t's now legal to use marijuana, medically or recreationally, in 28 U.S. states. But many cannabis businesses still can't access the banking system — and that has repercussions far beyond where dispensaries store their cash.

Marijuana remains illegal to buy, sell or possess under federal law. And because most banks are insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), they must comply with federal law. A 2014 regulation allowed banks to accept cannabis revenue, but the majority still refuse to do so — and if they learn that a client is depositing theserevenues in an existing account, they often close that account. Entrepreneurs seeking startup money need to turn to private backers.

The bill is designed to crackdown on marijuana sales on Craigslist and other websites.

The Colorado state Senate gave initial approval Monday to a measure designed to crack down on advertisements online for illicit marijuana sales.

The bill — Senate Bill 15 — would create a new criminal offense for a person to advertise the sale of marijuana without a retail license. As a level 2 drug misdemeanor, a person convicted would face up to one year in jail and a fine as high as $750.

Sen. Irene Aguilar, a Denver Democrat and the bill sponsor, told lawmakers that more than 690 ads for marijuana in Denver were found on Craigslist, a popular online classified advertising website.

Jason Drummond sees cannabis as a good investment.

That’s why his company, York Plains Investment Corp., has earmarked $3 million to invest in businesses in the growing marijuana industry.

“It sounds maybe a bit taboo, but in reality it’s scientifically-proven medicine,” said Drummond.

He and four partners have secured finances from almost 50 people, and hope to raise a total investment of about $30 million; $100,000 is the minimum individual commitment.

Those investors include some legal marijuana growers and people from across Canada, including Regina businessman Mike Ash.

Drummond, Ash’s partner in the Leopold’s Tavern ownership group, told him about the opportunity.

Organigram Holdings Inc. (TSX VENTURE:OGI) (OTCQB:OGRMF) (the "Company") is pleased to report the financial results for the quarter ending November 30, 2016. The Company continues to generate positive cash flow and significant year over year growth in sales of both dried flower and cannabis oils. The company is also providing an update regarding its recent voluntary recall of cannabis products, the current quantified impact to the financial statements, and some of the immediate and voluntary corrective actions and operating policies that Organigram has implemented. 

Selected highlights from the quarter include the following: 

The sandwich baggie brimming with buds is gradually becoming a thing of the past in California. In its place, an era of name-brand marijuana is emerging.

Celebrities — including actress Whoopi Goldberg, rapper Snoop Dogg, rocker Melissa Etheridge and the family of reggae legend Bob Marley — are branding their own herb. Law firms have sprouted to help marijuana sellers brand their goods. Pretty packages of cannabis-infused products bear labels like “Highland Pantry” (almond butter), “Madame Munchie” (cookies) and “Sweet ReLeaf” (skin cream).

Cannabis coaching is as much a gig about growing as it is about people – and Natalie Carver wouldn’t have it any other way.

For the last year, the long-time organic vegetable farmer has been helping Washington D.C. residents grow their own cannabis at home. As the founder and head coach of Buds Organic – whose mandate is to provide custom gardening installation, maintenance and coaching services to would-be home-growers in D.C. – she visits roughly 12 homes a month (and counting).

“It’s a personal relationship as well as a business relationship,” Carver told Civilized.

Take a closer look at the County Board of Supervisors vote to decide the fate of almost 1,000 registered grows.

The Calaveras County Board of Supervisors will meet on Tuesday to decide the fate of commercial and personal cannabis cultivation in the county. Specifically, it will decide to either immediately adopt a ban measure which recently gained enough support for a vote, or it will choose to let the ban go to a special election in the spring.

The Illinois treasurer has sent President Donald Trump a letter urging him to give clear guidance to the banking industry about medical marijuana.

State Treasurer Michael Frerichs issued a news release Monday saying Trump’s approach will be crucial to the continuing availability of medical marijuana in Illinois.

Federal law prohibits banks from processing money used in the legal marijuana industry. Frerichs says this makes it difficult for businesses to get loans and restricts customers to cash-only transactions.

Under President Barack Obama, the Justice Department stated it would not make enforcement a priority, knowing that many states had legalized some marijuana use.

Investors study ways to buy into pot as rules change. But is it real or market euphoria?

Jamie Dutra has just finished unlocking the doors and rolling back the security screens at The Dragon, a shop in Toronto's Bloor West Village that is part of a Canadian investment trend.

Only five minutes after opening time, there are two customers and a reporter in the small shop. Dutra is ringing up $18 worth of rolling papers and other things she describes as "accessories for legal smoking mixtures."

Despite the fact that medical marijuana is legal and the federal government is about to lift the prohibition on recreational pot, laws from an earlier era prevent sellers from calling their goods drug paraphernalia, she says.

Marijuana stocks have been on a tear recently.

Shares of Cannabis Science have soared more than 870% since the start of October. Meanwhile, Canopy Growth's increased more than 300% during the same period, transforming the company into a more than $900 million enterprise.

However, there have also been some disappointments. Arena Pharmaceutical's share price is down more than 25% since October began.