No matter how far along we come in the quest for cannabis legalization, there are always detractors.

Even today, you can still find prohibitionists and cannabis market bears claiming that Denver dispensaries and going to get shut down and Canada will not approve legalization this year. It’s all just noise, but damn if it isn’t the kind of noise that annoys the shit out of me.

Kind of like Nickelback, but worse.

So I was quite pleased when I saw this tweet today …

Aurora Cannabis Inc. (the "Company" or "Aurora") (ACB.V) (ACBFF) ( Frankfurt : 21P; WKN: A1C4WM) is pleased to announce that it has committed to taking part in the initial public offering ("IPO") of Cann Group Limited ("Cann Group") on the Australian Stock Exchange ("ASX") as the cornerstone investor, securing a 19.9% stake in Cann Group, the first company in Australia ever to be licenced for research and cultivation of medical cannabis for human use.

Billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson told Newshub New Zealand farmers should grow cannabis instead of expanding dairy operations.

He also called US President Donald Trump an "embarrassment", before considering a future job opportunity for former Prime Minister John Key.

The entrepreneur jetted in and out of the country over the weekend to speak at a charity fundraiser.

A ticket to the gala dinner would set you back $1000 but for that price, guests heard the entrepreneur's views on subjects such as marijuana, which he predicts will be as acceptable as wine in 10 years.

He also weighed in on the war on drugs.

Marijuana’s uncertain legal status across the country has unleashed a network of innovators and entrepreneurs into a space that would ordinarily be filled with name-brand manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies and federally funded research universities.

These small “cannabusinesses” are rushing to fill niches and make money in a field where the drug's illegal status at the federal level has made many start-up basics — from getting a new machine to accessing credit — far more challenging. Colorado, for instance, boasts a cottage industry of innovation because it was one of the first states to legalize recreational cannabis sales to adults, and also has a highly educated, youthful workforce.

Publicly traded medical marijuana companies got a bounce Monday after news reports provided clarity on the federal government’s plan for marijuana, suggesting it will be legal for pot smokers in time to celebrate Canada Day next year.

Ottawa plans to introduce marijuana legalization legislation in mid-April, fulfilling the Liberals’ promise to do so this spring. That will be enough time to enact legalization by Canada Day 2018, CBC reported Sunday night.

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.

Israel, a leader in marijuana research and health technology, is attracting international investment as it tries to position itself as a cutting-edge exporter in the rapidly-growing market for medical-grade cannabis.

With estimates that the global market for medical marijuana could reach $50 billion by 2025, the Israeli government is set to allow the local industry to start exporting and projects annual revenues in the hundreds of millions of dollars.

Medical cannabis is a relatively new field with no universal clinical standard. Israel aims to fill the void by combining its expertise in agriculture, technology, and cannabis-based medicine, said Yuval Landschaft, head of the health ministry's medical cannabis unit (IMCA).

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.