EVIO Inc (EVIO)

[fiveteenthirty]

"DEA-approved partner, which we haven't announced yet, can actually begin to do medical research, clinical trials if necessary, [and] create the data set that enables people to know when, what, where, and maybe it can become federally regulated in the U.S. with some input that way," Linton said in an interview on "Mad Money."

Cannabis could disrupt a $500 billion market, says CEO of top marijuana maker after deal with DEA

Canopy's news comes less than one month after competing Canadian marijuana producer Tilray announced DEA approval to import cannabis to the United States for medical research at the University of California San Diego Center for Medicinal Cannabis Research.

California is one of eight states, excluding the District of Columbia, to fully legalize medical and recreational marijuana use. Thirty U.S. states currently have laws legalizing medical marijuana use in some form.

Today, the world has its eyes on Canada, where full legalization of adult marijuana use is set to take effect on Oct. 17.

While the windfall will likely be massive for producers like Canopy, Linton is focused on the longer-term global opportunity.

The CEO said Thursday that cannabis could disrupt some $500 billion worth of global markets, calling that a more "accurate" estimate than "conservative, cautious" predictions of a $200 billion disruption.