Last December the Justice Department gave a yellow light to marijuana legalization on tribal land, saying it would treat reservations like states in deciding how to enforce the Controlled Substances Act. Two months later, the very first Tribal Marijuana Conference, held at the Tulalip Resort Casino in Washington, attracted about 250 people, including representatives from 75 or so Indian tribes. They listened intently as speakers (including me) discussed the pros and cons of legalization.

FORT LUPTON, Colo. – March 12, 2015 – PureVision Technology, Inc., a Colorado-based biorefinery technology developer, announced today that it has formed a subsidiary company to promote and develop industrial hemp biorefineries.

The subsidiary, PureHemp Technology LLC, has obtained exclusive rights to the PureVision biorefining technology for processing industrial hemp into traditional and never-before-produced products.

On behalf of PureHemp, PureVision is conducting a robust pre-commercialization program—using its laboratories and pilot plant and a milestone-based approach – to target a path to profitable commercial-scale hemp biorefineries.

A startup is only as good as its people. How to choose the perfect partners for your venture.

nvestors may value serial entrepreneurs, but they love serial management teams. A team of founders who have worked together is a treasure, and a team of founders who have previously built a successful startup is a great treasure. Regardless of experience, a highly functional team generally trumps a solo founder.

The growth of the medical marijuana movement presents a unique opportunity for advocacy groups to work hand-in-hand with the business community in order to bring about positive social change. Historically, advocates for important social reforms like the 40-hour week and safer working conditions had an understandably anti-business orientation. But when we're talking about providing greater access to medical marijuana, such an attitude is less than helpful. In fact, it's counter-productive. I believe if that fact were merely recognized and accepted by both medical marijuana activists and the business community, we would be much closer to establishing national acceptance than we are today.

Minnesota could wind up being a standout medical cannabis state in at least one regard: It’s been able to glide through the rulemaking and licensing process relatively smoothly.

At least so far.

Many states have taken years to implement MMJ laws, develop regulations and get the first businesses up and running. Minnesota, on the other hand, passed a law just last spring legalizing non-smokeable medical cannabis, and dispensaries are now on track to open to the public on July 1.

“We are aiming to open three of our four dispensaries in July, and hopefully the fourth one will be in August,” said Dr. Kyle Kingsley, CEO of Minnesota Medical Solutions (also known as MinnMed).

Despite receiving “final” rejection for a licence to operate a medical marijuana operation by Health Canada, it appears a Lakeshore-based company will proceed with legal challenges against both the federal and municipal governments.

CEN Biotech has been officially notified by the federal government they will not get a licence to operate what the company touted as Canada’s largest medical marijuana operation.

The company last month received “notice of intent to refuse” from Health Canada and days later in response launched a court challenge requesting a judicial review of the federal government’s decision.

At 7 Leaf Bed and Breakfast in Seattle, guests get the full gourmet, farm-to-table dining experience. Breakfasts are made with organic, fresh ingredients from the city's famed Pike Place Market. Artisan meats come directly from a local butcher; breads are bought at a nearby bakery. But what sets this homey, British townhouse-style bed and breakfast apart from other Seattle guesthouses is that anything prepared in 7 Leaf’s kitchen can be made with a little something extra: cannabis, commonly known as marijuana, for a little extra kick.

ANCHORAGE – 

It’s hard to go wrong with a simple brownie recipe.

Chelsea Deming says she grew up in the kitchen. When she got together with her boyfriend, Derek Herre, she began adding one more special ingredient to her recipes — marijuana.

“He realized that would be a good way for him to medicate without having to smoke,” Deming said.

Herre has Crohn’s disease and has been a medical marijuana cardholder for nearly five years.

“This definitely helps with my inflammation, my nausea,” Herre explained.

Deming bakes for him and now does the same for other medical users. They call their business “Baked Alaska” and word is quickly spreading through social media.

Here’s how it works:

True Leaf’s Darcy Bomford attended  the Global Pet Expo in Florida, which wrapped up March 6.  His objective was to research the existing pet health landscape. CEO Bomford has 30 years’ experience in the pet industry and is returning to the sector with the True Leaf, the Quality of Life Company.

Moncton company is 1 of only 16 in the country that makes and sells medical marijuana

Moncton company OrganiGram is mixing marijuana and jobs.

The legal marijuana grower has created 30 jobs since setting up shop and it says another 25 are on the way in April.

OrganiGram is one of only 16 companies in the country that makes and sells medical marijuana.

The company mailed out its first major shipment of marijuana just a few weeks ago and it has eight different strains currently in production.

The plants grow in the sterile facility with the help of controlled heat, lights and humidity, while staff trim the plants. The buds produced are then dried, sold to patients and shipped through Canada Post.