Caught in the crossfire between state and federal law, dispensary owners in states that have legalized medical cannabis are finding their businesses raided and their products seized

ast month, emergency services were called to an explosion at New MexiCann Natural, a licensed medical marijuana dispensary in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Two employees were injured while making edible cannabis products: Aaron Smith, 28, and Nick Montoya, 29. They were airlifted to University of New Mexico Hospital’s Level 1 Trauma Center with third-degree burns from a presumed butane reaction.

When you set up a business taking care to choose the right partners and suppliers is an important step, which, if you get wrong can cost you dearly. In June I wrote about the MediPen CBD oil vaporiser and detailed how the product was a legal and effective way to experience the benefits of CBD oil in the UK.

As marijuana prohibition falls in one state after another, cannabis sales are shifting from street corners to storefronts as opportunists line up to cash in on what optimists say is the biggest investment opportunity since the dot-com boom of the turn of the century.

Investors of all varieties are starting to look at marijuana as less of a stoner’s fad and more of a serious business venture. The industry totaled $2.66 billion in U.S. sales in 2014, up 74 percent from $1.53 billion the year before, according to the ArcView Group, a cannabis industry investment network. Experts expect billions more in future growth from states where the drug remains illegal – for the time being.

Founders can sometimes get left behind as their businesses scale up. Three ways you can adapt to expansion and maintain your entrepreneurial edge

Kyle Vucko was just 21 when he and University of Victoria classmate Heikal Gani started Indochino. In the eight years since, the Vancouver-based menswear e-tailer has delivered product to more than a hundred thousand customers in 130 countries.

Last month, emergency services were called to an explosion at New MexiCann Natural, a licensed medical marijuana dispensary in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Two employees were injured while making edible cannabis products: Aaron Smith, 28, and Nick Montoya, 29. They were airlifted to University of New Mexico Hospital’s Level 1 Trauma Center with third-degree burns from a presumed butane reaction.

COLUMBUS – In this corner, we have pro-pot group ResponsibleOhio with about $20 million to spend on advertising, a new bus headed to 88 counties and polls that say most Ohioans are fine with legalizing at least medicinal pot.

In the other corner, we have Ohioans Against Marijuana Monopolies, a group of pediatricians, manufacturers, farmers and police officers who say legalizing marijuana would put children at risk and create an oligopoly that’s bad for Ohio business.

Let Battle of the Blunt 2015 begin.

Last month, Wana Brands began marketing  WanaCaps XR, the world’s first extended-release cannabis capsule, in the company’s home state of Colorado.

Now, the Boulder-based company, whose main business is making cannabis-infused edibles, is looking to expand its market.

The state of Florida, which is about to designate five licensees to grow, process and sell non-euphoric cannabis extracts, is one of its targets.

After four months of planning and preparation, Saskatoon's first medicinal marijuana dispensary is now open for business.

The Saskatchewan Compassion Club opened its doors to the public on Monday. For many, like Mandy Tarala, the new dispensary will offer a way to fill medical pot prescriptions quickly and easily. "It's going to be absolutely huge for me in the aspect that I no longer have to wait for my medicine (and) I don't have to order it online," Tarala said. "Also, I have some support (locally) - that way I'm not waiting for an email back or waiting on hold."

PHOENIX - The developing national marijuana industry is still sifting through labor disputes long since settled in other lines of work. 

Employees have found that no line of work is quite like marijuana - and not always in a good way. Most bosses must pay their workers in cash, hampered by federal laws that prevent many employers from opening bank accounts. For the vast majority, direct deposit is a pipe dream, health insurance a luxury, a matching 401(k) a foreign concept. 

"The marijuana industry is actually being treated worse than prostitution rings and gambling organizations, which is ridiculous," said Kim Houser, a professor of business law at Washington State University, where she studies the marijuana industry.

The author of the "Cannabis Manifesto" dishes on racist drug laws, hemp jewelry, and California's weed-fueled world domination.