From the outside, it looked like a typical upscale cocktail party. Tucked on a Venice walk street just a stone’s throw from Superba, this fête was complete with an outdoor bar, food stylishly served in Chinese takeout containers and, at the middle of the dining room, a buffet. 

Centerpieces constructed from mounds of weed nuggets were displayed in glass jars and surrounded by platters of “adult” brownies and carefully placed displays of cannabis breath mints, macarons and chocolates. At the kitchen counter, a man in a suit jacket and collared shirt taught a meandering group of visitors how to dab. 

If you're looking to follow news and advocacy about an anticipated Vermont legislature vote this week on legalizing marijuana, a search for the latest tweets that use the combined terms "Vermont" and "marijuana" will for many Twitter users yield zero results.

Same goes for searches for tweets using the terms "pot," "weed" or "cannabis."

The latest results for "jackass" and "jerk" – words generally printed without censorship by news outlets – also yield a blank page with the message: "Nothing came up for that search, which is a little weird. Maybe check what you searched for and try again."

Marijuana is big — and it’s only getting bigger. Four states voted to legalize marijuana on Nov. 8, 2016, raising the total number of states to green-light marijuana use to 28. With marijuana no longer the domain of alleged hippies and stoners (at least not exclusively), legalization has created unprecedented opportunities for tech companies looking to enter the market.

Willie Nelson‘s wife, Annie, is piggybacking on the singer’s marijuana advocacy with the announcement of her own business, Annie’s Edibles. As a branch of the singer’s cannabis company, Willie’s Reserve, Annie’s Edibles makes its debut with artisan chocolates the first product.

Currently available at select dispensaries in Washington state, the hand-crafted chocolates are made from natural techniques, with the chocolate itself made from “consciously sourced ingredients” and low-heat processes that sustain the product’s raw qualities, according to a press release. Whole-plant extraction maintains the richness of the cannabis plant, with the chocolates containing a dose of 5mg of THC.

Colorado is considering an unusual strategy to protect its nascent marijuana industry from a potential federal crackdown, even at the expense of hundreds of millions of dollars in tax collections.

A bill pending in the Legislature would allow cannabis growers and retailers to reclassify their recreational marijuana as medical marijuana if a change in federal law or enforcement occurs.

It’s the boldest attempt yet by a U.S. marijuana state to avoid federal intervention in its cannabis market.

Vanessa Amador has created a niche business in New Jersey that’s designed to woo an exclusive and often-misunderstood clientele.    

Though others may want to attend the unique cooking classes offered by Cannabi Kitchen in Turnersville, Gloucester County, only those who flash a photo ID issued by the state’s tightly regulated medical-marijuana program will be allowed in.    

The curriculum: how to make cannabis-infused sweets, including banana walnut muffins, creamy chocolate candies shaped like marijuana leaves, and even green gummy bears and worms. More items -- such as smoothies -- could be added.

As momentum to legalize recreational marijuana in Rhode Island builds, the town council held a special town meeting Tuesday to look at what can be expected should marijuana for recreational use become legal in the state. 

Joee Lindbeck, assistant attorney general, visited the town hall to share her insight into zoning for marijuana for both medical and recreational purposes. 

“I will say this,” Lindbeck began, “your town has been a leader in this state about zoning ordinances of medical marijuana.”

When Sonoma State University co-hosted a cannabis symposium on March 11, it may have opened the door to a future area of study and research for the school as well as other Northern California higher-education institutions.

The course, “Medical Cannabis: A Clinical Focus,” was believed to be the first medical cannabis course offered by a major U.S. university. Almost 100 people attended the six-hour course, which was primarily targeted to health professionals who wanted to learn more on the still-understudied plant.

“We had a really good, engaged crowd,” said Robert Eyler, dean of SSU’s School of Extended and International Education.

When it comes to high-growth industries, there's very little, if anything, that can top the marijuana industry. In just 21 years' time, more than half of the country has legalized access to medical cannabis, and over the past four-plus years, we've witnessed eight states (along with Washington, D.C.) legalize recreational pot.

Franco Harris is joining to movement for medical marijuana.

While the Steelers legend is in good physical and mental health after a lengthy football career, he openly approves marijuana use for the days he doesn't feel so great and has become a strong advocate for current players to use the plant for medicine.

“Even during my playing days, I really didn’t have to do anything with pain management,” Harris told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. “I’ve never had any long-term pain. I’ve been pretty lucky all the way back to high school. I’m even more amazed that at 67 I’m not dealing with more issues.