Since Proposition 64 passed, many Californians have assumed that all sales and use of marijuana have become legal.

But in fact, recreational sales don't become legal until next year.

There is additional confusion over what's legal and what isn't.

"When Prop. 64 passed, all the personal rights kicked in the next day," said Brooke E. Staggs, a reporter with The Cannifornian, a California-based marijuana information site. "That means anyone 21 and over can have up to an ounce of marijuana. You can grow up to 6 plants per home. But what did not become legal overnight was selling marijuana."

A candy-colored pack of marijuana joints from Lola Lola, with its quirky characters splashed across the box, looks more like a prop from a Katy Perry music video than drug paraphernalia.

Its quirky, good-vibes feeling is exactly what creator Michael Garganese, Jr., is going for.

"We wanted to create something that you would feel comfortable leaving accidentally on your kitchen table. If Mom or Dad finds it, the conversation you get to have around that package is very different than if they find your black sack [of weed] under the bed," Garganese says.

"It's like, 'Honey, what is this?' 'Well, Mom, that's the way that cannabis is sold these days.'"

Bloomfield Industries, one of the five companies licensed to sell medical marijuana in New York, is being acquired by MedMen, a California-based marijuana management and consulting firm. 

The change in ownership comes just two days after New York State’s medical marijuana program marked its first year, amid cries from executives that the market is not viable and reassurances from the state Department of Health that the program remains on course.

2016 is a year that will live in infamy, but one clear winner across the board was cannabis. The United States watched as eight more states legalized cannabis for medical or recreational purposes, and the ripple effect of legalization has been felt throughout the globe. 

Revel in these states' and countries' cannabis victories and look to the future with renewed optimism. What will 2017 bring? We can't wait to find out! 

Like millions of folks around the globe, I am a huge fan of The Walking Dead, AMC’s post-apocalyptic-zombie drama. Good friends and I love to get together and watch the trials and tribulations of Rick Grimes, Michonne, Daryl Dixon and the entire gang on Sunday nights. During interviews and specials it has always struck me how much the cast seemed to really love each other, becoming a family over the years while filming in Georgia. The actors, while it is impossible to know for sure, just seem like genuinely good people. It was great to see that Norman Reedus, who plays fan favorite Daryl Dixon, has helped validate my feelings by supporting young kids utilizing cannabis oil to combat their cancer.

“Dispensaries have always been operating in a legal gray area, so they are comfortable taking a risk”

Recreational marijuana has been legal in California for two months, and although individuals are allowed to grow up to six plants or possess an ounce of weed, it is not yet legal for businesses to sell recreational pot. Prop. 64, which passed on November 8th, postponed the start date for legal marijuana sales until January 1st of next year, giving the state time to establish a licensing system.  Selling marijuana without a license is still illegal, although the crime has been downgraded from a felony to a misdemeanor.

The United States is gradually becoming the land of the red, white, and green.

After a historic election cycle, which saw four states pass ballot initiatives legalizing nonmedical marijuana, one in five Americansnow live in a state where it's legal to smoke weed without a doctor's letter.

The industry is on track to post $20.2 billion in sales by 2021.

Here's a summary of where Americans can light up legally so far in 2017.

At the heart of California’s Emerald Triangle is Humboldt County, a legendary locale in the world of weed, as prized by marijuana aficionados for its cannabis as Napa Valley is for its wine.

“Humboldt is the absolute, undisputed leader in cannabis,” said Luke Bruner, a local resident who has advised state and local officials on marijuana issues.

A lot is at stake. The statewide market in medicinal and recreational marijuana is worth about $6.6 billion

California was known as a major marijuana-producing state before it legalized recreational use. Just how big of a producer may surprise you. Take a look at this detailed infographic developed by our partners at the Orange County Register. Read more about what they found below.

(Graphic by The Orange County Register)

ArcView Market Research released their annual cannabis market summary, and the numbers are staggering for the legal marijuana industry. In their 4th edition of The State of Legal Marijuana Markets they report that an amazing 30% growth rate occurred in the industry, which makes it the fastest growing industry in the country by far. The pace is even greater than the dot-com era, which grew at only a 22% rate.