A few years ago, the options for stoners seeking a different way to get high were slim. But in the age of legal medical marijuana (at least in some states), there are more ways than ever to toke. 

As of June, weed was legal medicinally in 23 states and Washington, D.C., including four (Alaska, Colorado, Oregon, and Washington) where the drug is legal for recreational purposes, too.

As we moved into the New Year, one thing was abundantly clear. The competition for the hearts and minds of Producer, Processor and Retail (PPRs) licensees seed-to-sale software and state trace-ability systems which was very competitive in 2015, was shaping up to become a no holds barred melee in 2016 between BioTrackTHC, Franwell METRC and MJ Freeway.

To set the stage for 2016 here is how the competition for state contracts looked by the end  of 2015. BiotrackTHC, having secured contracts in the states of Washington, New York, New Mexico, Illinois and just recently announced  Hawaii led the pack. Reports having MJ Freeway landing the highly visible, but yet to be formally announced, Nevada contract put them on the board.

As more than 20 U.S. states have already legalized cannabis, the marijuana industry has seen a major boost, with sales rising to $5.4 billion in 2015 as compared to $4.6 billion in 2014. The data has been provided in a report released by the ArcView Group on Monday.

Recreational marijuana regularization has been a major kick for the pot industry as sales for adults using pot was $998 million for 2015 as compared to $351 million a year prior. Overall, sales for adult-use drug saw an 184% rise in just one year. For 2016, the research firm has estimated a 25% growth in sales to around $6.7 billion.

Medical marijuana is legal in 23 US states including New Jersey but Facebook has taken down several pages that advertise and sell the drug, saying they violate the website's rules.

Facebook homepages run by three dispensaries in the so-called Garden State have been shut down, as reported by NJ.com.

Dispensary owners and customers have reacted in anger. Facebook has declined to respond and has referred media to its community standards section.

Extracting Cannabis oil could be done using numerous processes. What are the pros and cons of each of these methods?

Ever since medical cannabis advocate Rick Simpson suggested that cannabinoids could be extracted from hemp or marijuana using petroleum ether or naphtha, extracting cannabis oil has been surrounded by controversy in some quarters, and experimentation with other solvents in others. What’s the problem?

These solvents are unsafe for human consumption!

The problem with either of Simpson’s methods for extracting cannabis oil is that the solvents are actually carcinogenic. Researchers tested the different methods of extraction using a substrate such as a solvent, or more comfortingly, olive oil.

What is Cannabis oil?

The start-up world can expect to see a different kind of green in the next few years if the marijuana business grows as rapidly as some expect.

Legal marijuana sales grew to $5.4 billion in 2015, up from $4.6 billion in the prior year, and sales are expected to grow by 25 percent to about $6.7 billion this year, according to research firm Arcview's latest marijuana market report.

Medical marijuana is legal in 23 states including New Jersey, but the ubiquitous social media giant Facebook apparently doesn't "like" it. Home pages run by three Garden State dispensaries and at least handful of others across the country have been deleted. 

The surprise move stunned dispensary owners and angered patients, who said Wednesday they rely on the up-to-the-minute information these sites provide about the latest strains that help alleviate debilitating symptoms.

New HortiLED Line by Partner PL Light Systems launching in the United States

Increasingly vocal and committed advocacy for medical marijuana has made cannabis use a hot button topic. Yet, although the issue is increasingly gaining support, medical cannabis remains a stigmatized medicine. This stigma goes beyond the tired notion of couch potatoes raiding whatever may be available in the kitchen cabinet, and has actually affected how - and if - patients can obtain medical cannabis. Perhaps even more harmful though, is the effect the marijuana stigma has on the ability of scientists to conduct research into the medical benefits of the cannabis plant.