Now that medical marijuana is legal in Minnesota and disbursement is set to begin July 1, employers should review their policies regarding such workplace procedures as drug testing and the Americans With Disabilities Act to ensure they protect the business, as well as the employee.

Minnesota’s law authorizes the use of medical marijuana for patients suffering from several medical conditions including glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, certain cancers, seizure disorders, Crohn’s disease and illnesses causing severe and persistent muscle spasms. Individuals eligible for the medication are required to enroll in a statewide registry.

Smaller industrial buildings that are home to warehouses and distribution centers might lack gee-whiz architectural appeal, and they're often in nondescript parts of town where restaurants and other amenities are few and far between.

But they're perfect for the medical marijuana industry, whose appetite for smaller industrial buildings has made them a hot commodity.

Unlike Denver and Pueblo, Colorado Springs and El Paso County have banned recreational marijuana grow operations and sales, but they allow medical marijuana sales, cultivation and manufacturing.

Denver, the Mile High City, has seen a spike in tourists booking flights and hotels as it prepares for the annual "420" celebration. In part April 20 celebrates marijuana becoming legal in Colorado in 2014.

April 20 has become a red later day for marijuana smokers primarily in North America. Some events on that day promote the legalization of cannabis.  

Last year was Denver's first 420 celebration. Even though it occurred on Easter Sunday, tens of thousands of tourists helped to create a cloud of marijuana smoke above the city.

ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — It would no longer be a crime to possess marijuana-related paraphernalia in Maryland, under a bill approved by the Maryland General Assembly.

The House of Delegates voted 84-52 on Saturday for the Senate bill, sending it to Gov. Larry Hogan.

Maryland decriminalized possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana last year. That made it a civil offense rather than a criminal one.

However, lawmakers didn’t do the same thing for paraphernalia like pipes, so the bill was introduced this session.

The measure also makes smoking marijuana in public a civil offense, punishable by a fine of up to $500.

The UpTake: Legalizing marijuana could result in a $4.1 billion Ohio industry by 2020. Those are serious numbers for those advocating for the state to join the ranks of those that already permit pot.

I an James, architect of a proposal to legalize pot in Ohio, said it stemmed from a simple notion: "Let's take this from the tie-dye to the suit-and-tie approach to marijuana."

James, CEO of the Strategy Network, a Columbus political consulting firm, turned to Cincinnati lawyer Chris Stock for help. Would Stock draft a proposed amendment to the Ohio Constitution that would outline how pot would be regulated for personal and medical use? "I've never used marijuana in my life," Stock told James. "I'm not sure I want to be involved." But he relented.

The CEO of a medical marijuana company fighting the state in court has died unexpectedly.

Andrew James, 51, was found unresponsive on Thursday at home in Kenilworth, according to the Cook County medical examiner’s office, which said Friday an autopsy was inconclusive. Authorities are awaiting the results of more tests.

James headed PMRx, a company that had applied for a medical marijuana-farming permit in the Kankakee area. When the company lost out on its bid, it sued, accusing the state of failing to follow its own licensing guidelines when scoring applications for the coveted and potentially lucrative permits.

Health care leaders and entrepreneurs are competing for five licenses to grow and sell medical marijuana in New York as patients seek improved access to the drug

A $10 million construction project tied to selling medical marijuana to Lower Hudson Valley patients is unfolding about 60 miles northwest of White Plains.

Valley Agriceuticals, a company started by a team of health care and cannabis industry leaders, wants to build a marijuana grow facility in Wallkill, a farming community of about 29,000 people in Orange County.

A recent report by The Arcview Group showed that legalized marijuana is now the fastest growing industry in the U.S., posting a whopping 74% growth rate in 2014. Despite a widespread movement to legalize marijuana for both medicinal and recreational purposes across the country, though, the industry still faces some serious challenges on the legal front that investors need to understand. 

So, to give investors a deeper look at some of the more pressing legal issues, I spoke with a leading expert on medical marijuana, Aaron Lachant -- an attorney with the healthcare specialist law firm Nelson Hardiman LLP.

Weed has gone public.

A social network platform for cannabis users, MassRoots, on April 9 secured the first initial public offering for any company with ties to the marijuana industry. The 2-year-old Denver-based startup is valued at $45 million, with stock now traded publicly through the OTC Markets Group marketplace at 10 cents per share.

As legalization spreads, in a variety of forms, managers and workers are facing some tough questions about how the new laws impact policies and practices. Let's take a look at how marijuana legalization is being handled in the workplace. First, here are a couple of things you should know.

Be sure you know your state's laws.

Regardless of your own personal feelings about marijuana, It's important to stay current on the state of the drug laws in your area, as well as your company's individual policies on drug use — especially if you're a manager. Keeping up to date with policies, whether you agree with them or not, is a crucial first step to understanding the way the changes impact your company and your team.