Is the “Gold Rush” of marijuana usage upon us? According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, marijuana is currently the most commonly used illicit drug in the United States. Marijuana is classified as either cannabis sativa or cannabis indica. Cannabis contains a mind altering chemical called THC. Marijuana was first legalized for medical use in 1996 by the state of California. Then in 2012 Colorado and Washington were the first states to legalize the recreational use of marijuana. California voters agreed with Prop 64, and starting January 1, 2018 recreational use of marijuana will be legal in the state of California. Despite what some residents think this could be just what the city of Desert Hot Springs needs after …show more content…
To better understand, it’s important to look at the model Colorado has set being the first state to legalize recreational marijuana use. CNBC’s very own Trey Gillies interviews Colorado governor John Hickenlooper regarding economic impact of marijuana. Hickenlooper said, “More than anything we wanted Colorado to think of itself as a place, not just for outdoor recreation, but a place to go and start a business.” With that mindset and openness towards marijuana related businesses it is clear to see why Colorado has the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 2.3 percent. Demonstrating how the legalization of marijuana can create more jobs. Now for Desert Hot Springs itself, we go to Canndescent CEO Adrian Sedlin. “Canndescent will bring $3 million in wages to the area.” Canndescent being the first big cultivation site to open in Desert Hot Springs. With this new business comes the need for key occupations such as: growers, weed trimmers, sales associates, stockers, and extraction technician just to name a few. There will be job opportunities for virtually everyone due to the fact that not all of these jobs require any specialized training or education. These are not just jobs; there are careers that could be launched which will keep people employed for an extended period of time with the promise of