Happy MLK Day! For our international readers, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a federal U.S. holiday marking the birthday of its eponymous civil rights hero. Dr. King was the chief spokesperson for nonviolent activism in the Civil Rights Movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. Dr. King was assassinated in
The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) legalized hemp by removing the crop and its derivatives from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and by providing a detailed framework for the cultivation of hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill gives the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulatory authority over hemp
We recently received a request from a client to advise them on Shopify’s guidance on selling CBD products on its platform. Specifically, the first paragraph of the guidance states that “[y]ou should consult with an attorney to determine how and where you’re able to sell your product.” And that’s exactly what the client did –
Here are the most common causes of action that our litigation team sees in and around the cannabis industry. We hope these overviews help our audience not only understand what they can expect if they ever find themselves in litigation, but also what they can and should be mindful of in conducting their businesses to
On January 2, the Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) issued non-binding guidance (“Guidance”) in which the agency explains how it intends to prioritize enforcement actions to tackle the growing increase in youth use of electronic nicotine delivery systems (“ENDS”)–more commonly and broadly referred to as “e-cigarettes”–as well as to address vaping-associated lung injuries. According to a
The Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) legalized hemp by removing the crop and its derivatives from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and by providing a detailed framework for the cultivation of hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill gives the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulatory authority over hemp
Succeeding in the cannabis industry is not easy, especially in California. Complex regulation, high taxes, expensive real estate, and competition with the black market are just a handful of factors that challenge cannabis businesses. The majority of players lack sufficient reserves and agility to stay in the game. Due to the substantial upfront costs required
This is the second of a two-part installment on trending cannabinoids. For the previous post on cannabigerol (CBG), go here. This post concerns CBN (cannabinol). Like CBD and THC, CBN is among the 100+ molecules in the cannabis plant. CBN comes from oxidation and decomposition of THC, meaning that when THC is heated and exposed
California cannabis regulators are slowly getting into enforcement mode under the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation Act (“MAUCRSA”). Ostensibly, enforcement to date has been around illegal sales and/or around the manufacturing of illegal products (like vape cartridges). It’s only a matter of time though before enforcement becomes more sophisticated around licensing, including the state
A year ago, we discussed a shift in nomenclature for hemp-derived cannabidiol (“Hemp-CBD”) products. Many CBD companies have swapped the word “CBD” for the terms “hemp extract” and “full spectrum hemp” in hope of mitigating the risk of FDA and local enforcement actions. As we previously explained, the main impetus behind this movement seems to
