The man widely regarded as the front-runner for South Carolina's top federal prosecutor job is a Republican state representative who gave early support to Donald Trump's campaign in this early voting state.

But Rep. Peter McCoy — whose name frequently circulates in legal circles as a likely top contender for the job, in part because of his Trump support — has introduced comprehensive medicinal cannabis legislation here, which appears to contradict his would-be boss' statements on drug policy. U.S. Attorney Jeff Sessions has made no secret of his plans to take a hard line on drugs, reminding reporters just weeks after being sworn in that marijuana distribution remains a federal crime, regardless of what states may do to legalize it.

In the heart of Northern California’s wine country, a civil engineer turned marijuana entrepreneur is adding a new dimension to the art of matching fine wines with gourmet food: cannabis and wine pairing dinners.

Sam Edwards, co-founder of the Sonoma Cannabis Company, charges diners $100 to $150 for a meal that experiments with everything from marijuana-leaf pesto sauce to sniffs of cannabis flowers paired with sips of a crisp Russian River chardonnay.

“It accentuates the intensity of your palate,” Mr. Edwards, 30, said of the dinners, one of which was held recently at a winery with sweeping views of the Sonoma vineyards. “We are seeing what works and what flavors are coming out.”

As a growing number of states permit activities specific to the possession, use, production and distribution of marijuana, cannabis-related businesses are becoming more prevalent. This pervasiveness has led to increasing competition among cannabis brands and a rising need to differentiate themselves from their competitors. Regardless of whether their products are high-end, discount, organic or medicinal, cannabis businesses, like all companies, want their brands to communicate something to their customers. For example, the quality of the product, the effects and attributes of the product, the benefits of its farming process (e.g., environmentally friendly) or the type of lifestyle the brand represents.

The only marijuana researchers can legally obtain for studies looks like something you would scrape off the bottom of your shoe after walking on a grassy field.

This is the marijuana that researchers were sent for a study looking at whether pot can help treat post-traumatic stress disorder.

Due to federal prohibition and regulations, all of the marijuana used for US research is provided by one facility at the University of Mississippi through the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). But researchers have complained for years that the quality of marijuana that NIDA supplies is terrible — typically far below what you can get from state-legal medical or recreational marijuana markets or even the black market.

The marijuana industry is picking up as legalization sweeps the country, but there are still some wrinkles to be ironed out.

In particular, most banks won't deal with weed businesses, which means they can't take credit cards.

That means buyers have to carry cash, and sellers end up with huge amounts of cash on hand — some dispensaries in Denver can do sales of $500,000 per month. Transacting in cash increases the risk of theft, and if the sellers try to deposit large amounts of cash at the bank, they can be suspected of money laundering or other crimes.

But one company thinks it's found a way to keep both banks and legal weed businesses happy.

Jeff Sessions, the U.S. Attorney General, had some typically harsh words about marijuana today, at a time when legal pot supporters in Massachusetts and elsewhere are on high alert over how the new government will treat the drug.

In prepared remarks for a speech to law enforcement in Richmond today, he outlined his stance on marijuana use, which he has long opposed, saying that “dependency” on it is “only slightly less awful” than heroin.

Skunkworx Packaging is releasing a new packaging product for cannabis that will revolutionize the industry. The company stated the top enemy to medical cannabis profit isn't the DEA, it's packaging.

A new product is helping local companies reduce losses and increase profits. Skunkworx states Polybags “Turkey Bags” are vital to the integrity of maintaining quality product, and in turn the profit. The professionals in this field know this fact. What separates one bag from the next? Many think they are all the same, but they are not. The crafty sales tactics of the vendors and lack of concern, or knowledge in quality control department is costing these product owners money.

Public debate about medical marijuana has made it to Galesburg after a West Michigan man proposed a plan to open a medical marijuana dispensary.

On Tuesday night, Galesburg residents had their first chance to talk about the proposal.

Tuesday’s meeting comes after concerns were raised about the possibility of a medical marijuana dispensary opening up in Galesburg. At that meeting it was clear that community members were not all on the same page.

More than 50 concerned citizens packed into Galesburg City Hall Tuesday night. There was mixed reaction during the first of two community meetings on whether medical marijuana businesses should be in the city.

“There are people that need marijuana, there are children suffering,” said one community member.

The two Georgia lawmakers behind two different medical cannabis expansion plans say they’re in talks, as the annual legislative session reaches its closing days.

As long as a month ago, some lawmakers predicted some kind of showdown or compromise over the two bills.