Legal Affairs
Starting a Cannabis Business: The Real-World Founder Guide for an Industry That Gives You ZERO Margin for Error
LOS ANGELES - Starting any business is hard. Starting a Cannabis business is harder. A founder in a typical startup may need to deal with branding, hiring, websites, customer acquisition, and cash flow. A founder ...
LEGAL UPDATE: California Cannabis & Hemp Industry: What Operators & Investors Need to Know
LOS ANGELES- California’s cannabis and hemp markets are navigating a perfect storm of declining retail sales, shifting local tax policies, and a federal hemp reckoning that could reshape the competitive landscape for years to come. ...
How the Irish Helped Shape — and Continue to Shape — the Modern Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES -For a small island, the Irish have a remarkable habit of turning up everywhere. From politics and literature to science and business, the Irish diaspora has left fingerprints across the modern world. Cannabis ...
Virginia Lawmakers Approve Bill to Establish Regulated Cannabis Sales
RICHMOND – The Virginia House General Laws Committee voted 19-2 to approve legislation that would lay the groundwork for legal retail sales of recreational Cannabis, bringing the state closer to filling a longstanding gap in ...
Chicago’s United Center Inks Deal with RYTHM Inc to Sell Hemp-Derived THC Beverages
CHICAGO – The United Center, the largest indoor entertainment arena in the United States and home to the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks, has agreed to a multiyear partnership with Chicago-based RYTHM Inc. to sell hemp-derived ...
Village Farms Takes Top Honor at BC Export Awards
VANCOUVER – Village Farms International Inc. secured the 2026 BC Export Award in the Consumer Products category, presented by Business in Vancouver. The recognition highlights the company's sharp rise in international sales, with exports jumping ...
Chicago City Council Sets Intoxicating Hemp Products Off Limits, Beverages Still in The Game
CHICAGO – The City Council voted 32-16 to restrict sales of most intoxicating hemp-derived products across the city, carving out an allowance for THC-infused beverages while imposing immediate curbs on purchases by minors. The measure, ...
Starting a Cannabis Business: The Real-World Founder Guide for an Industry That Gives You ZERO Margin for Error
LOS ANGELES - Starting any business is hard. Starting a Cannabis business is harder. A founder in a typical startup may need to deal with branding, hiring, websites, customer acquisition, and cash flow. A founder ...
LEGAL UPDATE: California Cannabis & Hemp Industry: What Operators & Investors Need to Know
LOS ANGELES- California’s cannabis and hemp markets are navigating a perfect storm of declining retail sales, shifting local tax policies, and a federal hemp reckoning that could reshape the competitive landscape for years to come. ...
How the Irish Helped Shape — and Continue to Shape — the Modern Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES -For a small island, the Irish have a remarkable habit of turning up everywhere. From politics and literature to science and business, the Irish diaspora has left fingerprints across the modern world. Cannabis ...
Cannabis Industry Seeks Relief from Unfair Tax Burden of 280E
In a nod to the historic Boston Tea Party of 1773, cannabis company MariMed recently held the 'Boston 280E THC Party' in Boston Harbor, a unique event designed to protest Tax Code 280E. CEO and ...
North Carolina Medical Cannabis Legalization Bill Faces Republican Opposition
LOS ANGELES-- Efforts to legalize medical cannabis in North Carolina have hit a roadblock, as the bill that gained bipartisan support in the state Senate earlier this year has been deemed unlikely to pass in ...
Michigan Civil Service Commission Votes to Lift Cannabis Drug Test Ban for Most State Employees
LOS ANGELES-- In a unanimous decision, the Michigan Civil Service Commission has voted to eliminate the prohibition on hiring most state employees who fail pre-employment drug tests for cannabis, as reported by MLive. This move ...
TerrAscend Secures $25 Million Commercial Loan to Reduce Debt and Lower Interest Expenses
LOS ANGELES-- TerrAscend Corp., a cannabis operator in North America, has successfully closed a commercial loan of $25 million with Stearns Bank. The loan proceeds will primarily be used to pay down existing debt with ...
Ukraine Parliament Gives Initial Approval to Medical Cannabis Legalization Proposal
KYIV-- The Ukraine Parliament has taken a significant step towards the legalization of medical cannabis by granting initial approval to a proposed legislation. The bill, which still requires potential amendments and a second reading, must ...
Record-Breaking Cannabis Sales in Massachusetts Reach $151.8 Million in June
BOSTON-- Massachusetts witnessed an extraordinary surge in cannabis sales during the month of June, with total transactions reaching a remarkable $151.8 million, as reported by state figures. This impressive figure consists of $132.8 million in ...
States Collaborate with Federal Regulators in Sharing Cannabis Data for Rescheduling Review
LOS ANGELES-- In a significant development, several states with medical cannabis programs have collaborated with U.S. health regulators to provide crucial data regarding cannabis use and its impact on patients. This information, including details about ...
