Family propelled JP Holyoak into the weed business: his daughter, Reese, has a rare illness, and Holyoak believes in the power of medical marijuana.

He believes in it so much that his company, Arizona Natural Selections, operates two medical marijuana dispensaries that have served about 9,000 patients since opening last year. Holyoak, a financial adviser, has a big cannabis nursery in a warehouse on an industrial estate near Phoenix Sky Harbor airport. And he believes that recreational marijuana should be legalised – not through any enthusiasm for stoner culture, but because it is sound conservative policy.

IN PERSON, ONLINE, IN YOUR WORDS AND ACTIONS: HERE'S HOW TO BECOME ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT EVERYONE REMEMBERS.

Deep down, we all just want to be remembered.

In today’s distraction-filled world, it’s easier said than done. The average adult has 360 messages coming at them each day via TV, radio, Internet, newspapers, and magazines, according to a study by Media Dynamics. Less than half are noted and far fewer make enough of an impact to be recalled.

If you’re trying to stand out in the midst of that chaos, you’ve got your work cut out for you.

While the federal government maintains a blanket ban on marijuana, recreational marijuana is already legal in four states and the District of Columbia. In addition, 23 states, as well as D.C., have legalized marijuana for medical purposes.

And with at least 10 more states expected to consider legalization in some form by 2016, the next president of the United States will almost certainly have to reckon with the disparity between state and federal law on marijuana.

Although shrouded in a little mist, Nimbin’s MardiGrass Parade on Sunday was held in perfect weather.  Thousands rolled into town for the annual Police Swab Fest and Mardi Grass.

The Ganja Faeries again stole the show and many hearts during the parade.​

Nimbin MardiGrass organisers have hailed this year’s event a success despite heavy policing on the roads in and out of the village.

As weary festival-goers prepare to leave this morning, police have once again set up drug-testing stations on the outskirts of the village.

The United Food and Commercial Workers union has been organizing employees in the U.S. cannabis and hemp industries since 2008. Its Cannabis Workers Division now represents several thousand workers in six states and Washington, D.C. It negotiates on behalf of workers with respect to wages, benefits and conditions of employment.

On the political front, the UFCW has mobilized its membership for petition drives, lobbied for legalization and been an agent of change in the way that employment in legal marijuana is regarded by the National Labor Relations Board. Still, some in the business community contend that the industry is not yet ready to embrace unionization.

The legalization of marijuana – no matter how sticky the parameters – will undoubtedly bring the people behind the scenes of a billion-dollar industry to the forefront. 

Women, in fact, comprise a large portion of growers, dispensary owners, and canna-business professionals. 

To help them emerge from the shadows and connect, Women Grow was established last year in Denver, Colorado. Since then, it’s provided a professional network for both established entrepreneurs and newbies of the cannabis industry.

With monthly events for women – and men – in 25 plus cities across the country, Women Grow is launching a Portland chapter this week with its first networking event on May 7th at McCormick Mansion.

As May approaches and thousands of college and university students enter the workforce, you are faced with an amazing opportunity: hiring a rookie that could turn into an all-star.

In professional sports, high draft picks are endlessly analyzed and coveted because of their relatively cheap salaries and high potential. In the business community, we don’t do nearly as much to determine the upside of a rookie. Most employers actually spend considerably less time interviewing and vetting a new graduate than they do a much more seasoned and proven professional.

Each member of a buying team has different challenges and interests. Columnist Arnie Kuenn tells you how to home in on those needs to help close a deal.

You’ve heard it before: To be successful with content marketing, your content must be catered to the customer. More specifically, content should speak to customer pain points and challenges throughout the buyer’s journey.

However, to create content that is truly targeted, you need to understand exactly who your buyers are and what their journey looks like.

Enter persona-based content marketing: creating and promoting content with a specific buyer persona in mind.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) — A group supporting the legalization of marijuana got their message across to thousands of Rhode Islanders — by putting it on a billboard.

On Tuesday, “Regulate Rhode Island” unveiled a new billboard on Orms Street in Providence.

The board touts the potential economic impact of legalized marijuana — the group claims regulating and taxing the drug would attract new business and jobs to the state.

The group cited a similar law in Colorado.