Viagra rivalled as top-selling drug

Viagra is being rivalled as one of the top selling drugs on the US market – by medicinal marijuana.

The trend started when the Obama administration deprioritised the prosecution of individuals and businesses complying with state legislation on medicinal marijuana. 

Now numerous news sources in America, including the Wall Street Journal, are reporting that sales of medicinal marijuana are soaring. This year alone, the market is expected to reach $1.7 billion, rivalling the $1.9 billion that Viagra makes for Pfizer.

Researchers, epidemiologists and analysts gathered data to make the prediction. Medical marijuana is only available in seven states: California, Colorado, Michigan, Montana, Oregon, Washington and New Mexico. This year it will also go on sale in Arizona, Maine, New Jersey, Rhode Island and the District of Columbia.

Study author Ted Rose told MSNBC: "What we are talking about here in the report is cannabis. It's still an illegal substance according to the federal government."

Rose added: "There is money funnelling into the market, but it is just a drop in the bucket. Once the regulatory issues are resolved, get ready for a fire hose of capital investment."

Viagra is one of the best selling medications on the US pharmaceutical market. It is the number one selling erectile dysfunction treatment available. However, this may not be the case for too long. Recent sales data indicates that Cialis, another popular impotence drug, has gained ground on the original ‘little blue pill’, and following current trends, Cialis could eventually overtake Viagra in terms of sales in coming years.