A marijuana cultivator that's been called the "Tesla of cannabis" is bringing the industry out of the darkness and into the light — literally.

Tantalus Labs, which could start selling product as early as 2018, has wrapped construction on a state-of-the-art cultivation site designed to give marijuana plants the benefits of indoor and outdoor growing. The greenhouse lets sunlight pour in, enabling the plants to grow fuller buds faster.

Based on the performance of the legal cannabis market over the last two years, it is arguably one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Regulated cannabis sales in North America totaled $6.9 billion in 2016, a 30 percent increase from 2015. Sales are projected to increase to $21.6 billion by the year 2021 representing a 26 percent compound annual growth rate, according to a report by Arcview Market Research. The market, due to successful legalization campaigns, is attracting entrepreneurs and businesses, expanding its reach across a wider spectrum. Vega Biofuels Inc. (OTC: VGPR), Hemp Inc. (OTC: HEMP), Cannasys Inc. (OTC: MJTK), Greengro Technologies Inc. (OTC: GRNH), Green Cures & Botanical Distribution Inc. (OTC: GRCU

The University of Waterloo has inked a sponsored research agreement with Algae Dynamics Corp. to perform fundamental research on cannabis oil and its constituents, with an eye toward developing treatment of cancers of the colorectum, pancreas, breast and prostate.

This announcement follows the Algae Dynamics previously announced new strategic initiative to explore the extraction of oils from other botanicals in addition to algae, most notably cannabis, and to seek product development and formulation opportunities that combine the benefits of algae and cannabis oils.

After months of method development and validation with SCIEX Corporation, CW Analytical (CWAL), an ISO 17025 accredited Cannabis testing laboratory, today announced they will be reporting up to 55 toxic chemical residues at parts-per-billion levels using triple quadrupole mass spectrometry technology. 

Two bipartisan bills that would exclude marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act and leave regulating the plant to the states have been introduced.

The most recent piece of legislation, titled the “Ending Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017”, was introduced by representatives Tom Garrett (R-VA) and Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) on Monday.

If passed, federal criminal penalties for possessing and growing the plant would be eliminated, and the states would have power and flexibility to establish their own marijuana policies free from federal intervention.

In a statement, Representative Garrett said:

As the senseless prohibition of cannabis wanes, a booming industry has emerged across North America, complete with handy apps for our Androids and iPhones that help better our experiences with marijuana. We think the five cannabis apps listed here are some of the best available, so make sure you have plenty of free space on your phone and get ready to download.

eDocMMJ has emerged as a highly reliable resource for patients looking for marijuana to greatly improve their quality of life.

eDocMMJ, the platform that brings patents and doctors together and helps them establish healthy patient-doctor relationships, had emerged as the number one choice for medical marijuana doctors in Florida.

It remains to be seen what focused marketing will do to expand the diversity of people who use legal cannabis.

Advocates, investors and entrepreneurs believe that the profile of marijuana users will change now that cannabis is legal. They all have one thing in common -- wanting to make money from the new cannabis consumer.

Many of the cannapreneurs I’ve spoken with are hopeful that new business data will enable the industry to monitor the change in the color, age and socio-economic background of cannabis users. That’s not necessarily the case.

Beyond all the speculation, there are also some undeniable realities that have to be factored in.

Plumb will speak at TechfestNW this March 23-24 at the Portland Art Museum.

WW spoke with him in advance of his TechfestNW appearance about agriculture, medicine and the moon.

Are there other arenas outside of agriculture?

Another big subject is cannabis therapeutics—exploring some of the emerging technology allowing us to augment quality of life. We're able to bring chemistry and genomics into the equation to serve people into a specific fashion, working with seizure disorders, IBS, chronic pain, issues that occur if you're an oncology patient.

In Israel, one of the leading countries in marijuana research, a push to decriminalize the drug is picking up steam, and the usual suspect are not leading it. Instead, political hawks and skullcap-wearing businessmen have taken on a cause that was once the domain of the peace camp.

“It is an issue of citizens’ rights,” said Sharren Haskel, who at 32 is the youngest Knesset member in the Likud party. Haskel is proposing a bill to downgrade marijuana possession and use from a criminal offense to an administrative offense. Under her bill, anyone caught with the herb in private would be subject to a 300 shekel fine ($81), while carrying and using in public would be subject to a 1,500 shekel fine ($405).