canna law blog

Cannabis Business Basics: Product Liability Insurance is a Nonnegotiable Priority

With Juul recently in the news and vaping bans going into effect around the country (see our recent coverage here, here, here and here), marijuana companies have been asking us questions about what to expect in the near term. In the midst of this uncertainty, we have been stressing to our clients the importance of insurance coverage

canna law blog

Five Common Problems in California Cannabis M&A Transactions

Now that we’re about two years into California cannabis licensing, our California cannabis attorneys are seeing a huge uptick in mergers and acquisitions in the cannabis space. It’s critical for potential M&A transactions to understand California cannabis laws and regulations and ensure that any M&A contracts are drafted with the regulations in mind. This is

canna law blog

Hemp-CBD Pet Foods Are Everywhere But Are They Legal?

According to recent reporting, pet industry spending is expected to reach $96 billion by 2020 with CBD as one of its fastest growing sections. Following the enactment of the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (“2018 Farm Bill”), there has been a huge interest in the use of hemp-derived cannabidiol (“Hemp-CBD”) for our furry friends. Yet,

canna law blog

Hemp-CBD Across State Lines: Louisiana

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

canna law blog

CBD Products and False Advertising Under the Lanham Act

A few weeks ago, I wrote a Hemp/CBD litigation forecast in which I predicted that at some point a CBD company will make use of the Lanham Act by claiming that a competitor is engaging in false or misleading advertising. (See here). In that post I promised to go into the Lanham Act in further

canna law blog

Border Woes: Transporting CBD into Canada is Not OK

In a recent tweet, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) reminded us that transporting CBD oil into Canada remains illegal. While in most places south of the 49th parallel what CBSA has to say is of little consequence, it certainly matters here in Washington State, where you’re never too far away from the Canadian border.

canna law blog

Vaping Epidemic and Cannabis: What Cannabis Businesses Can Expect

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you know that the U.S. is facing a vaping epidemic where consumers are potentially inhaling/ingesting very toxic chemicals in the form of vaporized nicotine liquid and THC oil. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevent (CDC), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and state and local governments are still trying

canna law blog

Vaping in Oregon: The Flavored Products Ban is Just the Beginning

On Friday, Oregon Governor Kate Brown issued Executive Order No. 19-09 (the “Order”), which directs the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) to “take immediate action to address the vaping public health crisis.” In one sense, the Order is narrower than many people feared and expected: specifically, it bans only

canna law blog

Hemp-CBD Across State Lines: Kentucky

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