'Weed Wars': Discovery Series to Go Inside Legal Pot Shops (Video)

You don't need to be an avid watcher of "Weeds" or a closet fan of "Half Baked" to understand that weed, legal or otherwise, is a massive business.

When California passed the Compassionate Use Act in 1996, pot dispensaries dedicated to providing medical marijuana in smokable and edible form to patients with prescriptions started popping up all over.

While that meant a whole lot of small, stony shops sprouting up throughout the state (and eventually in 16 other states), it also meant the launch of a new breed of professional and sophisticated dispensaries that were as serious about the business as they were about providing the dankest of nuggets.

At the center of that movement is Oakland (aka "Oaksterdam") and the Harborside Health Center, one of the state's largest and most advanced medical marijuana facilities. As Entertainment Weekly reported this morning, the center will be the subject of a new Discovery Channel series called "Weed Wars," which will take a look at the medical marijuana industry, how businesses are competing, and the effect the dispensaries are having on the community and patients.

According to EW, "The show follows Steve DeAngelo, the owner of Oakland’s Harborside Health Center, which serves 80,000 clients. According to the network, DeAngelo strives to provide patients with the highest-quality product and uses his business to promote the national regulation and taxation of cannabis."

Visit the Harborside website and you'll see they are not joking. From Hawaiian Goo and Purple Cotton Candy to Lemon Kush and Bruce Banner (Hulk hungry!), the selection is extensive and the prices are sky high (no pun intended). The owners promise an extensive range of services, including massages, reiki, acupuncture and laser light shows (okay, I made that last one up...I think).

“Weed Wars fearlessly pulls back the curtain on a once illegal and still controversial world,” Nancy Daniels, Executive VP at Discovery Channel told Entertainment Weekly.

“From the inner workings of the business to Steve’s distinctive leadership style, Weed Wars is a fascinating glimpse into this highly unique setting. Like Gold Rush or Deadliest Catch, these are guys pursuing their own version of the American Dream.”

With interest in using legalizing medical marijuana to help with the current debt crisis at an all time high, and 17 states already legalizing medical marijuana, this show may very well be a ratings smash.

And even if it isn't, can you imagine the list of potential advertisers? You've got your Taco Bell, your Gino's Pizza Rolls, and your Cocoa Crispies...ooh ooh and don't forget the Funjuns!

Watch a surreal commercial for the Harborside Health Center from their website: