Given that Hawaii is often considered synonymous with “hang loose” counterculture, perhaps it is unsuprising that the state’s consumable hemp product market has crested in recent years as legislators continue to balk at...more
The US Virgin Islands (“USVI”) is finally inching closer to launching a dual medical and adult-use cannabis program. Earlier this week the USVI Office of Cannabis Regulation (“OCR”) announced that applications for cultivation...more
3/31/2025
/ Business Licenses ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Filing Requirements ,
License Applications ,
Licensing Rules ,
Marijuana Cultivation ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
State and Local Government ,
Virgin Islands
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
In the wake of a prior statement disavowing a schedule that had been widely circulated and purported to outline the Office of Cannabis Regulation’s (“OCR”) timeline for opening cannabis license applications, on December 16,...more
12/20/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Dispensaries ,
Doing Business ,
License Applications ,
Licensing Rules ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Retail Market ,
State and Local Government
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
With election day less than 24 hours away, we wanted to provide a primer on Massachusetts Ballot Question 4, which, if you believe recent voter polls, may soon make the Commonwealth just the second state in the nation to...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
As we discussed during a recent webinar, the new emergency regulations would disrupt the existing hemp market in California and effectively ban the production and sale of all intoxicating hemp products in the state. ...more
10/11/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
California ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Dispensaries ,
Due Process ,
Fourteenth Amendment ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
New Regulations ,
Plant Based Products ,
Public Health ,
Recreational Use ,
State and Local Government ,
State Bans
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 September 8, 2023, the Cannabis Control Commission (“CCC”) held a hearing to discuss its proposed regulations, which were published in the Massachusetts Register on August 16. The regulations, which we discussed in a...more
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
Texas may soon dramatically expand its medical cannabis market and increase access to medical cannabis products to thousands of additional patients across the state. Currently, there are only three licensed “Dispensing...more
On September 22, 2022, the Massachusetts Gaming Commission (“Commission”) convened an in-person roundtable to solicit feedback from industry on the launch of mobile sports wagering platforms in the Commonwealth. It was clear...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