Cannabis Law Journal
July 2020 Edition
Hoban Law: Israeli Government Issues Order Enabling Cannabis Export
In a move long awaited by the local cannabis industry, Israel’s Minister of Economy and Industry issued an order on May 13, 2020, adding cannabis and cannabis products to the list of goods permitted for export. The order, signed by outgoing Minister Eli Cohen in the final days before Israel’s new government was sworn in, enables Israeli producers to export a variety of cannabis products after they receive a license from the Health Ministry.
Kight Law: Novel Foods: Validation & The UK Deadline
As previously discussed here in my introductory blog post about Novel Foods in the European Union (EU), the sale of cannabidiol (CBD) products in all EU Member States is prohibited unless the product has been authorized for sale following a risk assessment conducted under the Novel Foods procedure. This procedure, set forth in Regulation (EU) 2015/2283, governs the lengthy process a company must follow in order to have its food and/or ingredient product approved for distribution in the EU.
Hoban Law: Mexico Cannabis Legal Update #17 – Bill Introduced Against Sale of Paraphernalia
On June 10, 2020 a bill was introduced in the Mexican Congress with the intention to sanction and ban sale of illegal drugs paraphernalia (equipment, products and material to produce, consume, conceal or prepare illegal drugs). Such bill is not yet being reviewed nor scheduled to voted by the corresponding comittees but it is widely seen as a negative signal that contradicts those indicating the country’s movement towards the regulation of cannabis and other drugs.
Jordan Zoot: California – Harbourside’s New Lawyers
Harborside has new tax lawyers. Harborside’s new tax lawyers have appealed the DECISION of the United States Tax Court entered October 19, 2019, that determined Harborside has deficiencies in income tax in the total amount of $11,013,236.75 for the years 2007-2012.
Rod Kight: Medical Cannabis & Workers Compensation
Thirty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized cannabis for medical purposes, and many others have passed limited measures that allow the medical use of certain low-THC cannabis extracts. In states where patients (and doctors) obey state law, one might expect that insurance companies would treat doctor-approved medical cannabis on a level playing field with other therapies. Unfortunately, because cannabis remains unlawful under federal law and is not an FDA-approved medication, that has not been the case.
Jordan Zoot: California: Smart People – Bad Decisions !
Why is California’s cannabis industry in a state of chaos 2+ years after adult-use sales of cannabis were legalized? Why did California fail so badly in transforming a stable, lightly regulated medical cannabis industry into a heavily regulated medical and adult-use...
Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr LLP: Municipalities’ Unauthorized Attempts to Interfere with Medical Marijuana Businesses’ Ability to Serve The Adult-Use Market
The licensing and permitting of any business is often challenging, time consuming, and frustrating. Those challenges are exponentially increased in the highly-regulated and constantly-evolving cannabis industry, which, while illegal under federal law, is now authorized and regulated for medical use in 33 states, with 11 of those states also allowing adult use.
New Jersey Assembly Votes to Decriminalize Marijuana
On Thursday June 18, 2020, the New Jersey Assembly voted to decriminalize marijuana. The bill would make up to two ounces of marijuana punishable by a $50 fine and eliminate the possibility of jail time.
The Perils of Success: Innovator Liability & the Emerging Cannabis Market
Recreational marijuana and CBD products have swept the nation, with legal and regulatory acceptance growing on a daily basis. While some companies believe that the true value lies in cultivation of recreational marijuana or low-intensity CBD products, others have focused on developing patentable drugs from cannabis compounds.
CBD & Pet Products: The FDA Regulations You Need to Know
Pet care is on pace to be the next big opportunity in the CBD consumer-packaged-goods (CPG) market. In 2018, pet product sales totaled $9.4 million for adult-use cannabis retailers in California, Colorado, Nevada and Washington.
Frost Brown Todd: Hemp and CBD Class Actions
Early this year, plaintiffs’ lawyers filed seven nationwide class actions in California federal court against some of the largest cannabidiol (CBD) providers in the United States. In these class actions, plaintiffs alleged that the very sale of CBD products is illegal. Plaintiffs bolstered their theory by picking and choosing among nonbinding Food and Drug Administration (FDA) communications, taking advantage of the unsettled state of the law.
Cannabis Legal Group: Diversity in the Cannabis Industry: Working Towards Equal Access and Opportunity
As the BlackLivesMatter global network continues to raise awareness and bring justice to Black people around the world, many companies and industries have reflected on how they can increase diversity and promote economic empowerment for communities of color.
Tilleke & Gibbons: Thailand: The Tilleke & Gibbins Cannabis & Hemp Business Guide
Attorneys in Tilleke & Gibbins’ regulatory affairs team have produced the Cannabis and Hemp Business Guide – Thailand, a primer on the rapidly developing cannabis industry in Thailand.
Origin Law Group: 2020 Enforcement (Part 1): An Overview of Anticipated Cultivation Enforcement Issues
First “abatement letters” will likely continue to be the primary avenue for enforcement this season. Notably, while one can mitigate the possibility of neighbor complaints by being a good neighbor, the abatement letters more often arise from the use of intensive satellite surveillance, sometimes imperfectly.
Hoban Law: CBD, Amazon Distribution Channel and Trademarks
Amazon.com is the largest on-line retailer in the United States and has overcome numerous obstacles to arrive in this position. This author has worked with enforcement of IP rights including trademark on platforms including eBay and Amazon since the 1990’s.
Stinson LLP: Marijuana Investment Lawsuits Are on the Rise: Steps Marijuana Entities and Investors Can Take to Mitigate the Risks
The marijuana industry continues to develop and expand at a rapid pace. With that expansion comes the need for capital. The lack of access to traditional financing, however, means that most of the capital comes from either individual investors or private equity groups. The use of investor money comes with inherent risks for both the investor and the companies benefiting from those funds. These risks can materialize into actual disputes at any time, but they surface most often when the economy falters or the business fails to perform as expected.
Regulating Heavy Metals in Cannabis: What Can be Learned from the Pharmaceutical Industry
The cannabis and hemp industry is moving at such an alarming rate that the analytical testing community is struggling to keep up with it. It is estimated that the demand for medicinal and adult recreational cannabis-based products, containing Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and Cannabidiol (CBD) compounds will exceed $25 billion in the US by 2025.
Candid Chronicle: If Lemon Grove Were Ever Waiting For A Sign… This Is It
Lemon Grove city staff and council recently approved a 70-foot tall digital billboard that will advertise various businesses, including legal cannabis dispensaries and various marijuana products. As cannabis shops have been designated an “essential business,” this could be a lucrative source of revenue for the city.