Vince Sliwoski

Vince is an award-winning business lawyer, problem solver and dealmaker. His clients run the gamut from individual investors and entrepreneurs to widely held domestic and international corporations. Based in Portland, Oregon, he is Managing Partner of Harris Sliwoski and Editor of the Canna Law Blog and the Psychedelics Law Blog.

ballot

Cannabis on the Ballot, November 5: Florida, Nebraska, the Dakotas

Election Day is next Tuesday, November 5. I have plenty of thoughts! Today I’ll stay in my lane, though, and focus on the cannabis state ballot measures. The voting states this time around include Florida, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota. I’m aware of one other jurisdiction is doing work around the edges– namely, Oregon’s

labs

Oregon Cracks Down on THC Inflation and Testing Labs

On September 25th, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) sent notices to seven licensed testing laboratories, proposing license cancellation in some cases and suspension or fines in others. The notices center on alleged THC inflation, and extend back to instances identified in 2023. We only have eleven labs in Oregon accredited to do this

Earl Blumenauer

Congress is About to Lose Its Greatest Cannabis Advocate (Ever)

Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-Oregon) is retiring next month. Mr. Blumenauer, or “Earl” as he often asked to be called, has been a leading proponent of cannabis reform since 1973, when Oregon was the first state to decriminalize user amounts of the plant. Blumenauer was a brand new face in the Oregon House of Representatives at

oregon cannabis

Oregon Cannabis Roundup: Fall 2024

Now that Labor Day is in the rear view and people are paying attention again, it seems like a good time to drop a line on Oregon cannabis. Here are some highlights, to launch you into fall. OLCC’s 2024-2028 Strategic Plan A draft of the 2024-2028 Strategic Plan was first circulated at a Commission meeting

dea marijuana rescheduling

Thoughts on DEA’s Marijuana Rescheduling Hearing Announcement (Dec. 2)

Yesterday, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) near-noticed a hearing for its marijuana rescheduling proposal. The hearing would begin on December 2, 2024 at 9 a.m. ET, and may span multiple days or even weeks. The announcement came via an unpublished “notice of hearing on proposed rulemaking” (NOH). The final NOH is set for publication this

minnesota cannabis

Minnesota Could Be a Great Cannabis State

We have been following Minnesota’s progress on cannabis legalization for a while here at the law firm. It’s a state with huge potential, and reports from our attorneys at CannaCon last weekend were glowing. As a native Minnesotan (Duluth; Moorhead) who frequently returns to the state, I’m personally rooting hard. There is a lot to

Illustration of a person smiling, wearing sunglasses with the American flag pattern, in front of a background with white stars and cannabis leaves. The letter "B" in a red circle is on the right. This vibrant scene subtly nods to Kamala Harris's progressive stance.

Grading the Presidential Candidates on Marijuana: Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is a heavy favorite for Democratic Presidential nominee, now that Joe Biden has dropped out of the race and endorsed her. This means we should re-open our short series on the 2024 Presidential candidates and marijuana. I thought we were done with this stuff. We can trot out some deep cuts with Kamala

marijuana rescheduling

Heads Up! DEA Wants to Hear from You on Marijuana Rescheduling by July 22

In case you haven’t heard, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) wants to hear from you on marijuana rescheduling. Specifically, DEA invites your comments on its notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to move both marijuana and marijuana extract from schedule I to schedule III of the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The comment submission deadline is

cannabis law misinformation

Cannabis Law is Chaotic: Avoiding Misinformation Online

The internet is a badlands of misinformation on cannabis law and policy. Less than stellar takes may be amplified on news sites, giving them a veneer of authority. Social media platforms, from X to LinkedIn (where all the pros are said to be) don’t have nonsense filters. This dynamic is not new! However, things reached