Because of existing federal legislation, marijuana businesses cannot open a bank account, nor use checking accounts.  The rule is "cash only".  In today's business environment, federal payroll taxes must be deposited online via EFT sites which require bank accounts.  This is an example of one challenge these dispensaries are facing in the battle to become fully operational.  These types of barriers tend to make operating costs exhorbitantly high for marijuana-related ventures.  Change must somehow be made at the federal level, or medical marijuana production and distribution will never be legitimized.  The underground will continue to operate and flourish, generally to the detriment of probably a majority of medical users who are and will be unable to propagate and cultivate the plant for their own medicinal use.