Legally-Blunt

California's Cannabis Advisory Committee (CAC) was scheduled to meet on March 27 for its first meeting of 2019. But now that the regulations are finalized, what's left for the CAC to do? Officially formed in October 2017 as a result of statutory mandate, the CAC is tasked with advising the th...

As Congress begins considering 2019 legislation in earnest, the national cannabis community wonders which bills may change federal cannabis laws, or at least, make banking easier.  Each year, we see more bills introduced with higher profile sponsors. We have already seen our first congressional...

The whiplash in LA continues as the city ventures to create plans and procedures for its anticipated phase 3 application window.   If you'll recall, the DCR recently issued a series of recommendations for phase 3 that city council was considering.  DCR recommendations re: Phase 3   Shortly ther...

Written by: Talyor Ulrich, Esq. Currently, 30 U.S. states have laws on the books legalizing cannabis in some form. But it is still considered illegal by federal laws, leaving most risk-averse banks too scared to do business with legal marijuana businesses for fear of angering their regulators...

The ink on California's state cannabis regulations is barely dry, yet legislators have already introduced nearly 20 bills that could impact the rules governing the industry. Some of the bills are reincarnations of those that were vetoed or killed through the legislative process last year. Take, f...

Written by Abraham Finberg, CPA and Simon Menkes, CPA In December of 2018, the Grinch visited more than just a few unlucky homes in America.  He also appeared in the guise of a couple of judges who ruled on the Harborside and Alternative/Wellness (Donald Duncan) cases. The Harborside Case in ...

It's the beginning of the year and that means planning for springtime festivals -  Coachella, High Times, County fairs, Cannabis Cup, and StageCoach - to name a few. However, this year may bring a different flair to California events - Cannabis.  As cannabis events are tapping into the Golden S...

In case you missed it, California's regulators announced last week that the Office of Administrative Law (“OAL”) officially approved regulations for all commercial cannabis licensees.  One of the most controversial rules to come from the Bureau of Cannabis Control (“BCC”) is Section 5032 (which...

It's been a long time coming, but California's final regulations for the cannabis industry are here. And for once, there aren't any surprises. We saw the results of the last round of rulemaking in December, and the only thing standing between cannabis businesses and the sanity of their compliance...

We have now reached another dramatic change in the history of cannabis. As of January 9, 2019, the protections set forth under the historic MMP ceased. Instead, licensing and the regulations under MAUCRSA govern. Background In 2003, the California Legislature enacted Senate Bill 420, otherwis...

In December 2018, the president signed the Farm Bill into law.  The Farm Bill vastly expands the commercial prospects for industrial hemp in the United States, removing hemp from the Controlled Substances Act (though, not cannabis, which remains Schedule I).  Without question, the 2018 Farm Bil...

There is a lot of action making its way through the Los Angeles City Council and the Department of Cannabis Regulations (“DCR”). We've prepared a preview of some of the most pertinent and interesting: EMMDs Now Precluded from Relocating As of November 30th, Existing Medical Marijuana Dispensar...

Housing Rights for Tenants with Patient Recommendations Housing providers are free to regulate conduct unrelated to any fair housing protected class however they choose. An outright ban on the use, possession, or cultivation of marijuana on site does not violate any landlord/tenant or fair ho...

We're reaching the end of the California cannabis industry's first year operating in a newly regulated market. Businesses have seen the state's licensing authorities flip flop on key regulatory issues, costing them an arm and a leg to maintain compliance. Cities and counties that haven't banned c...

During the November election, voters in three San Diego County cities considered ballot measures to allow for new cannabis licensing.  In Vista, medical licensing was approved, In La Mesa voters agreed to bring cannabis taxes to La Mesa, and finally, in Chula vista, voters formally adopted a co...

Written by Taylor Urlich, J.D. The quickly approaching midterms are less than a month out. Get out the vote and register campaigns are well underway for what is going to be a pretty monumental midterm.  One of the prominent issues transcending these candidates platforms is CANNABIS! November 6th...

Written by Elizabeth Kozlov In June 2018, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) approved Epidiolex for the treatment of seizures associated with Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome and Dravet Syndrome—two rare and severe forms of epilepsy.  Following that decision, on September 27, 2018, the United States...

Written by Taylor Ulrich, J.D.  Producers of edible marijuana products in Washington State have found themselves in a sticky edible limbo. Should their California counterparts be on edge? Let's take a look. What happened in Washington? Earlier this month, Washington's Liquor And Cannabis Boa...

As most know, Proposition 64 offered conviction relief for many cannabis offenses.  Proposition 64 reduced or eliminated criminal penalties for cannabis cultivation, sales, possession with intent to sell, possession, and transportation.  And, this change in law was retroactive, meaning people wit...

While Jerry Brown has not been the biggest proponent of cannabis during his time in the Horseshoe of Sacramento, he has proven this year that he generally respects the voters' decision to legalize adult use cannabis in California. Marking the end of the 2018-19 legislative session and his final...

Writen by: Taylor Ulrich, J.D. The budding cannabis industries in both the United States and Canada have an eye on the green – and I don't mean cannabis. While the legal cannabis industry continues to grow state by state in the US, cannabis is officially legal for purchase by adults in Canada na...

CBD seems to be everywhere, from all over the news to local pet stores.  Given its proliferation, it is easy to assume that CBD, particularly CBD derived from industrial hemp, is completely legal under state and federal law.  But, it is not. According to the DEA, CBD remains a Schedule I Contro...

Written by Taylor Ulrich, J.D. Los Angeles International Airport recently published the current position of the Los Angeles Airport Police Department by updating its public cannabis policy on its website stating that the department “will allow passengers to travel through LAX with up to 28.5 g...

The Bureau of Cannabis Control (BCC) is cracking down heavily on illegal businesses, or so it wants you to think. As California entered its ninth month of operating in the regulated cannabis market, the BCC widely announced two enforcement actions on unlicensed businesses in the state, one agai...

On August 28, 2018, California Governor Jerry Brown signed a piece of trailblazing legislation that is set to revamp California's cash bail system. Senate Bill No. 10, also known as the California Money Bail Reform Act, is set to go into effect on October 1, 2019. The new law passed in the Stat...