor even went on record as saying: “When pure and administered carefully, [cannabis] is one of the most valuable medicines we possess.”