Virginia’s Cannabis and Hemp Markets Face Regulatory Uncertainty
LOS ANGELES-- The cannabis and hemp markets in Virginia are facing significant turmoil due to regulatory uncertainty perpetuated by the state's Republican leadership. The previously anticipated launch of recreational cannabis sales in January 2024 is ...
Illinois Social Equity License Winners Face Challenges in Opening Cannabis Shops
ILLINOIS-- The 55 winners of the upcoming Illinois social equity license lottery, set to be announced on Thursday, may encounter difficulties in successfully launching their cannabis businesses. Historical data indicates that only a fraction of ...
Maryland’s First Week of Adult-Use Cannabis Sales Tops $20 Million
LOS ANGELES-- Maryland's cannabis retailers reported a remarkable achievement, with nearly $21 million in combined sales of medical and recreational cannabis products during the state's inaugural week of adult-use sales. Andrew Garrison, Chief of Policy ...
FDA and FTC Warn Companies Selling Delta-8 THC Foods for Safety Violations
LOS ANGELES-- The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) have jointly taken action against six companies for illegally selling food products containing delta-8 THC, a hemp-derived compound. Warning letters ...
Pennsylvania Senate Committee Advances Proposal for Expanded Medical Cannabis Access
HARRISBURG-- The Pennsylvania Senate Law & Justice Committee has taken a significant step forward by approving a proposal that would grant physicians the authority to certify patients for the state's medical cannabis program based on ...
Wholesale Cannabis Prices in Michigan Show Signs of Stability
MICHIGAN - Wholesale prices for cannabis flower in Michigan have recently shown signs of leveling off and even a slight uptick, providing a glimmer of hope for producers who have endured a significant decline in ...
New York Gov. Kathy Hochul’s Office Delays Plans for Cannabis Farmers Markets
NEW YORK - Plans for cannabis farmers markets in New York State have hit an impasse as Gov. Kathy Hochul's office puts the idea on hold indefinitely. The proposal, initially introduced by state regulators in ...
Massachusetts Strip Club Ditches Controversial “Topless Cannabis” Plans
WHATELY, Mass. — In a surprising turn of events, the owners of Club Castaway in Whately have announced their plans to reopen the strip club next month. The establishment, Franklin County's sole strip club, ...
Germany’s Supreme Court Says ”No” To Canabis Legalization Plans
Berlin--In a federal legal setback for the pending decriminalization of cannabis, the Karlsruhe-based Supreme Court has upheld its case law from the 1990s, disregarding several appeals. The ruling, issued by the Third Chamber of the ...
The Complexities of Research and Development Taxation in California’s Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES-- In recent years, the U.S. cannabis industry has experienced unprecedented growth, with a majority of states embracing its medical applications and an increasing number legalizing adult use. This surge in acceptance has been ...
The Tax Challenges Plaguing the Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES-- The year 2022 brought forth a significant shift in the financial landscape for the cannabis industry, as businesses grappled with a pressing tax conundrum. With the looming income tax filing season, cannabis taxpayers ...
The Advantages of Being a “Qualified Manufacturer” in the Cannabis Industry
NEW YORK -- In the ever-expanding landscape of New York's cannabis industry, entrepreneurs face a multitude of challenges on their path to success. From navigating the complexities of licensing to competing against illicit market players, ...
Complexities of Cannabis Outsourcing in a Murky Legal Landscape
LOS ANGELES-- The rapid evolution of the cannabis industry, as it transitions from the shadows of illicit trade to the forefront of mainstream commerce, has brought about a host of challenges for businesses. In response, ...
The Dawn of Social Equity and the Booming Adult-Use Cannabis Industry in New York
NEW YORK-- New York State is embarking on a groundbreaking social experiment as it grants adult-use cannabis licenses, aiming to rectify the injustices inflicted by the long-standing war on cannabis. The detrimental effects of this ...
Transfer Pricing Challenges in the Cannabis Industry
LOS ANGELES-- As the cannabis industry continues to grapple with a complex web of regulations and tax rules, entrepreneurs like Abraham Finberg, Rachel Wright, and Simon Menkes of 420CPA display adept skills in maneuvering through ...
Navigating California’s Cannabis Debt Crisis
LOS ANGELES-- As California's cannabis market grapples with a mounting debt crisis, the fate of the industry hangs in the balance, centering around a controversial piece of legislation known as Assembly Bill 766, also referred ...
Paving the Way for Interstate Cannabis Commerce, California’s Ambitious Plan
LOS ANGELES-- Amidst the picturesque landscapes of California's cannabis fields, a new wave of excitement is brewing in the Golden State. The Department of Cannabis Control (DCC) has unveiled a bold initiative that could potentially ...
A Calculated Approach: Navigating Federal Cannabis Legalization
LOS ANGELES-- The landscape of federal cannabis reform is undergoing a notable transformation, propelled by the growing number of states embracing adult-use cannabis. As this trend gains momentum, policymakers are increasingly compelled to consider significant ...
