The cannabis industry has had a rough couple of years, but things are looking brighter. The one constant positive is consumer demand has continuously increased. You know it is good when Missouri has over $1 billion in sales last year. And, despite the struggles, the industry continues to grow. In fact, surpassing other job reports, the cannabis industry grew 5%. Around 440,000 work in market as of today. It is a clear indicator legal cannabis is here to stay.
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While 440,000 is a big number – how big is it in relation to other industries? BDSA, an analytical firm who covers cannabis, reported the industry made $29.5 billion in the legal market. It would have been over $30 billion if not for the chaos and huge illicit market in New York. Like most industries, the weed one includes dispensaries, manufactures, some ancillary services, farmers and management. It is also a very small sliver of greater farming community. America’s farm families represent two percent of the population and help feed the other 98%.
Subway Sandwiches with a revenue of 16.5 billion employees roughly 410,000 including the franchises.
Grocer Kroger employs 430,000 in 36 states in 2,700 locations with sales of $150,000.
Target has 440,000 in their US retail stores with sales of $107 billion.
Starbucks and their famed coffee have 381,000 brewing almost $36 billion in sales at 16,449 locations.
Dentists, clocking in at half the number at 202,000, but if you fold in everyone in the industry including dental hygienists, they have 1,140,861 people employed in the US dental industry as of 2023.
CocaCola’s total number of employees in 2022 was 82,500. This helps drive the juggernaut of beverages with more than 1.9 billion servings of drinks sold in more than 200 countries each day.
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The US alcohol industry supports around 4 million jobs, including employment in production, distribution, sales, bartenders and other related services. They help drive the drinks market of $183.5 billion last year.
Constellation, the alcohol company invested in cannabis has approximately 10,000 employees and Diageo has 3,100 people across North America.
Tobacco manufacturing in 2021 had 16,767 people and generated $886.09 billion in 2023.
The U.S. pharmaceutical industry employs over 1.3 million people. It is the largest pharmaceutical market generating over $550 billion dollars.
There are 29,711 people employed in the Strip Clubs in the US as of 2023.
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As the cannabis market continues to grow and partner with adjacent industries, it will another part of employments, economy and everyday life.
