Recently on the podcast High Spirits: The Cannabis Business Podcast, I discussed how cannabis legalization can occur through executive action, not just congressional action. This post will expand on what we discussed on the podcast. My co-founder, Amna Shamim, and I started Project Four 2029 to engage with presidential and congressional candidates ahead of the
What just happened in the marijuana rescheduling hearing On September 28, 2026, three participants in the ALJ marijuana rescheduling hearing filed a “Joint Motion for Leave to File Supplemental Briefing, for Admission of Supplemental Exhibit, and for Stay of Proceedings.” The motion was submitted by DUID Victim Voices, Kenneth Finn, M.D., and the National Drug
Join us on October 8, 2026, for DEA Enforcement in a Changing Cannabis Landscape: Rescheduling, Hemp, and What Comes Next, a free webinar examining what the evolving federal cannabis landscape could mean for cannabis and hemp businesses. The discussion will feature: Jason Adelstone, Partner at Harris Sliwoski LLP; Matthew John Strait, former Deputy Assistant Administrator
The federal conversation around hemp and cannabis is entering a pivotal new phase. On September 18 in Denver, Harris Sliwoski partner Jason Adelstone will moderate One Plant, One Policy, a fireside discussion at IgniteIt Denver Spotlight focused on the future of federal hemp regulation. From cannabinoids and product standards to enforcement and consumer safety, policymakers
On September 9th, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia denied a motion to stay filed by SAM, Inc. and the National Drug and Alcohol Screening Association, Inc. (collectively, “SAM”). The motion sought to stay (pause) the Attorney General’s final order placing state legal medical marijuana into Schedule III of the
Colorado regulates marijuana businesses through the state Marijuana Enforcement Division (MED), while local jurisdictions retain separate licensing and regulatory authority over marijuana businesses within their boundaries. The current Colorado Marijuana Rules are codified at 1 CCR 212-3 (version effective January 5, 2026). Because state rules, forms, fee schedules, and local ordinances can change, applicants should
With so much of my attention focused on U.S. rescheduling lately, I wanted to take advantage of the D.C. Circuit’s delay and the DEA ALJ’s delayed timeline. This gives me an opportunity to get back into some considerations on international cannabis reform. Who controls government is one of the most important factors when discussing cannabis
Cannabis law has never been more contradictory. In the U.S., federal and state governments often regulate identical products under completely different legal frameworks. Hemp and marijuana can produce the same intoxicating effects, yet lawmakers treat them as fundamentally different. Medical marijuana now occupies a unique place under federal law while adult use marijuana remains prohibited.
While most attention has focused on the recently concluded marijuana rescheduling hearing, an equally significant legal battle has unfolded in the D.C. Circuit over the final rescheduling order ("Final Order"). Petitioners, the Department of Justice, newly intervening parties, and amici participants have exchanged a series of briefs over the past month. Those filings may ultimately
When I first met Martin Jelsma (retiring as Programme Director Drugs & Democracy at the Transnational Institute) in 2019, I was a law clerk who, from day one, began following developments in international cannabis policy. At the time, I was trying to understand the intricate architecture of the international drug control treaties—how they functioned, how
