WASHINGTON: The next great American gold rush is upon us. Vast, open land awaits the right eager businessperson to stake out their plot of land. This time, the gold is green — and the products include plastic baggies, vaporizers and mobile apps.

Yes. The marijuana industry is where the opportunities are. (More coverage of the emerging industry from AOL Jobs contributor David Rheins.)

Those getting into the marijuana industry today are getting a leg up on the growing wave of competition. The New York Times recently covered the industry that is now receiving financial backing from several networks of investors that are ready to plunge millions into the industry. A concurrent Times editorial series called for the legalization of marijuana.

At this point, the widespread legalization of marijuana looks now to be more of a ‘when’ rather than an ‘if’. Personal convictions aside, the numbers don’t lie. Debates can arise over whether Colorado’s decline in highway fatalities is enough to outweigh the bump in pot DUI arrests in legalized states. However, there is no debate when it comes to facts and figures; Americans love their marijuana.