Will marijuana usher in the blockbuster era?

For a small industry, cannabis has a lot of interesting players. But will the rescheduling force everyone to grow up?

The marijuana industry has been around for thousands of years. It was big in the US and Canada until the '30s, then came Reefer Madness, which was more low-key until the '60s. It's an important part of the counterculture era and some players from that era see it as more of a cause, something against and most importantly and pure bliss. The brothers, who joined around 2017, see it more as a means to get rich (or richer). Steve D'Angelo, the self-proclaimed father of the legal cannabis industry, sees it as yoga, something positive that “big companies” will ruin. With the re-planning, the industry will change again, but is it about to enter the blockbuster era?

RELATED: Science Says Medical Marijuana Improves Quality of Life

When home videos arrived on the scene, thousands of mom-and-pop stores quickly sprung up that sold and rented videos. One popped up in every neighborhood and some areas had mini/local chains. These small stores helped meet and increase consumer demand. Blockbusters came onto the market and soon gained a dominant position. They followed McDonald's Ray Kroc's expansion philosophy and grew quickly. Eventually they started opening a new store every 24 hours. Due to their size, technology and resources, they also quickly shut down the majority of their smaller competitors.

With debt restructuring, safer banking and potentially more, larger players and the mainstream industry will be taking a closer look. The industry is filled with small and small businesses that do not have the resources to grow and compete for customers. Pharmacies have a hard time, and yet there are only a few chains. But a few big players come along — a Total Wine, a Bev Mo, and suddenly the average consumer, who makes up 90 percent of the market, is grabbing a vape, a 6-pack, dinner, laundry detergent and a $15 bottle of wine for dinner. At a stop.

“Over the next twenty years, we expect the current pharmacy model to either no longer exist or to evolve significantly. Cannabis is sold directly to consumers (e.g., wine clubs) and may be available in grocery stores, convenience stores, and online. The days of standing in line and waiting to show ID to an armed guard before entering the waiting room are numbered,” shared Jesse Redmond, managing director of Water Tower Research.

Another example is specialty beer stores. Even in major cities like Chicago, Dallas and Seattle, there are fewer than a dozen retailers that specialize exclusively in beer. There are over 100 different types of beer, from pale blonde ale to creamy stout. Not all brands are included. However, beer is primarily sold in grocery, convenience and gas station retail outlets. Their entry into the market will be a boon for brands but worrisome for pharmacies.

“If we look twenty years into the future, we expect the current pharmacy model to either no longer exist or to evolve significantly. Cannabis is sold directly to consumers (like wine clubs) and could be available in grocery stores, convenience stores and online. The days of standing in line and waiting to show your ID to an armed guard before entering the waiting room are numbered.”

RELATED TOPICS: California or New York, where is the biggest marijuana chaos?

In fact, grocery stores were Blockbuster's downfall. Given the success of the video store, grocery chains began offering videos for rent or purchase, allowing people to purchase dinner, drinks, and movies in one place. The majority of the public liked how easy it was, and Blockbuster joined the mom and pop stores in crushing them and eventually closing them.

The winners are the big brands that appeal to a large customer base, they are carried and sold in large quantities.