There has been a shift in the way that medicinal marijuana is being perceived, evident from the volume of public support during a recent online government petition. President Obama promised a mandatory response to any petition that received more than 5,000 signatures in 30 days and nationwide marijuana legalization was among the fastest ascending of the bunch.
Judging by the booming industry of medicinal marijuana in the sixteen states in which it is legal, this comes as no surprise. Marijuana can be used to treat a range of ailments, perhaps even more diverse than aspirin. The spectrum of people who can benefit from medical marijuana extends beyond those with prescriptions and into the companies and individuals that invest in. Last year alone, sales of medicinal marijuana reached $2 billon, surpassing that of Viagra. Some believe it may be as much as a $45 billion industry.
Recognizing the tremendous unfulfilled fiscal potential in medicinal cannabis, companies have begun to attack. Among the pioneers of the bourgeoning industry is General Cannabis (CANA). In the case of General Cannabis, significant progress has already been made. General Cannabis, unlike many companies that have chosen to dive into the sale of the herb itself has veered safer but no less lucrative route. The company recognized the density of dispensaries and doctors within the market, and sought to revolutionize the manner in which they communicated with their customer base and their customer based communicated with each other. In a world where web 2.0 is the new standard, General Cannabis has risen to the challenge.
A technology based Internet marketing services company, CANA acquired, WeedMaps Media, which runs the popular doctor and dispensary finder site WeedMaps.com. The enterprise announced record monthly revenue of $1.2 million for the month of August, a rise from $1.0 million in July 2011. The company has seen awareness of WeedMaps reach new heights as the site drew in 8.5 million page views in August, up from 6.2 million page views in July 2011.
Taking note of the simultaneous changes occurring within medicinal marijuana and mobile technology’s relationship to businesses, General Cannabis, has been focused on maximizing mobility. CANA has been helping to promote viewership and amplify accessibility through mobile access. Their efforts have been attributed to a 27 percent increase in Android visitor traffic over a single month.
Growth has been fueled both by their innovative approach to medicinal cannabis and their cutting-edge use of technology to simplify the process of procuring it. By capitalizing on the changing environment within media and marijuana, General Cannabis is well positioned to benefit from the future of the industries.
