In 2012, Colorado legalized cannabis and added to what has fast become a multibillion-dollar global industry for all things weed-related: from vape pens to brownies and beyond. But to say that we've legalized marijuana is subtly misleading -- what we've really done is commercialized THC, says educator Ben Cort, and that's led to products that are unnaturally potent. In an eye-opening talk, Cort examines the often unseen impacts of the commercial cannabis industry -- and calls on us to question those who are getting rich off of it.

What commercialization is doing to cannabis

The shift from legalizing marijuana to commercializing THC has transformed the cannabis market, creating products far more potent than the natural plant. Today’s offerings often contain over 30 percent THC, compared to less than half a percent before the 1970s, with concentrates reaching above 95 percent. This boom benefits powerful industry groups while hitting poorer and minority communities hardest, driving up arrests and school suspensions. Social justice arguments are often used to justify this new industry, yet the reality is complex and troubling.