March has been a big month for cannabis reform and the $40 billion state-regulated marketplace.
President Biden mentioned cannabis reform and his administration’s efforts to reschedule the substance in his State of the...more
3/25/2024
/ Biden Administration ,
Cannabis Products ,
DEA ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Legalization ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Schedule I Drugs ,
State and Local Government
On February 15, a bipartisan group of five Congressional Representatives introduced the Pet Food Uniform Regulatory Reform Act of 2024 (the PURR Act) in the U.S. House.
Currently, the FDA’s regulation of pet foods is...more
In November 2023, Senator Deb Fischer (R-NE), a cattle rancher, introduced the Real Marketing Edible Artificials Truthfully Act of 2023, also known as the “Real MEAT Act.” The bill was referred to the Senate Committee on...more
After Tuesday’s election, Ohio is the latest state to legalize adult-use cannabis despite opposition from Republican Governor Mike DeWine and several trade groups.
Voters approved State Issue 2 with 57% voting in favor...more
SAFER Banking Act Heads to Senate Floor -
On September 27, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act (S.2860) was reported out from the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs with...more
State Cannabis Regulators Urge Congress to Act on Hemp -
The Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) issued an open letter on September 15, 2023, calling on Congress to enact regulations that address safety concerns for...more
10/4/2023
/ Bankruptcy Court ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
NLRB ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Unions
New York State Regulators Approve Final Adult-Use Regulations as Judge Bars New York State From Issuing New Cannabis Licenses -
On September 12, state regulators approved final adult-use regulations and set October 4 as...more
9/15/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Business Licenses ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Dispensaries ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Cultivation ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Licenses ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Cultivation ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New York ,
State and Local Government ,
USDA
VA Continues to Prohibit Doctors from Prescribing Cannabis to Veteran Patients -
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) issued a directive, consistent with a previous directive released in 2017, which prevents...more
Oregon is the first state in the country to offer controlled use of psilocybin to the public. As we detailed in a prior Update, the state had finalized regulations. Now, the state has licensed its first psilocybin service...more
7/14/2023
/ California ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Colorado ,
Controlled Substances ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Healthcare ,
Laboratories ,
Legislative Agendas ,
New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Oregon ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Schedule I Drugs ,
State and Local Government
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) issued Directive 7800.1 on June 21, 2023, providing further insight into the agency’s inspection and verification activities for the...more
SAFE Banking Gets a Senate Hearing -
The Senate Banking Committee has scheduled a hearing on May 11 for the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. The hearing will involve both Republican and Democrat...more
Tenth Circuit Upholds Licensing Agency’s Discretion When Awarding Cannabis-Related Licenses -
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Tenth Circuit upheld the dismissal of a suit on April 18, 2023, challenging the Utah...more
Seattle Federal Court Dismisses Dormant Commerce Clause Challenge -
A Seattle-based federal court dismissed a challenge to a state residency requirement to hold equity in Washington state cannabis businesses. The...more
Oregon became the first state to offer controlled use of psilocybin to the public on January 1, 2023. Psilocybin is a Schedule I psychoactive substance that is illegal at the federal level. Notwithstanding this federal...more
1/27/2023
/ Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Controlled Substances ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Healthcare ,
Laboratories ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Licensing Rules ,
Manufacturers ,
New Legislation ,
New Regulations ,
Oregon ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Schedule I Drugs ,
State and Local Government
New York City Attempts to Crack Down on Illicit Cannabis Market -
During a council hearing on Jan. 18, 2023, New York City lawmakers and law enforcement officials discussed the need for tackling the city’s illicit cannabis...more
1/25/2023
/ Banking Sector ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Coronavirus/COVID-19 ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Federal Reserve ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Benefits ,
New Legislation ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
State and Local Government ,
Warning Letters
A December 2022 survey from Data for Progress reports that American voters, regardless of political affiliation, support federal cannabis legalization. Specifically, 75% of Democrats, 67% of independents, and 52% of...more
On November 16, 2022, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued five new warning letters to various companies making edible products containing cannabidiol (CBD) and/or Delta-8-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)...more
11/29/2022
/ Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Farm Bill ,
FDA Warning Letters ,
Federal Food Drug and Cosmetic Act (FFDCA) ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
THC
Second Circuit Rules That Cannabis As a Schedule I Under CSA Is Constitutional -
This August, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a lower court’s ruling that the government’s classification of...more
9/8/2022
/ Appeals ,
Appellate Courts ,
Cannabis Products ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
Fifth Amendment ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Reversal ,
Schedule I Drugs ,
State and Local Government ,
Vacated
As the legal cannabis market continues to expand, and potential federal legalization and inevitable interstate commerce loom on the horizon, it is imperative that federal agencies address the discrepancies among state testing...more
7/11/2022
/ Cannabis Products ,
Clinical Laboratory Testing ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Legalization ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
NCLC ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
Florida Lawsuit Challenges Federal Regulations Regarding Firearm Purchases for Medical Cannabis Patients -
Following a recent Supreme Court ruling, the Department of Justice (DOJ) has asked for more time to respond to a...more
7/8/2022
/ Cannabis Products ,
Controlled Substances ,
Department of Justice (DOJ) ,
Firearms ,
Florida ,
Hemp ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Maryland ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Second Amendment ,
State and Local Government ,
Texas
Late last week, a bi-partisan pair of federal lawmakers introduced a new bill to expand cannabis companies’ access to financial resources and opportunities. Introduced by Reps. Troy Carter (D-La.) and Guy Reschenthaler...more
6/30/2022
/ Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Lending ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
New Legislation ,
Popular ,
Proposed Legislation ,
SAFE Act ,
Safe Harbors ,
Securities
As Congress continues to debate the SAFE Banking Act, cannabis business and financial institutions should pay close attention to the bill’s potential to transform the accessibility of banking and payment processing solutions...more
6/1/2022
/ Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Financial Institutions ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
New Regulations ,
Proposed Regulation ,
SAFE Act ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
On November 12, President Biden announced his intention to nominate Dr. Robert Califf as Commissioner of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”). Dr. Califf, a cardiologist, previously served as FDA Commissioner in the...more
Late last month, the U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 595, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019 (the “SAFE Banking Act”). The stated purpose of the SAFE Banking Act is to “increase public safety by...more