marijuana

Its legal status and wide range of uses make marijuana a tough plant to regulate — or even to advise farmers about. Here, young marijuana plants are seen at a growing facility. Elaine Thompson/AP hide caption

Sen. Rand Paul waves to supporters in Denver after he spoke to a closed meeting of cannabis business leaders earlier in the day. David Zalubowski/AP hide caption

An Aka man smokes hemp while hunting in the Central African Republic. Veronique Durruty/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images hide caption

Marijuana at a medical marijuana dispensary in Los Angeles. Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. David McNew/Getty Images hide caption

Grand Daddy Purple, Skunk #1, Sugar Daddy Courtesy of Chronicle Books hide caption

High-end marijuana buds on sale at a Denver dispensary. Craig F. Walker/Denver Post via Getty Images hide caption

Washington, D.C., mayor Muriel Bowser in November of 2014. Manuel Balce Ceneta/AP hide caption

Leaders of the Alaska Cannabis Club share a joint at their medical marijuana dispensary in Anchorage. On Tuesday, Alaska became the third state in the nation to legalize recreational marijuana use. Mark Thiessen/AP hide caption

After the pot-smoking comes the insatiable hunger. Just ask James Franco and Seth Rogen's weed-loving characters in Pineapple Express. The Kobal Collection hide caption