What Are ESOPs and Why Do They Matter for Cannabis Operators -
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) are federally authorized retirement benefit structures designed to hold company stock in a trust on behalf of employees....more
8/12/2025
/ C-Corporation ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Change of Ownership ,
Employee Benefits ,
Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) ,
ESOP ,
Fiduciary Duty ,
IRC Section 280E ,
Retirement Plan ,
S-Corporation ,
Succession Planning ,
Tax Deductions ,
Tax Planning
More than two years after Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed legislation legalizing adult-use cannabis, and eleven years after the establishment of the state’s medical cannabis program, adult-use cannabis businesses are...more
7/25/2025
/ Business Ownership ,
Business Strategies ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Change in Ownership ,
Investors ,
License Applications ,
Licensing Rules ,
Marijuana Cultivation ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Guidance ,
New Legislation ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Social Equity Programs ,
State and Local Government
As the cannabis rescheduling process progresses and we enter the fourth quarter of 2024, many cannabis businesses are wondering what’s next and how rescheduling may impact 280E and tax planning.
In this session, Vicente...more
Congratulations to those who won a cannabis social equity license in the Maryland lottery! To take advantage of this exciting business endeavor, check out these suggested priority actions and read on for essential...more
On May 11, 2023, New York’s Cannabis Control Board voted to approve the revised adult-use cannabis regulations. Upon publication in the New York State Register, these draft regulations are subject to another 45-day public...more
5/12/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Bankruptcy Code ,
Business Formation ,
Business Ownership ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Dispensaries ,
Marijuana Regulation & Taxation Act (MRTA) ,
New York ,
Retailers ,
State and Local Government ,
Suppliers
A new industry is emerging in the United States, and entrepreneurs in the psychedelics space must make critical decisions at the onset of new ventures regarding how to set up and structure their new businesses. While there is...more
4/21/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
B Corporation ,
Business Licenses ,
C-Corporation ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Documentation ,
Entrepreneurs ,
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) ,
Investment ,
Jurisdiction ,
Limited Liability Company (LLC) ,
S-Corporation ,
Startups ,
Vesting
Raising money for a company is challenging. It can be even more challenging if you haven’t been through the process before and don’t know what decisions you need to make. In this article, we will lay out ten different...more
5/11/2022
/ Business Licenses ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Capital Raising ,
Corporate Governance ,
Financing ,
Investors ,
Limited Liability Company (LLC) ,
SAFE ,
Securities ,
Valuation ,
Venture Capital ,
Waterfall Provision
March 31, 2022 will mark the first anniversary of former Gov. Cuomo’s signing of New York’s cannabis legalization legislation, the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA). What has changed since then? And do we know more...more
The sale of securities associated with a cannabis company are subject to the same legal requirements as those of a company in any other industry, and compliance with these is more important due to higher regulatory scrutiny....more
What is a REIT?
“REIT” stands for Real Estate Investment Trust. Typically, a REIT is a corporation that has elected to be taxed as a REIT (which provides several tax advantages, including the ability to deduct dividends from...more
4/26/2021
/ Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Capital Raising ,
Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) ,
Investors ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Popular ,
Private Equity ,
Real Estate Investments ,
Real Estate Market ,
REIT ,
Shareholders ,
Tenants ,
Vetting
Gov. Phil Murphy signed a package of bills into law February 22 that will create a legal adult-use cannabis market in New Jersey. Several other states—including Montana, Virginia, and New York—are either implementing or...more
3/25/2021
/ Agribusiness ,
Business Development ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Dispensaries ,
Licensing Rules ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
New Legislation ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
State and Local Government
What is a SPAC? Special Purpose Acquisition Companies, known as SPACs, are companies with no commercial operations set up by investors, and which exist for the sole purpose of raising money through an initial public offering...more