Cannabis

  • February 14, 2025

    Michigan Pot Co. Can't Intervene In Rival's Licensing Suit

    A Michigan federal judge won't let a Pontiac cannabis company intervene in a competitor's suit aiming to stop the city from issuing cannabis licenses.

  • February 14, 2025

    Judge Allows Grower's 4th Amendment Claim In Hemp Crop Suit

    A California federal judge has partially reconsidered her prior order denying Kern County and its police officers' bid to dismiss claims by a hemp grower alleging they wrongly bulldozed 500 acres of crops, allowing the company's Fourth Amendment excessive destruction claim to proceed, but dismissing its due process claims.

  • February 13, 2025

    SEC Nets $38M In Judgments Over Cannabis Fraud Claims

    A purported marijuana cultivation company and associated entities are on the hook for judgments worth nearly $38 million to settle U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission claims over an alleged Ponzi-like scheme soliciting would-be investors in "nonexistent" grow facilities.

  • February 13, 2025

    Ore. Cannabis Labor Pact Law Is Unconstitutional, Cos. Say

    An Oregon state law requiring businesses to have labor peace agreements with unions in order to obtain a license is preempted by federal labor law and violates the 14th Amendment, two cannabis companies argued as they urged a federal court to block enforcement of the law.

  • February 13, 2025

    9th Circ. Upholds DEA Denial Of Psilocybin Petition

    The Ninth Circuit on Thursday affirmed the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's rejection of a Seattle physician's request to treat terminally ill patients with psilocybin.

  • February 13, 2025

    Colo. Justices Won't Put City's Pot Question On April Ballot

    The Colorado Supreme Court on Thursday denied a petition from Colorado Springs seeking to upend a state court decision removing from the April general election a ballot question to repeal an ordinance allowing retail cannabis sales in the city.

  • February 13, 2025

    Lowenstein Sandler Accuses Dispensary Of 'Bad Faith' Move

    Lowenstein Sandler LLP has accused a cannabis dispensary it is suing for unpaid legal fees of effectively asking a New Jersey Superior Court judge to overturn another judge's partial denial of the dispensary's motion to dismiss the case.

  • February 13, 2025

    Unlicensed Pot Shop To Pay $6M Judgment In NY AG Suit

    New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Wednesday that a Kings County judge ordered an unlicensed cannabis shop to pay $6 million in a judgment finding that the shop had ignored orders from the Office of Cannabis Management and kept selling cannabis without a license.

  • February 12, 2025

    Cannabis Vape Cos. Accused Of Price-Fixing Scheme

    A Chinese cannabis vape manufacturer and a slew of its U.S.-based distributors have been hit with a proposed class action alleging they maintained an unlawful anticompetitive arrangement that kept the price of marijuana vapes artificially high for close to a decade.

  • February 12, 2025

    Colo. City Asks State Justices To Revive Pot Ballot Question

    The city of Colorado Springs is asking the Colorado Supreme Court to revive a ballot initiative that a district court struck from an upcoming election that would repeal an initiative passed in November authorizing the retail sale of cannabis in city limits.

  • February 12, 2025

    Fla. Pot Patients Say 8th Circ. Precedent Backs Gun Rights

    A group of Florida residents challenging the federal policy disarming medical cannabis users is pointing to a recent Eighth Circuit ruling that they say supports their gun-rights position as they appeal in the Eleventh Circuit.

  • February 11, 2025

    Kratom Producers Hid 'Addictive' Risks, Consumers Say

    Companies that make kratom are facing a proposed class action in New York federal court over sales of kratom, standing accused of not disclosing that the substance is just as addictive as opioids.

  • February 11, 2025

    Plaintiff Firm Sues More THC Makers In Potency Class Action

    A pair of attorneys has hit another set of cannabis companies with a proposed class action in Illinois federal court, alleging they are selling goods that go beyond state limits on THC in cannabis-infused products.

  • February 11, 2025

    Pot Grower Says Nearby Farm's Pesticides Caused $17M Loss

    A Massachusetts cannabis grower says pesticides used by an adjacent berry farm contaminated its entire 2022 harvest, costing the lost value of that crop and two subsequent years' revenue, totaling at least $17 million.

