While the number of dispensaries open in Nevada remains quite low at just 7 despite 55 provisional licenses being issued, one promising sign for the state’s medical cannabis program is the solid growth in cardholders.  The state reports data monthly on its website, and the most recent report indicates almost 13K registered patients:

The growth in the number of cardholders, which also includes those who grow at home, has accelerated dramatically over the past few months:

It’s not surprising that growth picked up after dispensaries started opening, as the card, which is good for a year, costs $113.25 (including a fee paid to the DMV to print the card) and also requires a doctor visit in order to get a referral.  In November, growth was 71.8% above the year-ago number.  Compared to August, it increased 27.2%, which would annualize to 162% growth if the pace is maintained.

The chart below looks at the number of patients by age ranges.  0.2% of card-holders are under 18 and are excluded from this data, which compares the cardholders to the overall population based on 2010 census data.

While most of the cohorts are similar to the overall demographics, the 55-64 range jumps out as being substantially higher than the overall population, with almost 25% of the cardholders in this group though it represents about 15% of the adult population. Baby Boomers are a market that dispensaries should target.  The youngest adult cohorts are well below the amount they represent in the overall population.

Nevada has about 2.8mm residents, and, based on Colorado and California experiences, one should expect perhaps 2% of the population, or 56K, to become medical cannabis cardholders. So, while the growth is really starting to accelerate, there is room for considerable expansion given just 13K patients registered so far.  One positive aspect of the Nevada program for the industry is that there is reciprocity with other states such that out-of-state patients can sign an affidavit that represents that they are cardholders in their own state and be able to purchase medical cannabis, a move that dramatically expands the potential market.

Breaking News by Alan Brochstein, CFA

Based in Houston, Alan leverages his experience as founder of online community 420 Investor, the first and still largest due diligence platform focused on the publicly-traded stocks in the cannabis industry. With his extensive network in the cannabis community, Alan continues to find new ways to connect the industry and facilitate its sustainable growth. At New Cannabis Ventures, he is responsible for content development and strategic alliances. Before shifting his focus to the cannabis industry in early 2013, Alan, who began his career on Wall Street in 1986, worked as an independent research analyst following over two decades in research and portfolio management. A prolific writer, with over 650 articles published since 2007 at Seeking Alpha, where he has 70,000 followers, Alan is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and a frequent source to the media, including the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fox Business, and Bloomberg TV. Contact Alan: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | Email