In July 2025, a bipartisan coalition of 32 state and territorial attorneys general (AG) sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging the passage of the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act. Their letter...more
8/6/2025
/ Anti-Money Laundering ,
Banks ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Dispensaries ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Legalization ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Retail Market ,
State Attorneys General
On May 27, the Texas Legislature sent Senate Bill 3 (SB3) to Gov. Greg Abbott for signature, marking a potentially seismic shift in the legal landscape for hemp-derived cannabinoid products in the state. If signed into law –...more
6/18/2025
/ Agribusiness ,
Beverage Manufacturers ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Doing Business ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Manufacturers ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Foods ,
Pending Legislation ,
Plant Based Products ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Retail Market ,
Retailers ,
Texas
METRC, Inc., the predominant provider of seed-to-sale tracking software used by state regulatory bodies overseeing legal cannabis markets across the U.S., faces serious allegations detailed in a recent lawsuit filed in...more
4/23/2025
/ California ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Oregon ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Violations ,
Retaliation ,
Seeds ,
Software ,
Tracking Systems ,
Whistleblowers ,
Wrongful Termination
On February 3, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) issued two public health and safety advisories regarding potentially contaminated marijuana products sold by two separate licensees in Massachusetts....more
3/26/2025
/ Agribusiness ,
Contamination ,
Enforcement Actions ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Plant Based Products ,
Public Health ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Requirements ,
Risk Management ,
State and Local Government ,
Testing Requirements
The Virginia General Assembly has once again advanced legislation to establish a regulated market for recreational marijuana sales. Virginia is unique in that it allows personal possession of cannabis but bans retail sales...more
2/26/2025
/ Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Dispensaries ,
Marijuana ,
Plant Based Products ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Public Health ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures ,
Virginia
When Minnesota legislators passed House File 4065 in 2022 — legalizing the sale of certain hemp-derived THC edibles and beverages — few could have predicted that a multimillion-dollar THC-infused beverage market would result....more
9/5/2024
/ Beverage Manufacturers ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana-Infused Edibles ,
Plant Based Products ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
THC
Whether you believe that cannabis legalization has occurred too quickly or too slowly, one thing is certain: recent developments herald a potentially seismic shift in federal cannabis policy in the U.S. Reflecting on our...more
2/7/2024
/ Cannabis Products ,
Controlled Substances ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
DEA ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Healthcare ,
Legalization ,
Marijuana ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Schedule I Drugs
The Virginia Cannabis Control Authority (CCA), which assumed oversight of Virginia’s medical cannabis program from the Board of Pharmacy as of January 1, has promulgated regulations to govern medical cannabis operations in...more
1/24/2024
/ Dispensaries ,
Healthcare ,
License Applications ,
Marijuana ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Regulations ,
Patient Access ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Plant Based Products ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Virginia
With rapid technological advances, expanded regulatory oversight, and constantly shifting market dynamics, owning and operating a business in the modern world has become an increasingly difficult challenge. Chief among the...more
1/10/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Dispensaries ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Receivership ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight
The cannabis industry has experienced significant growth over the past decade, with increasing numbers of states legalizing both medical and recreational use. Currently, cannabis is legal for adults in 24 states and the...more
1/10/2024
/ Agribusiness ,
Business Taxes ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Controlled Substances ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
Dispensaries ,
Federal Taxes ,
Internal Revenue Code (IRC) ,
IRS ,
Legalization ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State and Local Government ,
State Taxes ,
Tax Liability
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has drawn criticism for heavily redacting a recommendation letter to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) concerning the rescheduling of cannabis. HHS said the...more
In the latest episode of Regulatory Oversight, Troutman Pepper RISE attorneys Jean Gonnell and Cole White are joined by AGA's Bruce Turcott, legal editor of the Cannabis Law Deskbook, to discuss the evolution of cannabis...more
The cannabis industry has witnessed significant growth in recent years, marked by the legalization of medical and/or recreational marijuana in 38 states, Washington D.C., and three territories. Alongside this expansion comes...more
11/15/2023
/ Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Colorado ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Goods or Services ,
Innovative Technology ,
Inventory ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Retail Market ,
