A big struggle ahead for the marijuana dispensaries in the US states cannot be ruled out with the intervention of the U. S. Drug Enforcement Administration to scrutinize the commercial use of marijuana. Even a study by the See Change Strategy, which conducted survey of 300 wholesale and retail dispensary operators, has claimed that almost 24% of the dispensaries are struggling to get financial help from the US banks.

Even though some states have legalized dispensaries to trade in marijuana, the Federal Government seems to be at denial to recognize the commercial viability of marijuana.

As the medical marijuana business is expected to reach $1.7 billion in 2011, the Federal Government has warned the US banks of enforcing anti-money-laundering and drug-trafficking laws, if financial leeway is being given to the marijuana dispensaries.

Even Deputy U. S. Attorney General, David Ogden issued a memorandum in October 2009 claiming that the US Justice Department would never recognize medical use of marijuana for terminally ill patients. He added: "Prosecution of commercial enterprises that unlawfully market and sell marijuana for profit continues to be an enforcement priority of the department”.

Furthermore, Sue Harank, co-owner of Denver-based dispensary Alpine Herbal Wellness, claimed, "Both banks and the credit union pursued our business initially and said they had talked to the corporate office and run it through legal, but a month or two later they all reversed themselves".