After millions of out-of-state dollars and corporate interests helped legalize recreational marijuana in three states this past Tuesday, some pundits have said the debate over legalization is finished.

Actually, the debate is just beginning.

A new Congress and Administration are in Washington, and it’s unlikely they’ll be friendly to pot industry interests. You certainly won’t see Rudy Giuliani on the cover of High Times any time soon, and opponents to legalization are more emboldened than ever: Recreational marijuana lost big in purple Arizona last Tuesday, and almost two-thirds of localities in liberal Oregon with this issue on the ballot voted “no” to pot shops in their neighborhoods. 

MA voters have approved the legalization of recreational marijuana, making it the first state on the east coast to do so. As of this morning in ME, the "yes" vote leads by less than 1 point with 98% of precincts reporting.

Kevin Sabet, an ex-presidential drug policy adviser who is now leading the national anti-legalization association Smart Approaches to Marijuana, said, "We'd like [Trump] to enforce the law".

California’s lieutenant governor, Dr. Bronner’s, Vicente Sederberg LLC and a host of others were honored with Pinneapple d’Or trophies at the 2016 Cannabist Awards on Wednesday night in Las Vegas.

In its second year, the Cannabist Awards went big: offering 40 awards in nine categories across a broad spectrum of the burgeoning marijuana industry, as well as naming a Cannabist Person of the Year. The theme for this year’s event was “Future Forward,” honoring the leading innovators, companies and individuals in sectors such as technology, hemp, medical advancement, community, public service and education.

More than 10,000 cannabis industry leaders from around the country have converged on Las Vegas for a convention.  At ShowGrow, marijuana professionals are looking at everything from equipment and fertilizer to an actual mockup of a dispensary.

"What we've done with the ShowGrow concept is to offer safe access, in essence, with a fun environment," said David Barakett, CEO of ShowGrow.

At the convention, businesses offer a glimpse into what Nevada's marijuana industry could look like in the future.  State lawmakers will soon tackle a bill that would require edibles to be packaged in non-descript, child-proof packaging.

Manufacturers like California-based Kush Bottles are already working on meeting those standards.

Legalized recreational marijuana in an increasing number of states will reduce unnecessary arrests for people in possession the plant, exhibitors and speakers at this week’s Marijuana Business Conference and Expo said.

“It’s time to roll back the war on marijuana and work toward fulfilling its potential,” Ethan Nadelmann, executive director of the Drug Policy Alliance, said during a keynote panel in front of about 500 marijuana business owners from across the country.

Heliospectra AB, a world leader in intelligent lighting technology for controlled environment horticulture, announced its exhibition at the Marijuana Business Conference and Expo, November 16-18, 2016 in Las Vegas, Nev

Over 63 million Americans now live in states where it's legal to consume recreational weed.

Americans said "yes we cannabis" on Election Day, when voters in California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada passed ballot initiatives fully legalizing the use and possession of marijuana without a doctor's recommendation.

Hey, Arkansas, California, Florida, Maine, Massachusetts, Montana, Nevada and North Dakota, you just adopted some new marijuana laws.

So what now?

“A logical next step for us based on public support”

On the heels of Nevada’s decision to legalize recreational Cannabis use, Good Chemistry Nurseries is bringing its award-winning nursery system and world-class product to Nevada with the launch of a new Reno production facility that will service dispensaries throughout the state. The announcement was made today by company founder & CEO Matthew Huron.

One in five Americans can now use marijuana legally.

Seven states legalized marijuana in some form on Election Day. California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada showed up to support recreational marijuana, while Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota passed ballot initiatives legalizing medical marijuana.