Happy Thanksgiving from The Canna Law Blog
From all of us at the Canna Law Blog, Happy Thanksgiving! May your day be filled with good food, great company, and the seeds of prosperity for the coming year.
Federal Cannabis Policy is More Confusing Than Ever
Federal cannabis policy has always been a mess. When I say “always”, I’m looking back 90 years or so, beginning with the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937, then skipping ahead to the Controlled Substances Act, the Rohrbacher-Farr Amendment, the 2014 Farm Bill, and the 2018 Farm Bill—not to mention the various awkward and occasionally incoherent
Hemp Companies Have One Year to Get Marijuana Genetics Into or Out of the US. . . But a Loophole May Still Exist
The hemp industry faces its biggest shake-up since 2018 Effective November 13, 2025, Congress fundamentally rewrote the laws governing hemp in America. Buried within the government funding bill (starting at pg. 64) is language that will reshape the entire hemp industry, including a critical shift in how marijuana seeds are treated under federal law. See
Notes on the Federal Prohibition of Intoxicating Hemp
The U.S. government reopened on Wednesday and promptly “closed the loophole” on intoxicating hemp products. I use those tacky quotes because I don’t believe there ever was a loophole. But now we can stop having those debates, I suppose, because Congress has sealed the deal. The ban on intoxicating hemp items comes via a continuing
Thailand’s Cannabis Leadership: The Path from Innovation to Sustainable Reform
Last week at the International Asian Hemp Expo in Thailand, I witnessed the remarkable energy and potential of a country that has boldly positioned itself at the forefront of cannabis reform in Asia. The conversations I had with operators, policymakers, and international stakeholders revealed extraordinary innovation and entrepreneurship, while also highlighting opportunities to strengthen Thailand’s
Buying and Selling Minnesota Cannabis Licenses
Minnesota is the latest state to develop a secondary market for cannabis license sales. I’d call the Minnesota market “robust”, except that the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) hasn’t issued all that many licenses in the first place. Still, one source recently estimated “at least 80” licenses recently posted for sale. It’s a real thing.
Jason Adelstone to Speak at AIHEF 2025 in Thailand
This Wednesday, November 5, Harris Sliwoski attorney Jason Adelstone will present at AIHEF 2025 on the future of Thailand’s cannabis industry. Jason will discuss how a well-regulated Thai cannabis sector could become a leading medical supplier and a major catalyst for reform across Asia. At the same time, Thailand’s current approach of rescheduling cannabis without
Oregon Cannabis: OLCC Licensing and Market Updates
We continue to represent myriad buyers and sellers of OLCC marijuana licenses. At any given time, we are running 10-12 of these transactions, and sometimes more, as we have for many years. Recently, there have been a few changes worth noting, particularly as to the OLCC protocols. I’ll touch briefly on other market dynamics, too.
Minnesota Cannabis: Apply for Your Lower-Potency Hemp Edible License by October 31st
The lower-potency hemp edible licensing window is open, through October 31st Last month, I gave a big picture status update on cannabis licensing in Minnesota, highlighting the application window for lower-potency hemp edible (LPHE) licensing. LPHE products are a very hot market in Minnesota, and have been for a while. The LPHE application window opened
Oregon Federal Court Lawsuit Filed, Seeking Interstate Cannabis Sales
Yesterday late afternoon, Oregon cannabis wholesaler Jefferson Packing House (JPH) filed another dormant commerce clause (DCC) challenge to protectionist state cannabis laws. You can view the complaint here. I say “another” DCC challenge because JPH prosecuted DCC litigation in late 2022; and also because several DCC cannabis lawsuits have been filed in recent years, with