  • February 10, 2025

    Tenn. Cops Sued Over Traffic Stop Hemp Seizure

    Tennessee police officers have been hit with claims that they unlawfully seized more than $850,000 of hemp during a traffic stop under the false belief that it was an illegal substance, according to a new suit filed Thursday.

  • February 10, 2025

    Ala. Sen. Files Bill To Ban THC In Hemp Products

    Alabama Republican Sen. Tim Melson has filed a bill that would ban products that contain delta-8, delta-9 and delta-10 — which it identifies as psychoactive substances — from sale in the state.

  • February 10, 2025

    Jazz Pharma Drops Last Defendant From Epidiolex Patent Suit

    Jazz Pharmaceuticals Inc. has reached an agreement to dismiss all claims and counterclaims with the last remaining defendant in its consolidated lawsuits over patents covering its epilepsy treatment Epidiolex, according to a filing from the company in New Jersey federal court.

  • February 10, 2025

    Kratom Co. Says False Ad Addiction Suit Falls Short

    The company behind Kryptic Kratom and K-Chill branded supplements is urging a California federal court to throw out a suit alleging it concealed kratom's addictive qualities from consumers, saying the complaint fails to shore up its claims with factual allegations.

  • February 07, 2025

    Pa. Medical Pot Co. Beats Consultant's IP Breach Claims

    A Pennsylvania federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit filed by a consultant claiming that his methods for growing plant tissue samples was stolen by a medical cannabis company he worked with, ruling that the consultant's system was not a protected trade secret.

  • February 07, 2025

    GOP Sens. File Bill To Make Pot Co. Tax Penalty Permanent

    Republican U.S. senators have filed a bill that would bar cannabis companies from taking business deductions even if cannabis is taken off of Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act.

  • February 07, 2025

    Too Early To Challenge RI Pot License Plan, Judge Finds

    A Rhode Island federal judge has dismissed two suits challenging the state's social equity cannabis licensing program, saying the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission hasn't set its rules yet, so the issue isn't ripe for judicial review.

  • February 06, 2025

    Buyers Want Kratom Cos. Addiction Suit To Go On

    Two California kratom manufacturers shouldn't be allowed to escape a lawsuit claiming they failed to warn about the "highly addictive" nature of their products, a proposed class of consumers argued, pointing to a podcast where a company executive suggested their products were more potent than morphine.

  • February 06, 2025

    SEC's Dealer Suit May Criminalize Major Investors, Funds Say

    The hedge fund industry has urged the Eighth Circuit on to overturn a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission victory against a penny stock trader, arguing that the SEC's case threatens to "make a felon of every institutional investor" by declaring them unregistered securities dealers.

  • February 06, 2025

    Anti-Legalization Group Vows To Go On 'Offense'

    The head of a leading anti-drug nonprofit on Thursday pledged to go on the offensive by lobbying to undo the federal law legalizing intoxicating hemp, fighting a pending proposal to loosen federal cannabis restrictions and attempting to reverse state-level legalization.

  • February 06, 2025

    Ex-Worker Hits Pot Giant Cresco With Wrongful Firing Suit

    A former kitchen agent for Cresco Labs LLC is suing the cannabis giant in Illinois federal court, alleging she was wrongly fired after a workplace injury and was not afforded time off as required under the Family and Medical Leave Act.

Expert Analysis

  • Don't Use The Same Template For Every Client Alert

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    As the old marketing adage goes, consistency is key, but law firm style guides need consistency that contemplates variety when it comes to client alert formats, allowing attorneys to tailor alerts to best fit the audience and subject matter, says Jessica Kaplan at Legally Penned.

  • Drafting Calif. Cannabis Management Services Agreements

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    Meital Manzuri and Alexis Lazzeri at Manzuri Law explore the ways in which management services agreements function in the California commercial cannabis industry, and highlight a few specific terms and conditions that are crucial when drafting these agreements.

