Scotts Miracle-Gro delves into medical marijuana field

Scotts chief executive Jim Hagedorn told The Wall Street Journal that he is exploring targeting medical marijuana as well as other niches to help boost sales at his lawn and garden company.

“I want to target the pot market,” Hagedorn said in an interview. “There's no good reason we haven't.”

Targeting marijuana isn't the only way Hagedorn is pursuing growth outside the national chains. Scotts is also looking to sell more through grocery stores.

And the company is working to renew its ties to independent lawn-and-garden-store owners, including offering them exclusive products. Hagedorn strained those ties with a 2009 speech in which he criticized the owners for not doing enough to promote Scotts products, prompting many owners to walk out.

"I don't give speeches to independents anymore," he said.

To target marijuana growers, Scotts would likely buy niche dirt companies that already exist rather than create its own line of branded products.

Read the full story here.