Call it the "Cannabis Gold Rush," or the "Green Rush," but however you slice it, it's one of the most exciting, lucrative investing stories of our time.

And it's far from over.

There's a lot to look forward to: Canada already legalized medical marijuana at the federal level and should make recreational puffing legal sometime later this year.

But here in the United States, we Yanks have stubbornly kept "reefer madness" away from society by keeping it illegal at the federal level, while states – lots of them – are bucking the feds to take advantage of the pot bonanza.

Nine states have already legalized recreational weed, and 29 have permitted medical use. Not to mention, 13 states have decriminalized marijuana, making getting caught with a little dope no more problematic than being late with a library book.

Growers, landowners, lab companies, farm supply companies, farm equipment manufacturers, and even packaging firms have rushed to the market to make money on "green gold."

Billions are being made, and taxes are being paid even with the dubious legality of the product.

And the flow of dollars will increase dramatically when we finally get marijuana off the federal controlled substances schedule at some point in the (hopefully near) future.

More than 70% of Americans favor marijuana legalization, and many states badly need the tax revenue that legalization would provide.

Still… the "linchpin" to all of this – the financial sector – is still waiting on the sidelines.