Businesses in the cannabis industry have a unique problem when it comes to advertising their products or services: many social media sites and search engines prevent the paid promotion of anything marijuana-related. Enormous companies such as Facebook, Twitter and Google feel that it will tarnish their reputation. This is understandable, as I’d imagine there would be some backlash from users who oppose marijuana and don’t want to see these ads popping up everywhere. Not to mention that in the U.S. the drug is still federally illegal, and these massive corporations are likely protecting themselves from potential litigation!

New York’s medical marijuana program is about to achieve liftoff, but so far New Yorkers have few clues as to who will grow the herb, process it and sell it in a non-smokable form.

Despite all the hurdles — such as the fact that marijuana is illegal under federal law — 43 companies have applied for state Health Department licenses to sell pot products. A decision on five licensees could come any day now, though companies competing for the licenses say they remain in the dark about how far along the process is.

One of them is Etain LLC of Katonah, Westchester County. Etain’s proposal calls for a greenhouse growing facility in Chestertown, Warren County, with dispensaries in Kingston, Yonkers, Albany and Syracuse.

The Schenectady County Legislature voted Tuesday to support an application by Fiorello Pharmaceuticals to build a medical marijuana cultivation center in Glenville.

Owned by Ari Hoffnung of the Bronx, Fiorello Pharmaceuticals is one of 43 applicants seeking five licenses to operate medical marijuana dispensaries under New York's Compassionate Care Act. A decision is expected soon.

A bill to establish Hawaii’s first medical marijuana dispensary system became offical at midnight Tuesday, without Gov. David Ige’s signature.

The Hawaii state Department of Health has until Jan. 4 to finalize rules and regulations for the new system — a deadline that the governor has called "aggressive."

A highly competitive merit-based application process will commence in January, and only eight applicants will be awarded licenses. Each license holder will be allowed two dispensaries.

While the new law does not specify what the cost of medical marijuana will be in Hawaii, experts predict it to run from $200 to $300 an ounce.

Last month, hundreds of visitors mingled outside three conferences being held side by side in New York City’s massive Javits Center. Sharing lines for lattes with their neighbors from the Salesforce and International Franchise Expo meetings down the hall, attendees of the Cannabis World Conference & Business Exposition could only have been picked out of the business-casual crowd by a careful observer thanks to one detail: the green accents on their name badges.

A look at the latest in potrepreneurship.

Last month, hundreds of visitors mingled outside three conferences being held side by side in New York City’s massive Javits Center. Sharing lines for lattes with their neighbors from the Salesforce and International Franchise Expo meetings down the hall, attendees of the Cannabis World Conference & Business Exposition could only have been picked out of the business casual-crowd by a careful observer thanks to one detail: the green accents on their name badges.

Isaac Beach, sporting a hemp briefcase, is looking for partners for a bigger industrial hemp trial in Hawke's Bay.

With an MBA under his belt Isaac Beach went looking for opportunity.

The event manager, who worked several years with Rhythm and Vines, decided his opportunity was industrial hemp from the cannabis plant.

It is grown legally throughout New Zealand but not in Hawke's Bay. The New Zealand market is for its oil but he saw a potential for the fibre's insulative/building potential, filling an urgent need in social housing.

The Salveo Capital Marijuana Investment Summit will provide attendees with the knowledge to confidently invest in the next great American industry.