March 11, 2020

The U.S. hemp market continues to heat up for a variety of reasons, mainly because the general populace is finally starting to understand the difference between cannabis as marijuana and cannabis as hemp (and the benefits of CBD and other cannabinoids derived from cannabis). In this post I’ll discuss why China’s pain can be U.S. […]

Best practices for navigating the international cannabis trade has been an in-demand topic for our business and international trade attorneys over the past year. The industry is rapidly expanding and many are eager to get in on the action early. However, being first to the table means being first to traverse the landscape of elaborate,

In recent years, the United States has seen a proliferation of ketamine clinics. From 2015 to 2018, the number of clinics increased from 60 to 300; that number is undoubtedly higher today. People are increasingly using ketamine for ailments that resist treatment through traditional pharmaceutical drugs. In an even larger trend, the health care provider

Multi-state operators (MSOs) are becoming more prevalent in the domestic and global cannabis trade. As industry consolidates, state and local governments have rolled out competitive licensing systems that demand large amounts of capital, general business acumen and specific experience in regulated industries. The cannabis MSO game is not for the faint of heart, but the

We’ve written a good amount on how ugly litigation will be. There’s federal illegality and the possibility that a court refuse to rule on a contract dispute because cannabis is federally illegal. Companies can be sued for false advertising and have all of their profits attributable to the false advertising disgorged by competitors. Allegedly false

While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) continues to drag its feet in forging a clear path for the sale and marketing of hemp-derived cannabidiol (“Hemp CBD”) products, foreign agencies and industry players are leading the way by adopting their own sets of regulations. Last week, giant beauty retailer Sephora announced it was now

The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) legalized hemp by removing the crop and its derivatives from the definition of marijuana under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) and by providing a detailed framework for the cultivation of hemp. The 2018 Farm Bill gives the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulatory authority over hemp

As usual, we’ve been monitoring both brewing and active trademark disputes in the cannabis space, and the most recent example involves the institution that is the Girl Scouts. For background, here are some of the other disputes we’ve covered in the past: Kiva Lawsuit Highlights the Cannabis Industry’s Ongoing Trademark Troubles Cannabis Trademark Litigation: Web

Not able to join our panelists last week for their talk about the international cannabis trade? We’ve got you covered! Below, please find the full presentation for your viewing pleasure. In the near future, we also plan to put together a follow-up post answering questions we didn’t have time for during the event. Stay tuned! The

The hemp-derived CBD market is a tough one right now. From uncertainty in when and how the FDA may begin regulating products, to the downturn in the stock markets as result of the coronavirus affecting the hemp industry, the problematic interim rules concerning hemp production and increasing state regulation, CBD companies face a plethora of