USDA Interim Final Hemp Rules
On October 31, 2019 — yes, on Halloween and almost a year after the legalization of commercial hemp production — the USDA finally released its interim final rule (“IFR”) to establish the Domestic Hemp Production Program. As you may recall, on December 20, 2018, the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 — better known as the […]
Defining Moments in 2019 Cannabis and What They Mean for 2020
It has been two years since California began licensing yet operators still struggle with compliance and are all still de facto, breaking one law or another. To kick us off, hemp was legalized at the federal level, and we entered into unchartered territory, navigating uncertain waters of the newest arm of the cannabis industry with […]
Coming Soon: Compassionate Care Program Implementation
As people prepare for 2020, it’s important to remember that new cannabis laws will go into effect beginning January 1. A couple of notable ones are Jojo’s law (SB 223, authorizes local education authorities to adopt policies that allow a student’s parent or guardian to administer certain types of medical cannabis on school grounds) and […]
Foresight in 2020: Employment Law Outlook for the Coming Year
In the countdown to the new year, it is important to evaluate your employment relationships and ensure compliance with the countless employment laws governing California businesses. Many of these laws are draconian in nature and non-compliance may lead to claims that are crippling to a company, even for the most minor of infractions. To compound […]
MedMen: Where There’s a Will, There’s a Lawsuit.
While the City of Los Angeles is receiving backlash for Phase 3 Retail Round 1 Licensing processes, the City of West Hollywood (“WeHo”) is actively defending its own application and licensing procedures in court. On September 4, 2019, MedMen, by and through its subsidiary Farmacy Collective (“MedMen”), filed a Petition for Writ of Mandate (a […]
Looking Ahead: California in Need of Creative Solutions for Regulatory Burdens
Black Friday may be right around the corner, but the state isn’t making it easy for cannabis business owners to see their accounting books transition into the black this year. Business owners striving to be compliant are still facing what seem to be insurmountable challenges in order to succeed between burdensome regulations, fierce, unfair competition […]
SAFE Banking: Crucial for Hemp Businesses to be Welcomed by Financial Institutions.
It’s no secret that the conflict between state and federal law has created banking issues for hundreds of state-licensed and regulated marijuana businesses. Cue the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019 – This bill, better known as the SAFE Banking Act, was passed by the House of Representatives on September 25, 2019 with […]
LA Cannabis Business Licensing – BOO! The Phase 1, 2 and 3 Shenanigans
Since our last LA Update, the application submission process for Phase 3, Round 1 has come and gone and there have been numerous announcements and new proposed rulemakings for all cannabis-related businesses in Los Angeles. Phase 1 EMMDs will finally start having their annual applications reviewed, Phase 2 Authorized Non-Retailers have numerous upcoming deadlines and […]
Newsom Pushes California Cannabis in Right Direction
Going into the end of the legislative session, many members of the cannabis industry were optimistic about the fate of cannabis-related bills as they crossed Governor Newsom’s desk. A leader of California’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Marijuana Policy and a strong proponent of Prop 64, Newsom has been a poster boy for the cannabis industry […]
Your Cannabis Business – What to Look For in a Management Agreement
As with any other industry, owners of licensed cannabis businesses often determine that their limited time and resources require utilizing the services of an experienced third-party management company to maximize the profitability of a business. This is particularly true when owners decide to expand their businesses by obtaining additional locations and/or license types to maximize […]