Cannabusiness Owners and Employees Discuss the Economic Reality—and Limits—of Working in the So-Called "Green Rush".

"You see many people working hard, working long hours, and not driving sports cars. The people I see are motivated more by what they can do to help other people.”

The global conversation on marijuana legalization has reached its highest volume yet. Already, some countries, the United States included, have pioneered past decriminalization and into some form of legalization. Few have fully legalized marijuana — and have yet to transform into total hellscapes from it. 

Tampa biopharmaceutical firm has been awarded the first U.S. patent for a commercial process that could lead to additional medical therapies based on substances unique to marijuana.

The company, formerly CBC Biotechnologies Inc., has changed its name to Teewinot Life Sciences Corp., and struck a deal with a contract research organization to scale up its proprietary processes, a press release said.

The changes follow a $7 million venture capital investment in CBC in March.

There has been a considerable spike in capital investment for companies in the cannabis industry in the last few years. This would come as no surprise to industry insiders and investors, but the numbers recently compiled into a graphic by Marijuana Business Daily (MBD) are nonetheless striking. 

According to data compiled by the investment research firm CB Insights - which formed the basis of the MBD chart - there were only nine investment deals in 2013 totalling $9-million. In 2015, there were 98 that received a total of $215-million in investment.

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.

Someday you or someone you love may need safe, legal access to medical marijuana. You, or they, may have cancer, epilepsy, irritable bowel syndrome, colitis, or Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s, breast cancer, a recent heart attack, or may be a veteran or emergency worker with post-traumatic stress disorder. In 2004, 64 percent of Montana voters passed a law creating a medical marijuana program, but access for patients seeking relief will soon disappear because of political nonsense in the 2011 Legislature. With these draconian, nonsensical laws, you and your loved ones aren’t going to get what you need for pain, symptom relief or a cure.

Schools in Colorado will be required to allow medical marijuana after Gov. John Hickenlooper signed “Jack’s Law” on Monday.

The law allows marijuana in schools for medical use with strict conditions.

Jack Splitt loves school so when his school confiscated the only medicine that treats his debilitating muscle spasms by stating “cannabis is a controlled substance,” Jack and his mom Stacey Linn took their fight to the state Capitol.

Last year, they helped pass a law that allows caregivers to administer cannabis at school to children who need it.

Rep. Jonathan Singer carried the legislation and thought the problem was solved. But schools found a loophole in the process.

A Los Angeles restaurant has unveiled a menu of cannabis cocktails.

Gracias Madre, a high-end celebrity favorite that serves vegan Mexican food, now offers three elegant beverages infused with CBD, one of the two cannabinoid stimulants found in weed.

Diners do not need a medical marijuana card to consume the $20 drinks.

The recipes were designed by Jason Eisner, the head bartender at West Hollywood's Gracias Madre, who honed his craft in New York City's top cocktail clubs.

Eisner has sourced the cannabinoid oil for his creations from a grower in San Diego.

True to the restaurant's healthy-eating form, the oil is branded as 100 per cent organic.

In 2011, a now 76-year old disabled veteran named Lee Carroll Brooker was arrested for growing three dozen marijuana plants in his home. Under Alabama state law, Brooker received a mandatory sentence of life in prison without parole, and the Supreme Court last month refused to hear an appeal arguing the sentence was cruel and unusual.

Brooker’s case attracted advocates clamoring for a change in sentencing laws, but perhaps the worst part about this case is it is by no means unusual.

Hemp History week is an annual, global celebration of hemp and a call to restore the plant that was, until 150 years ago, the worlds’ biggest industrial cash crop.