I have spent a lot of time engaging with clients who are dealing with cannabis investors on the front and back end of investments. I work with companies and investors-- from idea inception to litigation. The suite of investors runs the gamut from friends and family, to key employees, executives, and board members with equity
It’s common for companies in all industries to use social media “influencers” to promote their goods and services online. Influencer advertising in the cannabis industry is a particularly risky idea, because paid advertisers need to comply with all cannabis marketing and advertising rules. These rules are beasts of the applicable state regulations on cannabis products
In cannabis contract negotiations, it's common for the parties to execute an early-stage document called a letter of intent ("LOI"). An LOI may also be called a term sheet; naming it one over the other has no legal significance. I love these little agreements and today I will tell you why. LOIs are used in
I don't know how it came to be, exactly, but I've spent countless hours of my adult working life aiding due diligence on cannabis transactions. These transactions involve all kinds of companies, from sole proprietorships to public companies, and a variety of deals--from leasing, to financing, to good old M&A. Today, I'll cover how diligence
Understanding Trademark Strength We frequently discuss the cannabis-specific challenges that brands face when seeking trademark protection. But it's just as important not to lose sight of the core trademark principles that apply to all businesses—especially the need for a strong, distinctive mark. Clients often approach us with catchy, creative names that, unfortunately, are (or are
Cannabis businesses are usually structured as limited liability companies (LLCs)—and for good reason. LLCs offer far more flexibility than corporations, which are bound by rigid governance rules. To take advantage of this flexibility (and for many other reasons), LLC owners—called members—need a well-drafted operating agreement. Below, we look at a few critical reasons why cannabis
There are many ways to set up a cannabis business, and we like to think that we've seen them all. But there's probably no worse category than 50/50 ownership of a business-- a recipe for all sorts of disasters. Let's look and why that is, and some ways to avoid it. What 50/50 ownership means,
We always say we aren’t giving legal advice on this blog. Here’s some, though: don’t use or sign a contract given to you by a broker for a transaction, unless that broker is a real estate broker, and unless the form is a real estate purchase agreement. Even then, you almost certainly want lawyer eyes
REGISTER HERE The cannabis industry is expanding nationwide, but securing trademark protection remains a complex challenge due to federal restrictions and evolving state laws. If you’re a cannabis business owner, lawyer, or entrepreneur looking to protect your brand, you won’t want to miss our upcoming webinar on cannabis and trademarks. What You’ll Learn Our expert
The Oregon legislative session formally kicked off this week, on Tuesday, January 21st. It’s a regular session in 2025, meaning we’re in for a longer stretch -- a 160-day calendar, versus the 35-day affair we see in even-numbered years. If you read any of the news articles previewing the 2025 session, you won’t see cannabis
