An attorney appointed last year by Gov. Bruce Rauner to lead the Illinois medical marijuana program has resigned to pursue work in the private sector.

Joseph Wright, 32, who was in the position for just over one year, told The Associated Press on Monday he felt the time was right to seek other opportunities, possibly in the medical cannabis industry.

A spokeswoman for the governor confirmed the resignation Monday. Spokeswoman Catherine Kelly told the AP the governor's office "will have no further comment" on the reasons for the resignation.

Last week Microsoft announced a software partnership to help states track marijuana sales and MedMen launched its private equity Opportunity Fund

It may not be your cup of tea, but marijuana could become a potent alternative for certain high-net-worth investors looking for an industry with strong growth potential.

Last week Microsoft announced a software partnership to help state governments track marijuana sales, and, come Election Day, at least four states, including California, will host ballot initiatives to legalize recreational use of marijuana. Four states already have — Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington — and those states plus some 21 more have legalized cannabis use for medical purposes.

Wall Street's big money is not ready to dive into the booming cannabis industry.

Companies in the legal-pot industry will generate nearly $7 billion in sales this year - a 25% growth rate - according to ArcView Market Research, a group that tracks the market.

But the investors with the deepest pockets are likely to sit on the sidelines for some time to come.

MedMen, a company that consults for the medical-marijuana industry, launched the $100 million MedMen Opportunity Fund last week with the goal of breaking into large markets with limited licenses.

Former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon is suffering through Early Onset Dementia. It’s a disease usually reserved for the elderly. One that impacts your memory, thought process and cognitive abilities.

McMahon, who played 15 seasons in the NFL, is just 56 years old.

The former Super Bowl winning quarterback joined multiple ex-NFL players at the Cannabis World Congress and Business Expo this past week to advocate for the use of medical marijuana in the league.

Although the Illinois medical marijuana pilot program came limping out of the gate last year, the state’s General Assembly has put its stamp of approval on a bill aimed at upgrading the state of cannabis medicine by extending the program’s expiration date and giving those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and terminal illnesses permission to participate.

Paths toward medical marijuana: Legislative action versus voter initiative

Of 25 states that have legalized medical marijuana in the United States, 14 of them have done so by legislative action and 11 have done so by voter-led ballot initiative.

In a new analysis of state medical cannabis program data, New Frontier, a leading cannabis industry data and analysis company, finds states that legalized through the legislative process have more restrictive medical cannabis programs than states that legalized through voter-led ballot initiatives.

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS) —

Post-traumatic stress disorder could soon be on the list of qualifying conditions to receive medical marijuana in Illinois.

The bill is part of the measure the Illinois House passed to extend the medical cannabis program until 2020. The bill would also add terminal illness to the list of qualifying conditions, and make patient's cards valid for three years instead of one.

HCI Alternatives says one thing overlooked in the bill is changing the language of how doctors can prescribe the drug.

The Illinois House has approved a plan to expand the state’s medical marijuana pilot program by two-and-a-half years and add post-traumatic stress disorder and terminal illness to the list of allowed conditions.

Lawmakers voted 86-27 on Monday to advance the measure, which Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner supports. It now goes to the Senate, where it’s expected to pass.

Illinois’ four-year pilot program is set to sunset at the end of 2017. Under the bill, it will continue to July 1, 2020.

Democratic Rep. Lou Lang is the bill sponsor. He says the changes are in the best interest of patients and will help ensure the viability of the program.

The program started in 2014 but the first medical cannabis sales didn’t occur until November 2015.

Good news out of Illinois. See the alert I received late yesterday below:

Rep. Lou Lang announced today that key lawmakers and Gov. Bruce Rauner have agreed to support a bill that would extend the medical cannabis pilot program until July 2020. But time is short — the bill must receive both a vote in the House and a concurring vote in the Senate before the end of the session, currently set for Tuesday, May 31.

Please click here to send an email message to your representative and senator and ask for their support of SB 10 before time runs out.

The good news, no the fantastic news, is that the Illinois bill that decriminalizes marijuana passed both the Illinois House and Senate and is waiting for Governor Rauner's signature. The bad news is that it appears that he is going to wait until the 11th hour to make a decision on the bill, as he has done on every piece of cannabis legislation that has hit his desk. He has 60 days from the time it passed to sign it. Of course, if he does nothing, it becomes law. It is clear to the people of Illinois that our new Republican governor is no fan of cannabis, neither medicinal nor recreational.

Governor Rauner is not a fan of cannabis