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.
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
Harris Sliwoski attorney Jason Adelstone will present at the International Cannabis Bar Association's (INCBA) Cannabis Law Institute 2026, taking place June 17–18 in Chicago and hosted by Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. Jason will join Adi Rozenfeld of Herzog Fox & Neeman and Sahar Ayinehsazian of A.Y. Strauss for a panel discussion titled: Beyond Borders:
Since acting Attorney General Todd Blanch announced that state-legal medical marijuana would move to Schedule III, the commentary has been relentless — hot takes, doomsayers, and self-proclaimed experts flooding LinkedIn with conflicting interpretations. Much of it is speculative, overstated, and uneducated. This piece cuts through the noise and responds to the questions I have fielded
For state-licensed medical marijuana operators, a narrow and potentially transformative window has opened--one that could position your business for future interstate and even global trade. While the Acting Attorney General’s rescheduling order is likely to face legal challenges, the immediate reality is this: you have a 60-day opportunity to act. As of yesterday, April 28,
U.S. joins much of the world in acknowledging medical marijuana The U.S. has joined much of the world in acknowledging medical marijuana. Let international trading begin! Effective April 28, 2026, the acting Attorney General "hereby order[s] that FDA-approved drug products containing marijuana, as well marijuana in any form covered by a state medical marijuana license,
Harris Sliwoski is pleased to announce that Christian Sederberg has joined the firm as Of Counsel. Based in our Denver, Colorado office, Christian brings decades of experience advising businesses, policymakers, and industry leaders across a range of complex regulatory and transactional matters, with a particular focus on the cannabis industry. Christian is widely recognized as
Most commentary on the “hemp ban” included in the November funding bill has focused on two related questions: (1) which products and activities may become unlawful on November 12, 2026; and (2) whether Congress will materially amend or delay the ban before then. I recently discussed another consequence operators should be considering as the deadline
Earlier this month, the Bailiwick of Jersey appeared poised to take a measured, evidence-based step toward re-examining its approach to non-medical cannabis. Three reform proposals put forward by Tom Binet, Minister for Health and Social Services, were expected to be debated by the States Assembly of Jersey on February 3, 2026. That debate has now
What long resembled a Never Ending Story has finally reached a turning point. Today, President Trump signed an Executive Order directing the Attorney General to reschedule marijuana as a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). The signing and remarks can be viewed here. The order includes the following directives (as first reported
