AS IT IS 2015-09-30 Cashing In on Cannabis

AS IT IS 2015-09-30 Cashing In on Cannabis

Use of the plant marijuana remains¹ illegal under U.S. federal law, but it has been legalized for medical or personal use in 23 U.S. states and Washington, D.C.

This has attracted investors² and created a boom for many businesses. Last year, almost $3 billion dollars worth of the drug marijuana was legally sold in the United States.

Investors and businesses in the marijuana industry met in Los Angeles last week.

Products used in the cannabis, or marijuana, industry were displayed at the LA Convention Center. The products included fertilizers and hothouse lights. Those lights help grow the plant indoors. Companies were also selling devices that extract oils from the cannabis plant.

Robert Burns works for the company HempMeds. He said his company offers cannabis creams for skin, or drops of the oil that can be placed under the tongue.

“Let it sit there for about 30 seconds and just let it dissolve in your body that way,” he said.

Products like cannabis chocolate, marijuana-flavored wine, and cannabis sweets were also for sale at the trade show.

Business boom 

The increase in marijuana sales is also a major business boom for companies that make packaging. Peter Tadlock is with AmeriVacS, a company that makes vacuum packaging. That packaging keeps the product fresh for a longer time. He said his company gets orders from Washington State, Colorado, Florida, and California.

Training courses were offered for people new to the cannabis industry. Michael Garcia attended one of the courses. He works for a small company that makes and sells vegan foods. He hopes to expand his line of products.

 “I want to start putting marijuana in my food products because of the health aspects,” he said.

Benefits and effects debated

Kyle Turley is a professional American football player. He believes marijuana helps with sports-related injuries. He spoke⁴ at the conference, and hopes to make marijuana use legal in sports.

However, opponents of marijuana use say the long-term effects of the potent⁵ – or strong – marijuana sold today are still unknown.

Some U.S. government officials do not support the spread of marijuana use. They consider it a “gateway drug” to more dangerous drugs.  But for now, they are taking a hands-off approach, and the cannabis industry continues to grow.

Words in This Story

cannabis - n. a drug (such as marijuana or hashish) that comes from the hemp³ plant

extract - v.  to remove (something) by pulling it out or cutting it out

business boom - n. a period of time in which business increases

packaging - n. material used to enclose or contain something

potent - adj. very effective or strong

hands-off - adj. allowing people to do what they want to do without bothering or stopping them

1 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

2 investors   

n.投资者，出资者( investor的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• a con man who bilked investors out of millions of dollars 诈取投资者几百万元的骗子
• a cash bonanza for investors 投资者的赚钱机会

3 hemp   

n.大麻；纤维

参考例句：

• The early Chinese built suspension bridges of hemp rope.古代的中国人建造过麻绳悬索桥。
• The blanket was woven from hemp and embroidered with wool.毯子是由亚麻编织，羊毛镶边的。

4 spoke   

n.（车轮的）辐条；轮辐；破坏某人的计划；阻挠某人的行动 v.讲，谈（speak的过去式）；说；演说；从某种观点来说

参考例句：

• They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
• The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。

5 potent   

adj.强有力的，有权势的；有效力的

参考例句：

• The medicine had a potent effect on your disease.这药物对你的病疗效很大。
• We must account of his potent influence.我们必须考虑他的强有力的影响。