Across states, lawmakers often embrace “medical” marijuana as a precursor to establishing a “recreational” marijuana market. Although marijuana remains illegal at the federal level — and would remain illegal even under the...more
The principle of open government is foundational to a healthy democracy, and the availability of government records upon request from the public is one of its chief cornerstones.
Originally published in Law360 - January 5,...more
4/5/2024
/ Attorney-Client Privilege ,
Cannabis Products ,
Controlled Substances ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
DEA ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Discovery ,
Exemptions ,
FOIA ,
Interagency Guidance ,
Marijuana ,
Motion for Summary Judgment ,
Records Request ,
Redacted Documents
On February 28, the Virginia General Assembly passed House Bill No. 698, which would legalize sales of recreational marijuana at retail in the Commonwealth. It now heads to the desk of Governor Glenn Youngkin, where its...more
3/5/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Licenses ,
Licensing Rules ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Cultivation ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Plant Based Products ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government ,
Virginia
Despite the federal ban on the sale, use, and possession of cannabis in the U.S., in October, Georgia became the first U.S. state to allow pharmacies to sell low-dose tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) products. Pursuant to statutes...more
12/13/2023
/ DEA ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Healthcare ,
Marijuana ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Patient Access ,
Pharmacies ,
Plant Based Products ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Rohrabacher-Farr Amendment ,
State and Local Government ,
THC
The principle of open government is foundational to a healthy democracy, and the availability of government records upon request from the public is one of its chief cornerstones. In the U.S., the primary mechanism by which...more
12/13/2023
/ Attorney-Client Privilege ,
Cannabis Products ,
Controlled Substances ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
DEA ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
FOIA ,
Government Agencies ,
Legalization ,
Marijuana ,
Motion for Summary Judgment ,
Public Interest ,
Public Records ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State Attorneys General ,
Transparency
Much attention has recently been placed on hemp-derived products marketed in packaging that mimics popular snack foods.
Originally published in Law360 - August 15, 2023....more
11/15/2023
/ Cannabis Products ,
Controlled Substances ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Hemp ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana-Infused Edibles ,
Plant Based Products ,
Product Packaging ,
Public Health ,
Recreational Use ,
THC
In the latest episode of Payments Pros, hosts Keith Barnett and Carlin McCrory are joined by Jean Gonnell and Agustin Rodriguez, co-leaders of Troutman Pepper’s Cannabis practice, to discuss the legal complexities that...more
State attorneys general (AG) are continuing their push for cannabis banking reform, underscoring the need for action to promote public health and safety in legal cannabis markets. On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of 22 state...more
9/28/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Banking Reform ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State Attorneys General
On August 9, a lawsuit was filed in Connecticut that aims to stop all legal cannabis activity in the state and declare the state’s 2021 legalization framework as unconstitutional. The complaint, filed by a local homeowners...more
9/26/2023
/ Anti-Commandeering ,
Cannabis Products ,
Connecticut ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Controlled Substances ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Federal v State Law Application ,
Legalization ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Preemption ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
On September 12, the New York Cannabis Control Board (CCB) approved final regulations governing the adult-use cannabis industry in New York, marking a long-awaited moment for industry participants and state regulators alike....more
9/26/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Deregulation ,
Dispensaries ,
Investment Opportunities ,
Licenses ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Cultivation ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
New York ,
Real Party in Interest ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government
On July 21, the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), a comprehensive bill to decriminalize, regulate, and tax cannabis, was introduced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ),...more
While cannabis legalization moves full steam ahead through much of the Northeast, the southeastern U.S. has been notably slow to uptake major reforms. These states haven’t made major headlines for their progressive cannabis...more