It was the best of times… the passage of the Virginia Cannabis Control Act (CCA) in 2021 was celebrated by many as the first bill in the South to legalize adult-use cannabis (read about the status of cannabis programs in other Southern states here). It was also heralded as the success of a Democrat-controlled
On April 27, the Virginia Senate voted to send SB 591, which would have effectively eliminated the delta-8 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) product market in Virginia, back to committee, killing the bill for this year’s legislative session. The move allows Virginia retailers to continue marketing the products for now despite growing calls nationwide for more regulation
In the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as the 2018 Farm Bill), did Congress authorize hemp producers to handle “hot” hemp — cannabis byproducts that surpass the legal limit of delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinols (THC) — during the hemp production process? Or does such material remain a Schedule I controlled substance subject to U.S. Drug
While cannabis legalization moves full steam ahead through much of the Northeast, the southeastern U.S. has been notably slow to uptake major reforms. These states haven’t made major headlines for their progressive cannabis policies, but together they constitute a major market that has, nevertheless, dipped its toe in the water. As such, we thought we’d
On January 18, the National Association of Attorneys General (NAAG) sent a letter to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), urging the agency to expressly ensure that state attorneys general (State AGs) continue to have the authority to enforce state consumer protection laws on the sale of hearing aids. This action aligns with the
Introduction
Although marijuana legalization continues to be a hot topic in the new year, it is noteworthy that the federally legal hemp industry continues to develop across the country. New York, one of the nation’s major markets, now counts itself among the states with a fully regulated hemp cultivation, processing, and retail program. The New
On November 18, a bipartisan group of attorneys general from Arizona, Connecticut, North Dakota, and Vermont (Attorneys General) jointly submitted a letter offering commentary on the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) to congressional leaders. In it, the Attorneys General stressed the importance of establishing a “cooperative federal-state partnership” that strikes the right balance to
There are many unique challenges to consider when it comes to opening or investing in a cannabis business. Residency requirements, or prohibitions on licensure of nonresidents, are one that may soon see their end. In other industries, requirements that business licenses be reserved for residents of a certain state are largely a thing of the
On October 13, the Supreme Court of Minnesota barred an employee from getting reimbursed for medical marijuana treatment for a work-related injury.[1] Although the employee was entitled to reimbursement from her employer under state law, the court found that the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) preempted state law. The decision highlights the latest episode of tension between marijuana’s federal listing as a Schedule I controlled substance — which includes drugs with “no currently accepted medical treatment use”[2] — and states that have authorized marijuana for medical treatment.
Continue Reading “Aid” or “Aiding and Abetting?” Medical Marijuana and Federal Preemption in Minnesota
Governor Gavin Newsom recently signed California Assembly Bill 45 (AB 45) into law, which, among other things, allows hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) to be included in any food, beverages, and dietary supplements sold in California. This is not only a break from California’s prior position prohibiting CBD from being included in such products even as the