The past several weeks (May 11-27, 2025) saw a surge of activity targeting intoxicating consumable hemp products, as states move to enact new regulations. These are the latest developments in the field of consumable hemp...more
5/29/2025
/ Cannabis Products ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Government Agencies ,
Hemp ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
State Attorneys General ,
State Legislatures ,
THC
With DEA’s marijuana rescheduling hearing now delayed indefinitely, the most promising prospect for meaningful cannabis reform may lie in the hands of Congress. Seemingly undeterred by the strong headwinds that have scuttled...more
5/22/2025
/ Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
DEA ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Government Agencies ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform
Perhaps recognizing an enforcement gap in the evolving struggle to protect consumers from what Governor Newsom has characterized as a grave threat to public health and safety, the California legislature is taking steps to...more
3/19/2025
/ California ,
Cannabis Products ,
Consumer Protection Laws ,
Enforcement ,
Farm Bill ,
Hemp ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Online Marketplace ,
Online Platforms ,
Senate Judiciary Committee ,
Social Media ,
State and Local Government ,
THC
Is this the year that Pennsylvania finally legalizes adult-use cannabis? While some battle-scarred skeptics remain, there is fresh optimism in the Commonwealth with both the Governor and several key legislators pushing for...more
2/18/2025
/ Business Licenses ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Social Equity Programs ,
State and Local Government ,
State Budgets
At the end of last year, it seemed like Tennessee’s final hemp-derived cannabinoid (“HDC”) rules would (finally) take effect as scheduled on December 26, 2024. As we discussed in an earlier blog post, since 2023 when the...more
1/28/2025
/ Administrative Procedure Act ,
Cannabis Products ,
Final Rules ,
Hemp ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Regulation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Rulemaking Process ,
State and Local Government ,
Tennessee ,
THC
As expected, before the end of session, Congress authorized another 1-year extension of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (the “2018 Farm Bill”), which had already been extended for one year beyond its initial...more
1/6/2025
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Congressional Committees ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Farm Bill ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Cultivation ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Regulatory Agenda
After an objectively troubled launch that spurred litigation, Tennessee’s permanent hemp-derived cannabinoid licensing regulations are finally set to take effect at the end of this month. This would mark the culmination of a...more
12/5/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Business Licenses ,
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Dispensaries ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Cultivation ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
State and Local Government
In perhaps his most controversial cabinet appointment yet, earlier today, President-elect Trump said he would nominate Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General. Although Gaetz’s nomination was met with skepticism by...more
11/14/2024
/ Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
DEA ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Donald Trump ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Florida ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Presidential Elections ,
Recreation ,
SAFE ,
U.S. House
In a decision that reads as one of the strongest endorsements of state-based intoxicating hemp regulatory controls in recent memory, the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey (“Court”) recently upheld, in part,...more
With certain hemp operators and trade groups enjoying varying degrees of success challenging new state laws and regulations governing intoxicating hemp products, copycat lawsuits are being filed around the country, including,...more
10/24/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Dispensaries ,
Farm Bill ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Cultivation ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Louisiana ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Cultivation ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
State and Local Government
With the persisting uncertainty surrounding the next iteration of the Farm Bill and its treatment of hemp-derived consumable products, perhaps it should come as no surprise that legislators on Capitol Hill have proposed...more
9/27/2024
/ Cannabidiol (CBD) oil ,
Enforcement ,
Farm Bill ,
Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Hemp ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
On September 17, 2024, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services (“DHSS”) published a letter clarifying its enforcement policy concerning certain psychoactive hemp products that were the target of recent executive...more
9/19/2024
/ Consumer Protection Laws ,
Embargo ,
Enforcement ,
Executive Orders ,
Governor Parson ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
State and Local Government
The OPS simultaneously issued licenses to other essential participants in the state’s licensed psilocybin market, including manufacturers, facilitators (individuals who support clients through psilocybin services) and testing...more
With the end of the formal legislative session having come and gone, it appears that the Massachusetts legislature will not answer calls to step in to manage the affairs of the state’s Cannabis Control Commission (“CCC”),...more
As expected, today the Kentucky Office of Medical Cannabis’ online application portal went live. The office is now accepting applications for cannabis business licenses through the online portal, which will remain open until...more
7/2/2024
/ Business Licenses ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
License Applications ,
Licenses ,
Licensing Rules ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State and Local Government
As the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services (“Cabinet”) gears up to begin accepting cannabis business license applications as early as July 1, 2024, industry stakeholders are keeping a watchful eye on several...more
On June 20, 2024, H.B. 563 passed second reading in the North Carolina Senate by a vote of 33-9. Two additional amendments were considered and adopted prior to the floor vote.
One adopted amendment, proposed by Senator...more
In what was ostensibly a bill to impose restrictions on intoxicating hemp products, the North Carolina legislature has revived its previous efforts to authorize medical marijuana consumption and sales within the state....more
The published draft regulations are now subject to a public review and comment period. Individuals have until March 31, 2024 to submit written comments on the draft regulations to the Cabinet. In turn, if requested, the...more
1/8/2024
/ Business Licenses ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Comment Period ,
Dispensaries ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Licenses ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
Ohio voters have spoken. In a statewide referendum, 57% of Ohio voters approved the legalization of adult-use cannabis production and sales, making Ohio the 24th state to greenlight an adult-use market. As the nation nears...more
12/4/2023
/ Business Licenses ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Legislative Agendas ,
License Applications ,
Licenses ,
Licensing Rules ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State and Local Government
On July 18, 2023, the Cannabis Control Commission (“Commission”) hosted the second in a series of three public listening sessions on social consumption licenses. This session, the only one of the three sessions that will be...more
7/19/2023
/ Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Legalization ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Licenses ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Proposed Regulation ,
Public Comment ,
State and Local Government
Since the Legislature passed An Act Regulating Sports Wagering, the Commonwealth has been a hive of activity as Massachusetts ushers in a new era in gaming and aligns with the dozens of other states that have already...more
The Massachusetts Legislature passed a bill, S. 3096, on August 1, 2022 that among other items clarifies and limits the authority of municipalities to demand percentage-based annual Community Impact Fees and other donations...more
8/2/2022
/ Business Licenses ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Governor Baker ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Licensing Rules ,
Marijuana ,
New Legislation ,
Proposed Legislation ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
The Green Mountain state has taken a significant step toward legalizing recreational cannabis. On September 17, 2020, the Vermont House of Representatives adopted the Conference Committee report for S.B. 54, an act relating...more
9/21/2020
/ Business Licenses ,
Cannabis Products ,
Dispensaries ,
Geolocation ,
Governor Scott ,
Inspections ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Oversight Duties ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Social Justice Issues ,
State and Local Government ,
Wage and Hour