December 12, 2009 CNN

Colorado has a new cash crop: marijuana. Growing pot for medical use is one of the booming businesses in the state. One family has turned nearly 40 acres in southern Colorado into a money making venture.

Within the plastic walls of a small greenhouse, a business is booming for Jason Irwin, and his mother Diane.

“This is me and my mom's little marijuana farm,” Jason said, motioning to a small group of structures and vehicles.

The second of their two greenhouses sits next to a small motor-home where Diane oversees the operation.

“I sold my salon and moved down to the country,” Diane said.

The pair now grows their crops in La Veta, Colorado southwest of Walsenburg, nearly 200 miles from where Diane used to own a successful Aveda Salon.

"I gave Jason some money when I sold the salon. Just trusted him to do what he thought was best, to invest the money and help us get ahead financially,” she said. They talked again when he came up with a plan. “He said he was going to open a dispensary and I said ‘Go for it!’”

His idea was to buy 37 acres near the Greenhorn Mountains to supply his own, legal, dispensary with medical marijuana. Her son now claims he grosses $5,000 a day as a certified medicine provider, paying city and state taxes since day one. From KKTV