Due to the federal illegality of cannabis, cannabis businesses don't receive normal treatment from the federal government (with maybe one or two exceptions, like the NLRB and the 2014 FinCEN guidance for access to financial institutions). This obviously mucks up the ability of a cannabis business to operate in a consistent and reliable way, and
Over the years, we've pointed out when federal agencies opt to ignore the federal illegality of cannabis. It happens more often than you might think depending on the topic (see, for example, the NLRB). One agency, though, that has surprisingly never lifted a finger against state-legal cannabis--though it is taking a closer look at CBD--is
The California legislature is considering a new law (AB-1639) that, if passed, would restrict how cannabis vape products are made and sold. AB-1639 would change California law for tobacco and cannabis businesses (for the purposes of this post, we'll just focus on the cannabis side of the law), and would effectively prohibit almost any kind
Congratulations to Senator Kamala Harris, Joe Biden’s V.P. pick. Harris will become the first Black woman and the first person of Indian descent to be nominated for national office by a major party. It’s a huge accomplishment. It could also impact the race significantly in the coming weeks and months. What would a Vice President
For the past 15 years, the global “War on Drugs” has shaped Mexico’s national security landscape. The Mexican government’s offensive against illegal drugs has taken two paths: head-on clashes with the cartels and significant updates to its drug policies. A brief timeline of events specifically affecting cannabis in Mexico is in order. In 2009, Mexico
We regularly represent marijuana businesses that find themselves on the wrong side of an OLCC charging document. The charging document will list the particular rule or rules that the OLCC alleges the licensee has violated and always, in my opinion, lists only the most severe sanctions. The OLCC sanctions schedule is laid out in tiers.
Given that cannabis remains federally illegal in the United States (despite the fact that more than a majority of states have some form of cannabis legal reform), we get pretty excited when we see other countries undertake legalization experiments at the federal level. Canada was the first country to legalize commercial licensing for the cultivation,
On May 20, 2020, the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (LCB) held a virtual listen and learn forum on Draft Conceptual Rules Regarding Marijuana Licensee True Party of Interest Rules. Cannabis Observer covered the forum and a summary is available here. The move to change the true party of interest (TPI) rules started in October
The Oregon Liquor Control Commission (“OLCC”) is tasked with regulating medical and recreational cannabis in Oregon and this includes commencing administrative enforcement proceedings against licensees found in violation of one or more rules. The OLCC may seek sanctions against licensees ranging from a monetary penalty and/or a period of suspension to license cancellation. We sat
The City of Los Angeles is no stranger to change and struggle around its local cannabis industry. Since the passage of Proposition M back in 2017, the City has made great strides but also suffered significant setbacks in building its licensed cannabis marketplace. Even through the COVID-19 pandemic, this trend continues for Los Angeles and
