The green market is headed for the stock market. Although dispensary businesses are having trouble securing financial services — because marijuana is still illegal at the federal level — several pot-related Colorado companies are either currently being publicly traded...or soon will be. How do they manage that? It’s never the cannabis-growing or -selling branch that goes public, but a sister company involved in consulting, tech or hospitality.

If you have ever read a book on marketing, you probably know that it costs a great deal more to find a new customer than it does to hold on to an existing one. This fact is included in so many marketing texts for two reasons: It’s true — and it’s incredibly important.

Why is customer retention so important? Let’s begin with the obvious; precisely because it’s less expensive. Yes, much less expensive. Commentators claim that snaring a new customer costs anywhere from two to five times as much as keeping an existing one.

For a young business (and at this point all cannabis businesses are young), with a limited marketing budget, it is crucial to use those marketing dollars efficiently.

Check out other industries that are benefiting from launchpads here.

Startups in the legal marijuana business have unique concerns—initially, finding a welcoming bank, credit card provider and landlord. Even those who don’t grow, sell or process the plant face obstacles most entrepreneurs don’t have to deal with. It’s no surprise, then, that incubators serving pot startups have cropped up nationwide to help.

One of the newest is Green Labs Denver, a 35-desk incubator and co-working space for ancillary cannabis businesses, such as apps, vending machines and tourism.

I am convinced that the cannabis community eventually thinks of everything. Don’t believe me, name all of the things that marijuana smokers have used to consume cannabis, homemade or otherwise. You could probably count for days.

It clocked in at $70 million last fiscal year alone.

Pot is a boon for tax revenues in Colorado, outpacing revenue from alcohol taxes in the fiscal year ending on June 30.

Colorado collected almost $70 million in marijuana taxes during that time, nearly double the $42 million collected from alcohol taxes. The state had a tax holiday for marijuana on Wednesday, an event that was welcomed by consumers and producers alike.

DENVER (AP) -- The latest on Colorado's marijuana tax holiday caused by a quirk in the law (all times local):

Shoppers aren't the only ones benefiting from Colorado's one-day suspension of most taxes on pot. Marijuana growers also are getting a hefty tax break.

One owner and grower saved $45,000 in taxes before 10 a.m. Wednesday. Tim Cullen of the Colorado Harvest Co. says he transferred a month's worth of inventory, or about 150 pounds of marijuana.

Colorado charges consumers an extra 10 percent sales tax on pot. Growers pay an additional 15 percent excise tax on wholesale weed, or about $300 a pound.

Colorado is waiving both those taxes for one day only Wednesday because of an accounting error when the taxes were first approved.

KINGSTON – Canada-based Timeless Herbal Care Limited (THC) announced Saturday it has secured a US$100-million deal to develop medical marijuana products here in Jamaica for the international market. 

Kristin Brinckerhoff ponders the selection of marijuana at 3D Cannabis Center in Denver. (Craig F. Walker, The Denver Post)

Colorado suspended tax collections on marijuana for one day on Wednesday, and pot cultivation operations said the tax holiday was saving them tens of thousands of dollars behind the scenes.

"My space will all be empty today," said Daniel Morgan, grow operator for the Starbuds chain, as he stood before a 30-pound mound of pot in a north Denver warehouse. "We're just sending it to all the stores."

Morgan says he hopes to move up to 100 pounds of marijuana by the end of day Wednesday, which would mean $30,000 in savings.

Usually the questions directed to you are about legal problems such as smoking laws and homeowners associations, and the association usually wins.

But what will be the outcome on legal marijuana? Pot stinks just a badly as cigarettes. If it’s grown on private property it still stinks up the whole block. Why do you think the dogs can spot marijuana growth from miles away?

Pot smoke causes allergies to flare up and causes breathing spasms in COPD patients, even if the smoke from marijuana isn’t anywhere near them. The stink and the oily smoke can penetrate common walls.