Marijuana Monster Money: California Makes More from Cannabis Than the Next 5 Largest Crops Combined

[yuiyoshida]

California's agricultural bounty is fabled, from the endless olive and almond groves of the Central Valley to the world-class grapes of the Napa Valley to the winter vegetables of the Imperial Valley to the garlic fields of Gilroy, and beyond. But the biggest item in California's agricultural cornucopia is cannabis.

According to report last week from the Orange County Register, California's marijuana crop is not only the most valuable agricultural product in the nation's number one agricultural producer state, it totally blows away the competition.

Using cash farm receipt data from the state Department of Food and Agriculture for ag crops and its own estimate of in-state pot production (see discussion below), the Register pegs the value of California's marijuana crop at more than the top five leading agricultural commodities combined.

Here's how it breaks down, in billions of dollars:

Marijuana—$23.3
Milk—$6.28
Almonds—$5.33
Grapes—$4.95
Cattle, calves—$3.39
Lettuce—$2.25

That estimate of $23.3 billion for the pot crop is humongous, and it's nearly three times what the industry investors the Arcview Group estimated the size of the state's legal market would be in the near post-legalization era. So, how did the Register come up with it, and what could explain it?

more...http://www.alternet.org/drugs/california-six-largest-cash-crops-marijuana-monster#.WG0zG7yXxNo.twitter

[WhiteTara]

1. I have a friend who tells me that

they can't give pot away there is so much of it. He used to make $6400 a pound and now it can be had for $400 and it still costs $250 to clean and trim. The profit margin is gone for many growers.

[yuiyoshida]

2. I wish I knew where to buy it...

They say stores won't be up and running for six months, if that!

[WhiteTara]

4. Take a drive to Mendocino county

You may be able to hear about where to buy at the local brew pub on State Street (I've forgotten its name.) I hear also that Lake County and Stanislaus county are awash as well. Good luck.

[pscot]

5. Prices in Washington are very high

They've at least doubled since the medical dispensaries were closed. The stuff is over regulated. When the state was forced out of the liquor business by referendum, i think they just transferred that bureaucracy to pot management. There's a broad niche there for black marketeers

[Truth321]

3. Yep. Heard profits are razor thin now.