California’s cannabis regime is set up to separate every point in the supply chain into different license types: cultivation, manufacturing, distribution, testing, and retail sales, to name a few. Except for a few vertically integrated companies, virtually all cannabis businesses must rely on other companies in the supply chain to get products from farm to
It's common in many different kinds of cannabis contract negotiations for the parties to execute a document early in the stages of negotiations that is often called a letter of intent (or LOI), but can also be called a term sheet. LOIs are used in most real estate and M&A transactions, but can be used
Florida officials are on "high alert" as THC edibles "are making their way into the hands of children and teens." Of particular concern is the fact that the goods in question "bear a striking resemblance to ordinary candy." An image shared by the Charlotte Country Sheriff's Office shows bags prominently featuring the trademarks of well-known
Although Americans, and citizens of certain states in particular, have a reputation as a litigious bunch, the reality is that very few civil lawsuits actually go to trial. The vast majority of cases—perhaps more than 90%—end in settlement. This is certainly true in my practice and for most attorneys I know who specialize in business
As reported by Hemp Grower magazine, Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky introduced legislation on December 15 that would amend the definition of hemp from .3% THC to 1% THC. The bill would also make other major changes to the USDA’s interim final rule, which would affect hemp growers, processors, manufacturers, and shippers. The legislation is
On December 22, the Food and Drug Administration (the “FDA”) issued new warning letters to five companies that illegally sold and marketed unapproved CBD products, which the companies claimed could prevent, diagnose, mitigate, treat or cure various medical conditions. This latest round of enforcement actions was triggered by specific concerns with the manner in which
On December 17, the FTC issued a press release announcing its first law enforcement crackdown on deceptive claims in the growing market for cannabidiol (CBD) products. According to the press release, a number of “companies made unsupported claims that their oils, balms, gummies, coffee, and other goods could treat serious diseases such as cancer and
It’s been a little while since we’ve talked about patent protection on the blog, but a recent consultation reminded me a primer on the different types of patents potentially available could be beneficial. Here in the United States, there are three broad categories of patents, all of which are governed by the Patent Act (or
On November 17, 2020, the Fresno County Superior Court dismissed a lawsuit filed by 24 California cities seeking to invalidate state cannabis regulations that allow delivery of cannabis to customers in jurisdictions that have banned retail commercial cannabis activity. Many industry players and media are touting the dismissal as a “win” for California cannabis companies.
Last month, along with streamlined licensing, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) announced a significant (and welcome) change to its compliance function by instituting a new Verification of Compliance program (VOC) that will focus on education rather than penalties for certain types of marijuana rule violations. The VOC launched in early October and arose from
