Law360, New York ( February 10, 2016, 1:31 PM EST) -- 2015 was an important year for investors in marijuana companies as the industry worked around initial obstacles, states refined regulatory frameworks, American public support of legalization increased, and banks and other service providers increasingly worked with marijuana companies. Marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, however, and many investors remain hesitant, until the federal government clarifies its position, to make investments with growers in the U.S. market, instead focusing on businesses that provide products and services to growers or businesses in the Canadian market. That being said, with the market expanding as quickly as it is,[1] even ancillary businesses have potential for significant growth, and investors and the press continue to closely monitor regulatory and other industry developments. This article summarizes key developments of 2015 at the federal, state and international levels, as well as in the areas of banking, insurance and intellectual property....