Regulatory

California cannabis taxes continue to plague the industry. California cannabis taxes are undoubtedly high (although not the highest in the country). The truth is that that’s not changing anytime soon. A few weeks ago, I did an interview with KCRW where operators bemoaned the current California cannabis tax situation. Their complaints are warranted given the […]

Listen HERE or stream on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Stitcher, or Soundcloud! At Harris Bricken, we keep close tabs on what is happening around the world, and we know that our friends and clients do, as well. We are happy to provide this podcast series: Global Law and Business, hosted by international attorneys Fred Rocafort and Jonathan Bench, where we look at the world

Since the legalization of hemp in 2018, CBD brands have struggled with inconsistent policies and enforcement from major social media companies when it comes to marketing their products. The consequences can be devastating. Accounts of many CBD brands have been suspended at one point or another, interrupting critical communication with customers, and harming goodwill. Sometimes,

With the approval of the Authority on the Responsible Use of Cannabis Act (the “Act“), legal cannabis in Malta has arrived. The Mediterranean island nation is the first in the European Union to legalize adult-use cannabis. Medical cannabis has been legal in Malta since 2018. 1. What Is Now Legal? The Act permits the cultivation of up

On Monday, November 13, 2021, New York Assemblyman Pat Burke introduced medical psilocybin legislation. The “purpose or general idea of bill” provides a good summary: this legislation would “create psilocybin service centers to provide innovative treatment options for ailments such as PTSD, depression, alcohol dependency, anxiety, among others.” The bill echoes two separate pieces of

Lately I have been spending a lot of time engaging with clients who are dealing with cannabis investors. I work with companies and investors. Between public and private cannabis companies, the suite of investors runs the gamut from friends and family to key employees, executives, and board members with equity and synthetic equity grants, to

Federal cannabis trademark litigation is a difficult proposition. In a recent case filed by Wunderwerks, Inc., a company that sells beverages infused with CBD and THC additives, we see another unfortunate example of this. Federal courts, at least, are still no friend to the cannabis industry. Wunderwerks had sued Dual Beverage Company LLC (“DBC”) in

The CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act (the Act) indicates that the Feds might regulate CBD as a food ingredient, and that it may lead to regulation of other cannabinoids. If the Feds regulate CBD as a food ingredient, it could seriously change the game (in a good way) for hemp CBD companies. On December

Psychedelic retreats are all the rage (and that’s not a new thing), which causes a variety of organizer legal issues and a corresponding spectrum of liabilities. At Wonderland Miami, Horizons NYC, and on a regular basis outside of conferences, we are asked about legal advice for the organizers of psychedelic retreats. Both recreational and therapeutic

On December 2, Congress introduced the CBD Product Safety and Standardization Act (the Act), a bipartisan bill that would establish federal standards for food and beverage products containing hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD). If enacted, the Act would: Require the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate CBD similarly to any other food ingredient; Allow FDA to