The Canna Law Blog is a forum for discussing the practical aspects of cannabis law and its impacts on the cannabis industry. We provide insight into how cannabis businesspeople can use the law to their advantage and in plain language we tell you what works and what does not. We aim to help you strategize how to wield the law as both a shield and a sword.

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The Current Legal Status of Staking in the Crypto World

The Legal Status of Staking in the Crypto World With BTC, ETH, and other cryptocurrencies trending upward in Q4 2023 and into 2024, it is a good time to revisit an issue I have been thinking about lately. What is the legal status of staking? The Basics About Staking According to Coinbase, staking is multifaceted

How to Use AI in Mergers and Acquisitions

Using AI in Due Diligence Due diligence is the process by which a company evaluates a potential business partner. In an M&A transaction between equals, this means that both sides will get the opportunity to look at the other sideā€™s records of all types, typically with very little held back. These due diligence requests typically

International contract lawyer

The Importance of Choice of Law Provisions in Sales Contracts

Choice-of-Law Provisions in Contracts Few contract provisions are as important and yet often overlooked as the choice-of-law provision. This provision determines which jurisdiction’s legal framework will govern the contract and shapes how disputes will be resolved and how legal rights will be interpreted. It is essentially the legal compass guiding the contractual relationship. Making the

Regulation A

What is a Regulation A Securities Offering?

Our firm’s lawyers routinely assist U.S. and non-U.S. companies in raising capital in the United States. One of the most critical ways international and U.S. companies raise funds in the U.S. is by issuing stock or other securities. Securities offerings, however, are highly regulated — at both the state and federal levels. U.S. law requires

Top Five E-commerce mistakes

Top 5 E-Commerce Mistakes, and How to Avoid Them

E-commerce businesses are easy targets for lawsuits. Unlike traditional brick-and-mortar businesses, everything e-commerce businesses do is online for billions of people to see with the click of a button. So, the massive uptick in e-commerce litigation in recent years should not surprise anybody. Despite these increased risks for e-commerce businesses, many make massive mistakes in

The Ripple Case and tokens as a security

When is a Token a Security? Lessons from the SEC v Ripple Case

With the SEC v. Ripple decision emerging recently, many commentators (see here and here) have focused on the holding of the case, which is the correct place to start. This post focuses on the holding, plus additional matters discussed in the decision and additional insights gleaned from the rest of the decision. Foundational Facts of

Two Business people Analyzing Document

Which Industries Can Benefit From Smart Contracts?

With Web3 on the horizon and digital transformation in the air, blockchain technologies like smart contracts are becoming more common in business processes. Every company should be asking how can you incorporate these technologies into your business model. For context, a smart contract is a self-enforcing piece of code that exists on a blockchain and

Web3 Lawyers

Is Web3 Dead? Not From Where We are Sitting

Even with some high-profile enforcement actions and general mayhem in the blockchain industry (see here and here), many founders continue to build their projects, gain traction in the market, and receive funding. We know this because we speak with many such entrepreneurs every week. Below is an excerpt from an email I recently sent to

What Are Smart Contracts on Blockchain?Ā 

Are Smart Contracts Legal Contracts?

If you have been following the news around Web3 lately, you may have heard of smart contracts. They are used in a wide variety of decentralized digital transactions, including NFT sales, decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs), and decentralized applications (dApps). Because smart contracts can relieve some of the hassle involved with traditional contracts, many businesses are

HB logo on gray background

What Are Smart Contracts on Blockchain?

If you’ve paid any attention at all to news about Web3, the metaverse, non-fungible tokens (NFTs), or cryptocurrency, you’ve probably heard of smart contracts. You’re also probably intrigued by how they work from a legal perspective and what they could mean for the future of your business. Smart contracts are a foundational element of Web3,