Medical marijuana only became official in Connecticut earlier this month, but there are already people moving into place to help create a medical marijuana industry in the state, from scratch.

An Arizona businessman visited the state on Tuesday to promote his pot-dispensing machine, and a lawyer says he will shift some of his business to representing clients with medical conditions seeking permission to buy marijuana.

Bruce Bedrick, chief executive of Medbox Inc. in Scottsdale, Ariz., was in Hartford on Tuesday to show off a ‘‘mock dispensary’’ that would make medical marijuana available to eligible patients.

‘‘We expect competition to be fierce,’’ he said. ‘‘As much as I want to be in the business, a lot of other people will be in the business.’’

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy signed Connecticut’s medical marijuana legislation into law on June 1, prompting the Department of Consumer Protection to begin writing regulations. Commissioner William Rubenstein said rules are not expected to be in place until next year.

‘‘We’re creating an industry from zero, from the ground up,’’ he said.

And what does that mean? Jobs, jobs and more jobs. After all, it takes a lot of people to create and operate an industry.

More jobs and a safer, more effective medicine? If only someone would have thought of this sooner.

Every year more states wake up to what is staring them right in the face: increased jobs, tax money if they want it and better health care for their citizens.

- Joe Klare