  • Series

    Walking With My Dog Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Thanks to my dog Birdie, I've learned that carving out an activity different from the practice of law — like daily outdoor walks that allow you to interact with new people — can contribute to professional success by boosting creativity and mental acuity, as well as expanding your social network, says Sarah Petrie at the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office.

  • Think Like A Lawyer: Follow The Iron Rule Of Trial Logic

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    Many diligent and eager attorneys include every good fact, point and rule in their trial narratives — spurred by the gnawing fear they’ll be second-guessed for leaving something out — but this approach ignores a fundamental principle of successful trial lawyering, says Luke Andrews at Poole Huffman.

  • The Art Of Asking: Leveraging Your Contacts For Referrals

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    Though attorneys may hesitate to ask for referral recommendations to generate new business, research shows that people want to help others they know, like and trust, so consider who in your network you should approach and how to make the ask, says Rebecca Hnatowski at Edwards Advisory.

  • Wave Of Final Rules Reflects Race Against CRA Deadline

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    The flurry of final rules now leaping off the Federal Register press — some of which will affect entire industries and millions of Americans — shows President Joe Biden's determination to protect his regulatory legacy from reversal by the next Congress, given the impending statutory look-back period under the Congressional Review Act, say attorneys at Jenner & Block.

  • Series

    Being An Equestrian Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Beyond getting experience thinking on my feet and tackling stressful situations, the skills I've gained from horseback riding have considerable overlap with the skills used to practice law, particularly in terms of team building, continuing education, and making an effort to reset and recharge, says Kerry Irwin at Moore & Van Allen.

  • 4 Ways To Refresh Your Law Firm's Marketing Strategy

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    With many BigLaw firms relying on an increasingly obsolete marketing approach that prioritizes stiff professionalism over authentic connection, adopting a few key communications strategies to better connect with today's clients and prospects can make all the difference, say Eric Pacifici and Kevin Henderson at SMB Law.

  • Series

    Whitewater Kayaking Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Whether it's seeing clients and their issues from a new perspective, or staying nimble in a moment of intense challenge, the lessons learned from whitewater kayaking transcend the rapids of a river and prepare attorneys for the courtroom and beyond, says Matthew Kent at Alston & Bird.

  • Cannabis Ruling Lights Path For Bankruptcy Protection

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    A recent Massachusetts bankruptcy appellate court ruling in Blumsack v. Harrington leaves the door open for those employed in the cannabis industry to seek bankruptcy relief where certain conditions are met, but rescheduling marijuana as a Schedule III drug may complicate matters, say Jane Haviland and Kathryn Droumbakis at Mintz.

  • This Earth Day, Consider How Your Firm Can Go Greener

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    As Earth Day approaches, law firms and attorneys should consider adopting more sustainable practices to reduce their carbon footprint — from minimizing single-use plastics to purchasing carbon offsets for air travel — which ultimately can also reduce costs for clients, say M’Lynn Phillips and Lisa Walters at IMS Legal Strategies.

  • Practicing Law With Parkinson's Disease

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    This Parkinson’s Awareness Month, Adam Siegler at Greenberg Traurig discusses his experience working as a lawyer with Parkinson’s disease, sharing both lessons on how to cope with a diagnosis and advice for supporting colleagues who live with the disease.

  • Series

    Playing Hockey Makes Me A Better Lawyer

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    Nearly a lifetime of playing hockey taught me the importance of avoiding burnout in all aspects of life, and the game ultimately ended up providing me with the balance I needed to maintain success in my legal career, says John Riccione at Taft.

  • Considerations For Evaluating IP Risks In Cannabis M&A

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    Due to the patchwork of state cannabis laws in the U.S., investors and businesses acquiring intellectual property must assess whether a trademark portfolio possesses any vulnerabilities, such as marks that are considered attractive to children or third-party claims of trademark infringement, say Mary Shapiro and Nicole Katsin at Evoke Law.

  • 9th Circ. TM Ruling Expands Courts' Role In Application Cases

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    The Ninth Circuit’s recent ruling in BBK Tobacco v. Central Coast Agriculture is the first time a federal appeals court has explicitly authorized district courts to adjudicate pending trademark applications, marking a potentially significant expansion of federal courts' power, says Saul Cohen at Kelly IP.

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