• by Erik Sass , April 16, 2015

With more states legalizing marijuana for medical and recreational use, marijuana media is growing like a weed, including an array of new online publications, social networks, and podcasts targeting consumers and business people.

Now broadcast radio is joining the list.

Several stations around the country have flipped to a new format: marijuana talk.

This week, Colorado Springs AM station 1580 dropped its old format, KREL/Fox Sports, and unveiled its new identity as KHIG/K-High 1580, devoted to all things marijuana-related.

The new station’s weekday lineup includes “Wake and Bake,” a morning show, “High Noon” for midday, and “High Drive” for the evening commute. It will also carry hourlong newscasts from the National Marijuana News Service, a syndicated content provider based in Los Angeles.

The Colorado Springs Gazette reports that K-HIGH has already signed up six local marijuana dispensaries as advertisers. Interestingly, station manager Mike Knar, who leased the station from Pilgrim Communications, tells the Gazette he has little personal knowledge about the subject: “I don't have much knowledge about this industry and I don't partake, so I am the world's worst expert on it. But I just saw a business opportunity.”

Knar added: “Marijuana is socially acceptable, especially in Colorado, and is a big and growing business sector in this state. It made too much sense to pass up.”

This is the second broadcast affiliate for The National Marijuana News, which scored its first affiliate In January with the announcement that WXXM (92.1 FM The Mic), a “progressive” broadcaster serving the Madison, Wisconsin area, will begin carrying the show.

Previously, TNMNews, produced by DigiPath, Inc., was only available via online streaming.

According to its producers, TNMNews covers a range of topics, including marijuana’s scientific, medicinal, political, commercial, legal, spiritual and cultural dimensions.