Cannabis

Expert Analysis

• 4 Recreational Marijuana Tax Revenue Takeaways For States

  

  The legalization of recreational marijuana was widely expected to generate significant tax revenue for state and local governments, but so far only two states have managed to accurately estimate the amount of revenue from this new market, says David Standa of Locke Lord.

• Where Law Firm Partners Go When Changing Jobs

  

  We reviewed 177 law firm partners' job changes from the last seven years and discovered some migration patterns and gender dynamics, say James Bailey of the George Washington University School of Business and Jane Azzinaro of Cognizant.

• 3 Ways To Leverage Vulnerability For Lawyer Well-Being

  

  Admitting to imperfection is an elusive construct in the legal industry, but addressing this roadblock by capitalizing on vulnerabilities can increase personal and professional power, says life coach and attorney Julie Krolczyk.

• The FDA Regulatory Landscape For Tobacco And Cannabis

  

  Recently, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been active in its oversight of e-cigarettes and cannabis. In this video, Ben Haas and Elizabeth Richards of Latham discuss the latest developments in the FDA's regulatory framework for these products.

• RICO Threat Looms Over Cannabis Businesses

  

  Recent decisions from the Tenth Circuit and courts in the Ninth Circuit demonstrate that the specter of Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act liability for owners and operators of cannabis-related businesses remains a real danger so long as such facilities remain illegal under federal law, say Gerald Arth and Joshua Horn of Fox Rothschild.

• New Data Shows BigLaw's True Profitability

  

  Based on an analysis adjusting BigLaw operating income and revenue to account for equity partners and taxes, the profitability of firms is lower than commonly thought, says Madhav Srinivasan at Hunton.

• Zoning Compliance Tips For NJ Medical Marijuana Facilities

  

  When choosing a location in New Jersey, owners of medical marijuana facilities must approach a zoning analysis and communications with local officials differently than any other type of industrial, commercial or retail project, say Michael Floyd and Chad Warnken of Archer & Greiner.

• Kentucky Tax Talk: What Governor Candidates Would Change

  

  From Gov. Matt Bevin’s pledge to continue pro-business changes to challenger Andy Beshear’s focus on legalizing gaming, Mark Sommer and Daniel Mudd of Frost Brown outline the tax reform promises of the two Kentucky gubernatorial candidates.

• Calif. Employers Should Consider Drug Test Policy Updates

  

  As state law trends continue toward protecting employees' off-duty use of marijuana, California employers can use a court-created balancing test that determines the legality of drug checks by weighing an employee’s right to privacy against an employer’s legitimate business purpose, says Camille Gustafson at Paul Plevin.

• A Defense For E-Cig Makers Against Vape Lung Illness Claims

  

  With a flurry of illnesses and deaths blamed on vaping, plaintiffs attorneys are expected to file thousands of lawsuits against e-cigarette manufacturers. But in California, O’Neil v. Crane establishes that vape manufacturers owe no duty to warn about the dangers associated with other manufacturers’ vaping liquids, says Michael Preciado of Buchalter.

• 8 Best Practices For Cannabis Transaction Due Diligence

  

  Given the extraordinary risks and evolving regulatory landscape in the rapidly expanding cannabis industry, investors should consider due diligence matters across a wide swath of legal fields when evaluating cannabis-focused transactions, say attorneys with Epstein Becker.

• Grading The Presidential Candidates On Cannabis Policy

  

  Vince Sliwoski and Molly Nelson of Harris Bricken review all of the presidential candidates' stances on marijuana and rank them based on their current positions as well as their legislative history and prior rhetoric.

• Opinion

  Courts Keep Rejecting Litigation Funding Discovery Campaign

  

  As shown by recent case law, including a New Jersey federal court holding last month in Valsartan Products Liability Litigation, there is no "shifting tide" in favor of disclosing litigation funding arrangements, say Matthew Harrison and Stephanie Southwick of Bentham IMF.

• How Emotionally Intelligent AI Could Assist With E-Discovery

  

  While artificial intelligence has already revolutionized the e-discovery field, the development of emotionally intelligent AI promises to explore data in an even more nuanced and human way, thereby further reducing the burden on legal teams, say Lisa Prowse and Brian Schrader at e-discovery services provider BIA.

• Despite Legalization, Marijuana Usage Is Risky For Ill. Tenants

  Excerpt from Lexis Practice Advisor

  

  For many Illinois residents, the passage of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act was cause for celebration. However, the fact that marijuana remains illegal at the federal level, combined with the Illinois Eviction Act, means that marijuana use can still lead to eviction, says Richard Toboz of Heavner Beyers.