In a sharp rebuke to New York’s Cannabis Control Board, state Supreme Court judge Kevin R. Bryant dealt a blow to the adult-use cannabis industry when he issued a decision in Leafly Holdings, Inc. et al. v. NYS Office of...more
Throughout my career as a hospitality and liquor license lawyer, I have been on the front lines of many successes and challenges in the industry. From inception of the business through succession, I have learned from...more
We always recommend you regularly review your state liquor licenses to ensure you hold the correct licenses for your business needs. However, given recent feedback from California regulators, you may want to expedite such a...more
On Friday, the Supreme Court of the State of New York, Albany County issued an Order that has effectively placed the long-anticipated rollout of New York’s legalized marijuana market on hold. In Fiore v. New York State...more
US Sentencing Commission Seeks Amendment To Allow for More Lenient Treatment for People With Prior Cannabis Convictions - The U.S. Sentencing Commission approved a series of amendments to current sentencing guidelines on...more
The Office of Cannabis Management’s (OCM) plan to double the number of conditional adult-use retail cannabis licenses (“CAURD” licenses) got some teeth yesterday when a federal court lifted an injunction barring CAURD...more
Last month, the Illinois Department of Finance and Professional Regulation (IDFPR), announced that it would begin accepting applications for 55 new adult-use cannabis retail licenses after January 30, 2023. The IDFPR, the...more
On November 9, 2022, the U.S. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (“TTB” or “Agency”) announced that the Agency is considering updating the alcohol trade practice regulations for the first time in 20 years. The current...more
After surviving a challenge to Attorney General Healey’s certification this summer, the “Changes to Alcohol Retail Licensing Initiative” will appear on the ballot this November as Massachusetts Question 3....more
There is cautious optimism that 2022 will be the year that federal legislation will open the door to the banking of cannabis transactions. But is the Safe Banking Act the answer? On the latest episode of #CreditEcotoGo with...more
Following consumer trends and fueled by the pandemic and related loosening of restrictions on in-state retailer alcohol delivery regulations, the marketplace for alcohol delivery services has expanded exponentially over the...more
On January 26, 2022, the New York State Liquor Authority issued a Declaratory Ruling regarding the eligibility of New York movie theaters to apply for and obtain on-premises retail licenses for beer and wine service. This is...more
The deadline for municipalities in New York State to choose whether they will allow retail sales of adult use cannabis is rapidly approaching. To date, approximately 25% of the state’s towns, and 30% of villages, have enacted...more
On October 8, 2021, Governor Newsom approved three restaurant relief measures. These measures will affect outdoor dining and the ABC license process....more
At its recent monthly meeting, the Oregon Liquor and Cannabis Commission (OLCC) formally announced that it will recommend extending the moratorium on new producer licenses for two more years. This recommendation will be made...more
New York’s industry-altering Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act includes an apparent mandate that cannabis retailers enter into, maintain and adhere to a “Labor Peace Agreement” with a labor union in order to legally grow,...more
Second in a series on the New York State Cannabis/Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act- The New York State Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), signed into law on March 31, legalized recreational use of marijuana...more
Direct-to-consumer wine sellers will face confusing, burdensome, and potentially unlawful new tax collection responsibilities beginning in 2021. The Illinois Department of Revenue released Informational Bulletin FY 2021-06...more
Medical + Recreational - The state regulatory body, the Cannabis Control Commission (“CCC”), has published a comprehensive guidance on its website regarding all aspects of licensure, renewals, application processes, and...more
In the evening of October 27, 2020, the New York Department of Health released the long-awaited proposed hemp regulations. The regulations are codified at 10 NYCRR Part 1005, titled “Medical Use of Marijuana & Cannabinoid...more
To those in the hospitality industry, it’s no secret that Pennsylvania liquor licenses are tough to come by. Retail, or “R” liquor licenses, are the type typically associated with a full-service restaurant but are in short...more
The recent US District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan opinion strikes down a Michigan statue and authorizes out-of-state retailers to sell and ship wine directly to Michigan consumers. Lebamoff Enterprises v....more
The “final word” may be in sight in a long-running dispute over state residency requirements imposed on applicants for retail alcohol beverage licenses as well as more fundamental questions about state powers under the 21st...more
The Policy Division of the South Carolina Department of Revenue has issued a final revenue ruling, SC Revenue Ruling #18-14, addressing retailers without a physical presence in South Carolina. The ruling comes on the heels of...more
The Policy Division of the South Carolina Department of Revenue has issued a draft revenue ruling addressing retailers without a physical presence in South Carolina. Comments on the draft ruling are due by August 27, 2018,...more