Massachusetts Attorney General (AG) Andrea Campbell recently announced a number of citations against Quick Temp., Inc. (the company), its owner, and its manager, for alleged wage, sick time, and records violations.
The Pros and Cons of Marijuana Dispensaries Using Cryptocurrencies for Payments
The legal marijuana industry has grown rapidly in the U.S., with 38 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia legalizing its use for medical and/or recreational purposes. However, despite the industry’s growth, marijuana businesses continue to face significant challenges with payment processing and banking, primarily due to the federal prohibition of marijuana. This conflict between federal and state laws has led to an exploration of alternative financial systems, including the use of cryptocurrencies.[1]
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Delaware Bankruptcy Court Enters $30M Stipulated Judgment Over Deceptive Student Loan Practices
On November 20, Delaware Attorney General (AG) Kathy Jennings, along with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and 11 other states, announced a settlement in excess of $30 million with Prehired LLC and affiliated debt collection companies. This settlement resolves allegations of unlawful practices in originating, servicing, collecting, and enforcing Income Sharing Agreements (ISAs) in violation of the Consumer Financial Protection Act of 2010, the Truth in Lending Act, and its implementing Regulation Z, and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Specifically, regulators alleged in a July 2023 complaint that the ISAs were unlawful, and that Prehired and its affiliates made false promises of job placement and resorted to abusive debt collection practices when borrowers could not pay. As part of the stipulated final judgment entered by the Delaware bankruptcy court, Prehired is required to cease all operations, pay $4.2 million in redress to students who made loan payments between 2019 and 2023, pay $1 million to the CFPB victims relief fund, and void all of its outstanding ISAs, which are valued at nearly $27 million.
Green in a Gray Area: Lessons for Virginia Cannabis ‘Gifting’ Businesses
The cannabis space is young in Virginia, but valuable lessons from the past could provide an edge to those paying close attention.
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Colorado AG Settles With Debt Management Company Over Failure to Provide Customers With Signed Agreements
On November 3, Colorado Attorney General (AG) Phil Weiser announced that his office reached a settlement with Touchstone Partners, Inc. (Touchstone), a noted debt management company. The AG’s allegations were that Touchstone had violated the Colorado Debt Management Services Act (C.R.S. § 5-19-201 et seq.).
Michigan AG Launches Investigation Into Deceptive Practices by Pest Control Operators
Last week, Michigan Attorney General (AG) Dana Nessel formally launched an investigation under the Michigan Consumer Protection Act (MCPA) into the marketing and business practices of a group of interconnected pest control companies operating under various aliases across Michigan and surrounding states. As part of the investigation, civil subpoenas were served on Kyle Scappaticci, Emily Scappaticci, and Kevin Scappaticci, who allegedly run numerous pest and wildlife control businesses, including Pestway LLC, Michigan Wildlife Removal LLC, and Platinum Wildlife Removal LLC.
Virginia AG Reminds Suppliers: Price Gouging Laws in Effect Due to Wildfires
On November 7, Virginia Attorney General (AG) Jason Miyares reminded suppliers that the current state of emergency caused by wildfires triggered Virginia’s anti-price gouging statutes, which prohibit businesses from raising prices to “unconscionable” levels during an emergency.
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Federal Judge Says Virginia Did Not Overstep Its Authority in Regulating Intoxicating Hemp Products
On October 30, Virginia’s hemp industry suffered an early defeat in its effort to overturn Virginia SB 903, a law that imposed stricter limitations on hemp products than what is currently required under federal law.
Tagging Out: The RFID Debate in Cannabis Compliance
The cannabis industry has witnessed significant growth in recent years, marked by the legalization of medical and/or recreational marijuana in 38 states, Washington D.C., and three territories. Alongside this expansion comes the need for robust regulatory frameworks to ensure compliance and safety within the industry. One such regulatory component that has stirred considerable debate over the years is the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag technology in state track-and-trace systems. While RFID tags can offer significant benefits to both regulators and business owners when compared to traditional barcodes, the costs imposed on licensed businesses often outweigh the benefits that state regulators receive from requiring the use of the technology. In fact, in the Colorado Department of Revenue – Marijuana Enforcement Division’s (MED) latest draft rules governing the industry, the agency removed references to the requirements for RFID technology, a step that could signal the beginning of the end of state-mandated RFID tracking of cannabis products.
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The Corporate Transparency Act and Its Connection to Cannabis
I. Introduction
Effective on January 1, 2024, the Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) will require all nonexempt entities to report certain identifying information of its beneficial owners (as defined below) and company applicants (as defined below) to the Department of Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
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