Legal marijuana is the fastest-growing industry in the United States and if the trend toward legalization spreads to all 50 states, marijuana could become larger than the organic food industry, according to a new report obtained by The Huffington Post.

Researchers from The ArcView Group, a cannabis industry investment and research firm based in Oakland, California, found that the U.S. market for legal cannabis grew 74 percent in 2014 to $2.7 billion, up from $1.5 billion in 2013.

“I never lie to my son,” insists Diane Fornbacher. And for the long-time cannabis activist and mother living in the town of Collingswood, New Jersey, that means telling the truth about the world’s most versatile plant, to her children as well as the world.

Thus, Fornbacher’s son, now 10-years-old, saw everything.

“He sees that I have legal hemp products in my house,” says the devoted mother.

Hemp growers look to oil, rather than fiber, to make good money

The Oregon Department of Agriculture will resume issuing licenses for hemp growers in late February just as the industry is veering away from industrial uses and toward the more lucrative market of medical marijuana products.

Hemp is a hybrid cousin of marijuana but with low levels of THC, the chemical that produces the high. It has been used over the centuries for fiber, clothing, food, oil and other industrial purposes. But since the legalization of medical marijuana 18 years ago, growers have found that hemp's high levels of cannabidiol can provide patients with some of the same medical benefits as marijuana but without the psychotropic effects.

Standing desks. Flex hours. Unlimited vacation policies. Working from home. In 2016, employers are more open than ever to to new approaches for a happier, healthier, more productive workplaces. So, what about the new wave of employers allowing - and even encouraging - employees to consume cannabis on the clock?

For the past several years, the issue of cannabis legalization has become a dominant topic of discussion in North America. From a cultural and social standpoint, momentum and popularity continues to move in favor of decriminalizing the drug, with an overwhelming majority in support of wider legalization. This has led to the legislative and political landscapes shifting rapidly to reflect the sentiment of their constituents. It also helps that the first states to legalize cannabis for recreational use have largely reported promising results on just about all fronts. This has created a dynamic in which support is building upon itself. As more positive data comes out, the cannabis community’s voice for legalization gets louder, and politicians react in kind.

A group of nuns are fighting to keep to keep weed legal in California. The Sisters of the Valley are based in California’s Central valley, and manufacture weed-based products they sell on their Etsy store. It’s worth pointing out that their products won’t get you high – they’re more like an alternative medicine.

The Sisters have got their habits in a twist because the city of Merced, where they live, last week passed a law banning medicinal weed. Although weed is legal in California, the Governor has given all cities in the state the opportunity to set their own cannabis legislation – and Merced has voted to ban the drug. 

BERKELEY, CA - MARCH 25: One-ounce bags of medicinal marijuana are displayed at the Berkeley Patients Group March 25, 2010 in Berkeley, California. California Secretary of State Debra Bowen certified a ballot initiative late Wednesday to legalize the possession and sale of marijuana in the State of California after proponents of the measure submitted over 690,000 signatures. The measure will appear on the November 2 general election ballot. (Photo : Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Mexican lawmakers are proposing a bill to legalize medical marijuana for patients in the country.

Unless you’re living under a rock, you’ve probably heard that marijuana is now legal in some states in the U.S. hinting at a future where cannabis is no longer illegal at all. The end of prohibition for marijuana in the U.S. would be hugely disruptive and create the potential for a great deal of money to be made off of marijuana legally.

How do you like your weed? Whether you smoke to relax, get creative, or for medical reasons, a new online tool will help you decide which marijuana strain is best for the job.