California Submits Proposed Hemp Regulations to the USDA – If Approved, Compliance Will be Key
On September 21, 2020, the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) released its proposed Regulatory Plan for Hemp Production (the “Regulatory Plan”). They were submitted to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and must be approved or denied within 60 days, and if approved, become immediately operative. Notably, the regulations provide guidelines for […]
Much Ado About the DEA Interim Final Rule; What’s The Deal With Hemp?
On August 21, 2020, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) published an interim final rule (IFR) to implement hemp-related amendments to the Federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA) that were made by the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (the “2018 Farm Bill”). According to the DEA, this IFR “merely confirms [the agency’s] regulations to the statutory amendments […]
Meital Manzuri Covers Assembly Bill 1525 for the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal
Meital Manzuri’s article “Bill Opens Bank Doors to Cannabis Operators (Read the Fine Print)” was published in the Los Angeles and San Francisco Daily Journal on September 16, 2020. In the piece, Meital discusses Assembly Bill 1525, which was recently signed into law by California Governor Gavin Newsom and allows financial institutions to work with […]
You Asked, We Answered: The New LA Ordinance Live Q&A Session
Our live Q&A on August 13th was a hit! We covered a variety of topics on how the new LA Ordinance and Fee Schedule affect every L.A. operator, from Temporary Approvals and proposed locations to relocations, ownership transfers, and Social Equity Tiers. Don’t worry if you missed the live session! Questions & Answers from the session can […]
The Cannabis Class Actions Are Coming
On July 29, 2020, a live resin vape cartridge customer filed a consumer class action in San Francisco Superior Court against cannabis brand Raw Garden. False Advertising Allegations The complaint alleges unfair competition, breach of warranty, negligent misrepresentation and false advertising of Raw Garden-branded Live Resin vape cartridges as a result of claims that the […]
Stakeholders Push for CA Regulators to Consider Creating Statewide Retail Ordinance for Locals to Opt Into
A new report commissioned by Weedmaps and the California Hispanic Chamber of Commerce estimates that California’s total taxable cannabis sales could reach $9.8 billion if the market was allowed to reach its full potential. Nearly four years after legalization through Prop 64, the illicit market still dominates the state’s cannabis sales. In 2019, taxable cannabis […]
California Allows Proxy Voting as End of Session Looms Amidst Pandemic
With multiple legislators contracting COVID-19, the Legislature recently confirmed that some voting will be done remotely in the next month. The new rule was crafted to make sure some legislation is passed before the constitutional deadline of August 31 for the 2019-20 two-year legislative session. If bills are not passed by both houses by that […]
An End to the FDA Bottleneck? Recent Developments in the Federal Regulation of CBD
Both consumers and members of the industry have been eagerly waiting for the FDA to provide clarity as to the regulatory future of Cannabidiol, more commonly known as CBD. This overwhelming public interest has translated into substantial, bipartisan political pressure at the highest levels of government. Both the Senate Majority and Minority Leaders have made […]
Managing Distressed Assets – Lessons Learned From MedMen, Ignite, and Acreage Holdings
The global pandemic and resulting economic turmoil have caused many businesses in the cannabis industry to teeter on the edge of insolvency. Although Governor Newsom was quick to declare cannabis businesses as “essential,” many of these companies have suffered huge losses, defaulted on their loan obligations and leases, and lack the capital to pay for […]
In With SB837 and Out With Vertical Integration
The vertical integration model that LA MMJ businesses follow has been redefined by SB837. Read on to find out what this means and how it could affect the cannabis industry going forward. Definition: Vertical integration is when a business does not get its products from a wholesaler or distributor but sells what it produces. In […]