I'm not even sure what the article said, I just liked the idea of a literal cannabis pie.

Spreading out the licenses for growing and selling fairly has been a problem in many states, though. States like Oregon have suffered from oversupply on the growing side, making it especially hard for smaller growers to make a profit and survive. In Colorado the market has come to be dominated by large chains, including many from out of state. In some other states the government has handed virtual monopolies to cronies.

The delays tend to be unnecessary and I think much of it is caused by wishy-washy legislators who never wanted it to be legal in the first place, so they invent obstacles. Even states like Colorado are still dragging their heels on related issues like event licenses - the law passed said the state was supposed to regulate it 'like alcohol', so why can't you get a license to serve it at a wedding, 10 years later?