You might think that your eyes are deceiving you but no they are not. A few U.S. companies have begun allowing and in some cases encouraging their employees to consume marijuana during work hours. The one obvious point that needs to be outlined is that this is only happening in states that the plant is already legal in for recreational use.

‘Throughout the bodies of every human on the planet is a physiological system that plays a crucial role in establishing and maintaining human health. The endogenous cannabinoid system (ECS), discovered by scientists unafraid of studying marijuana, is made of endocannabinoids and their receptors which are found throughout the body: in the brain, organs, connective tissues, glands, and immune cells.

The goal of the ECS is to maintain homeostasis within your body.

Many top companies cashing in on legal cannabis are considering a bet on Mexico after a Supreme Court decision raised hopes for a legalization of medical and recreational marijuana in a country reeling from years of gruesome drug violence.

From medical marijuana growers to pot private equity firms, many weed entrepreneurs see Mexico as a tempting new business opportunity even though cannabis is still illegal and the market is currently controlled by ruthless drug cartels.

"Me personally, I'm not afraid to go to Mexico," said Daniel Sparks, head of government affairs at BioTrackTHC, a U.S.-based provider of marijuana supply-chain software.

In many ways, brand marijuana was established a long time ago. The accoutrements of weed smoking found at head shops in cities and college towns across the U.S. were all adorned with requisite motifs: dancing bears and tie-dyed swirls, skull-faced jesters and Rastafied marijuana leaves. Now that cannabis and its offshoot products are available legally to medical and recreational imbibers from retailers in Colorado, Oregon and Washington, companies producing regulated marijuana, infused cookies, candies and extracts and the dispensaries selling them aim to give marijuana a makeover -- laying the groundwork for product branding that has no precedent in the mainstream market.

As painful as tax season can be for many Americans, it’s even more grueling for legal cannabis businesses; who often find themselves caught in a financial, governmental and regulatory vise.

At the heart of the issue is marijuana’s continued classification by the federal government as a Schedule I drug – which the government defines as substances having “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”

Due to that Schedule I classification most banks and financial institutions are reluctant to do business with legal marijuana companies; out of fear their organization might end up on the wrong end of a federal prosecution.

Legal drugs could be even more lucrative.

Famous for its cocaine cartels—think Pablo Escobar and the hit Netflix show Narcos—Colombia now wants a cut of a different mind-altering substance: marijuana.

Phillip Morris and Syqe, an Israeli medical device company with an inhaler type delivery system have announced a $20m investment.  The cigarette manufacturer will benefit  from a Medtech footprint to understand the potential to significantly reduce damage from smoking traditional nicotine products.

A study at Rambam Hospital where the cannabis inhaler was examined, reported it both safe and effective. In Israel there is an estimated 24, 000  medical cannabis patients.

It’s happening. We’ve been talking about it and planning it for months. We’ve received scores of exciting applications from across the world, more than half from Israel. And, this March 7th, as part of CannaTech, our International Cannabis Summit for Accelerating Cannabis Innovation, a fortunate three entrepreneurs will get their opportunity to pitch their idea to a group of investors.

The cannabis industry is coming on strong and set to outperform every industry since the dawn of mankind.  Not since alcohol prohibition ended in 1933 has an industry emerged with an existing user base, NOT apotential user base, but an active, bustling, black market trade that was brought into the mainstream.

A Hobart native has seen first hand the economic potential of the marijuana industry and wants to spark interest among Northwest Indiana investors.

The Kingery Group Chief Executive Officer Dawn Marie will prepare Region businesses for marijuana legalization and tell about opportunities at Northwest Indiana's first Cannabis Business Workshop at 10 a.m., March 5, at Ambassador Banquets in Hobart.

Medical marijuana is now legal just across the border in Illinois and Michigan. States like Colorado, Oregon and Washington have approved its recreational use. A Gallup poll in October found 58 percent of Americans supported legalizing it nationally.

An upcoming marijuana business conference will, to NBA fans, feature a very familiar face.

The 2016 Cannabis Collaborative Conference, which takes place Feb. 3 and Feb. 4 at the Portland Expo Center, will host former Blazers great Cliff Robinson. The former NBA All-Star has become a cannabis advocate and will address the expected crowd of 2,500 attendees.