There is one very good reason why Uncle Sam is taking baby steps when it comes to legalizing cannabis. It is a reason, that once you think about it, seems obvious. It has, as a result, a lot to do about money.
But why, you might ask, does the federal government have to worry about money just because they legalize a weed and its byproducts ?
Here is the word you have been waiting for — Medicare.
Have you ever yet heard any politician speak to the impact of legal weed on a federal level, and what would be the magnitude of demand to have it supplied by Medicare? I know that I haven’t.
After all, even the feds now consider it to have medicinal purposes. I have a feeling that they just don’t want to pay for it. This is especially so since it would likely become one of the largest cost outlays in the Medicare program.
Perhaps the increase in cannabis product costs would be offset by the diminished purchases of other pharmaceuticals. I wouldn’t be surprised if one or more studies haven’t explored this already.
The bottom line, we won’t be there until the discussion turns to Medicare.