Tracking Systems
On October 30, Virginia’s hemp industry suffered an early defeat in its effort to overturn Virginia SB 903, a law that imposed stricter limitations on hemp products than what is currently required under federal law....more
11/15/2023
/ Commerce Clause ,
Dormant Commerce Clause ,
Farm Bill ,
Hemp ,
Hemp Cultivation ,
Hemp Related Businesses ,
Manufacturers ,
Preemption ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
THC ,
Virginia
As a result of a legal challenge by the Oregon Cannabis Industry Alliance and cannabis cultivators in Oregon, the Oregon Health Authority’s (OHA) aspergillus fungus testing rule for marijuana, marijuana products, and...more
10/25/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Oregon ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government ,
Testing Requirements ,
Zero Tolerance Policies
Though controversial, cannabis has steadily grown into a booming industry. Despite this rapid growth and the legalization of cannabis in numerous states, cannabis is still classified as a Schedule I drug under the Controlled...more
10/25/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Bankruptcy Code ,
Bankruptcy Court ,
Bankruptcy Plans ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Commercial Bankruptcy ,
Controlled Substances ,
Debtors ,
Financial Distress ,
Insolvency ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Popular ,
Receivership ,
Regulatory Oversight
On October 12, hemp producers and retailers notched an early win in litigation challenging the legality of Maryland’s cannabis licensing program as it applies to hemp. By way of background, the Maryland General Assembly...more
10/25/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis Act ,
Cannabis Products ,
Hemp ,
Licenses ,
Maryland ,
Plant Based Products ,
Preliminary Injunctions ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Retail Market ,
THC ,
USDA
Since its first recreational marijuana dispensary opened in 2014, Colorado has been at the forefront of the burgeoning adult-use cannabis industry, setting a precedent for other states considering the legalization of...more
The Georgia Board of Pharmacy has begun accepting applications from independent, licensed pharmacies for authorization to dispense authorized medical marijuana products, and nearly 120 pharmacies reportedly have agreed to...more
10/11/2023
/ Applications ,
Cannabidiol (CBD) oil ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Georgia ,
Healthcare ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
New Rules ,
Patient Access ,
Patients ,
Pharmacies ,
Prescription Drugs ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State and Local Government ,
THC ,
Vaping
On October 2, the Virginia Board of Pharmacy posted a general notice indicating that it had voted to rescind the request for applications (RFA) for a Pharmaceutical Processor license in Health Service Area I. The RFA will now...more
10/11/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
CCA ,
Dispensaries ,
HSA ,
Licensing Rules ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Medical Marijuana ,
Patient Access ,
Pharmaceutical Industry ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Virginia
State attorneys general (AG) are continuing their push for cannabis banking reform, underscoring the need for action to promote public health and safety in legal cannabis markets. On Wednesday, a bipartisan group of 22 state...more
9/28/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Banking Reform ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Financial Institutions ,
Financial Regulatory Reform ,
Financial Services Industry ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
Proposed Legislation ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State Attorneys General
The Senate Banking Committee is scheduled to mark up a new version of the SAFE Banking Act, now known as the “Secure And Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act” or the SAFER Banking Act (SB 2860). The revised bill addresses...more
On August 9, a lawsuit was filed in Connecticut that aims to stop all legal cannabis activity in the state and declare the state’s 2021 legalization framework as unconstitutional. The complaint, filed by a local homeowners...more
9/26/2023
/ Anti-Commandeering ,
Cannabis Products ,
Connecticut ,
Constitutional Challenges ,
Controlled Substances ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Federal v State Law Application ,
Legalization ,
Legislative Agendas ,
Preemption ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
State and Local Government ,
State Legislatures
On September 12, the New York Cannabis Control Board (CCB) approved final regulations governing the adult-use cannabis industry in New York, marking a long-awaited moment for industry participants and state regulators alike....more
9/26/2023
/ Agribusiness ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Decriminalization of Marijuana ,
Deregulation ,
Dispensaries ,
Investment Opportunities ,
Licenses ,
Marijuana ,
Marijuana Cultivation ,
Marijuana Related Businesses ,
New York ,
Real Party in Interest ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
State and Local Government
It has been widely reported and confirmed publicly that, on August 29, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) sent a letter to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) recommending that cannabis be moved from...more
9/5/2023
/ Biden Administration ,
Cannabis Products ,
Cannabis-Related Businesses (CRBs) ,
Controlled Substances Act ,
DEA ,
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) ,
Dispensaries ,
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) ,
Marijuana ,
Medical Research ,
Recreational Use ,
Regulatory Agenda ,
Regulatory Oversight ,
Regulatory Reform ,
Research and Development ,
Schedule I Drugs