Green Rush to Cash in on Weed Resembles Gold Rush in Colorado

In 1858, there weren't 60,000 people in Central City.

By 1859, there were. There's gold in them there hills!

When word got back east, the Colorado Gold Rush was on; Pikes Peak or Bust! was the slogan. By 1859, large numbers of prospective miners and settlers had come up the Kansas River valley to the Denver area. At first, there was only the slight showing in Cherry Creek and the South Platte River, but soon paying quantities of gold were discovered at Idaho Springs and Central City. By 1860, Central City had a population of 60,000 people and Denver and Golden were substantial towns serving the mines.

The Gold Rush in Colorado was one of the biggest booms in our country's history, and shaped our state in many ways.

Today's 'green rush' may be akin to those boom days when our state was first populated by white settlers from the east.

Suppliers can barely keep up with demand for marijuana as the new cash crop grows in popularity. In the latest election, Oregon, Alaska and Washington D.C. have made recreational use legal.

Like the gold rush, people weren't just getting rich off selling the booming product. Supporting business have a chance to cash in as well.

Warehouse space is at a premium. The plant must be grown inside and in strictly zoned facilities, so those that have them are enjoying the boom.

Earlier this year, the Denver Post reported on the demand for growing space.

Denver's industrial vacancy rate of 3.1 percent is abnormally low — the lowest in decades, according to brokerage firm Colliers International.

What's a boom for some real estate agents could cause a bit of a bust for businesses in other industries that are looking for space in Colorado where growing is permitted. It now takes deep pockets to secure property, and smaller mom and pop businesses that don't enjoy the margins that marijuana brings can be squeezed out.

But for those who are leasing, renting and selling the facilities that are good to grow, this is a boom like no other.