By Patricia Alvares.

Special soil, humidity gauges, pruning shears and books on growing cannabis are among the items in demand in Uruguay a year after the regulations for producing and marketing marijuana under government control took effect.

"We noticed that there has been increased demand, and it continues because the market was created and it will keep growing," Manuel Varela, owner of a downtown Montevideo store offering items for growing marijuana, told EFE.

"And we also see the growing number of stores like this over the past year," Varela said. "There are now about 20."

Don Crawford on his family's farm in Wallkill, N.Y., which is adjacent to property where a company wants to produce medical marijuana. Mr. Crawford supports the proposal.

By Anemona Hartocollis

WALLKILL, N.Y. — Don Crawford comes from a long line of Orange County farmers. Though he no longer tends dairy cows, he still cuts hay for the thriving equestrian industry, and cringes at the creep of the suburbs.

So when a stranger came to town and announced plans to grow marijuana on the fallow land next to his, Mr. Crawford was thrilled.

“It’s better than a bunch of houses,” he said.

When an author writes a book, they’re giving us permission to pass through the gates of their mind, as if to say:

“Here yah go, buddy! I wrote this book just for you. It’s filled with the strategies I followed to build a successful business and life for myself. Take as much as you need….”

There are certain business books every entrepreneur needs to read. In this list, you’ll find 10 such business books. Some of them contain timeless business and life advice, while others explore cutting edge concepts and ideas — like exponential technology.

Either way, this list of business books was designed to help entrepreneurs, just like you, gain the actionable information you need to succeed in whatever business you’re in.

If you’ve ever been involved in the purchase of a business, you’re likely aware of the due diligence process.

The acquisition of a business involves a number of steps but, particularly for the buyer, it’s during the due diligence phase when the transaction comes into focus. This step typically begins after an initial letter of intent has been signed. At this point, both sides have shown commitment to putting a deal together. Now the buyer has a chance to look under the hood to see how well the business engine really runs.

The due diligence process is the way in which the buyer identifies issues to address after purchase and concerns to factor into the sale documentation.

When medical marijuana becomes available in Minnesota on July 1, two state-approved companies will begin selling cannabis in pill and oil form to patients who suffer from cancer, HIV, AIDS, ALS and other conditions.

But although state lawmakers made dispensing the drug to those patients legal, federal law still bans marijuana. That's led to some big financial challenges for Minnesota's fledgling cannabis industry.

One of the biggest tests for the two manufacturers picked by the state to produce medical cannabis is setting up banking services.

ummer weather in downtown Anchorage was reason enough to be outside on Saturday, but atPot Luck Events (appropriately located at 420 W. 3rd Avenue), dozens of people were huddled in a low lit room filling out paperwork and, well, smoking pot.

It was the first time the municipality hosted a job fair specifically for people interested in working in the marijuana business.

VANCOUVER (NEWS1130) – With more than 80 illegal pot shops operating in the City of Vancouver, police are growing increasingly concerned about the potential for violent robberies.

“What we did see over the weekend is two break-ins to illegal marijuana stores in Vancouver where it appears a vehicle was used to smash through the front of the business,” says VPD Sergeant Randy Fincham.

He adds a gun and a hammer were used in another violent robbery at an illegal shop in Vancouver.

“It highlights the fact that this is a dangerous element and we are concerned for anybody who happens to be in the area when one of these robberies takes place,” Fincham explains.

There’s a conflict between state and federal law when it comes to marijuana. Back in 2012, Massachusetts citizens overwhelmingly approved a medical marijuana law, and the state’s first dispensary is expected to open in Salem later this month.

The law allows people with a doctor’s prescription to legally buy and consume the weed — or does it?

Consider the case of Cristina Barbuto, a 34-year-old woman from Brewster. She has a doctor’s certificate for marijuana to help treat her digestive disorders, including Crohn’s disease. But last year, she accepted a new marketing job, and on her first day of work, she failed a drug test and was fired.

A Seneca County company vying for one of five state licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana has gotten a boost for its application from the University of Rochester Medical Center and the Supervisor of the Town of Gates.

Citiva Medical, LLC already has support from officials in Romulus, Seneca County to build a medical marijuana growing facility at the former Seneca Army Depot. Late last month, Gates Town Supervisor Mark Assini urged the the state Health Department to grant the company a license to sell its products “in a properly zoned retail location” in the town. He did not provide specifics.

Two marijuana dispensaries were damaged on Saturday in a “smash and grab” after a minivan drove into the front entrances of both stores.

Stressed and Depressed Association on East. 41st Ave. and Canna Clinic on East Hastings were broken into early morning, allegedly by the same man.

Police say the man started off stealing a minivan and crashing into the first store, stealing a total of $6,000 worth of glass pipes, marijuana and cannabis extracts. Though the thieves did not access the back of the store where most of the products were stored.