The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”) conducted its license lottery for social equity applicants on June 5, 2025. Lottery winners received preliminary approval and must secure a business location and, in many...more
It’s the first week of January, and you all know what that means in the blogging game: It’s time to make wild predictions about the coming year. As always, making predictions is hard, particularly when they’re about the...more
In perhaps his most controversial cabinet appointment yet, earlier today, President-elect Trump said he would nominate Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz as U.S. Attorney General. Although Gaetz’s nomination was met with skepticism by...more
SAFER Banking Act Heads to Senate Floor - On September 27, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation (SAFER) Banking Act (S.2860) was reported out from the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs with...more
Fresh on the heels of intense optimism over the Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation that cannabis be rescheduled, another key federal reform is in motion. On September 27, 2023, the Senate Committee will...more
Advocates of the SAFE Banking Act – who by now must be feeling a little like Charlie Brown trying to kick the football – were dealt another setback last week. The beleaguered proposal finds itself simmering in committee just...more
GOP Senator Backs Marijuana Banking Bill, but Doubts Democratic Leadership Will Advance It - “Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), said that he’d be a ‘yes’ vote on the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act if it...more
SAFE Banking Updates - The latest iteration of the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act was reintroduced in Congress on April 26, 2023, and received a hearing before the Senate Banking Committee on May...more
SAFE Banking Gets a Senate Hearing - The Senate Banking Committee has scheduled a hearing on May 11 for the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. The hearing will involve both Republican and Democrat...more
Earlier this week, members of the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate reintroduced legislation that would allow regulated financial institutions to work with state-licensed cannabis companies. The Secure and Fair...more
As the regulated sale of cannabis increasingly becomes sanctioned under state law, federal implications arising from its classification as a controlled substance continue to frustrate those in the banking industry who view...more
On the heels of two more states legalizing adult use of marijuana, Congress seems closer to passing a law allowing banks to service cannabis-related businesses without federal reprisal. Maryland and Missouri voters...more
With the anticipation of federal marijuana legalization, the cannabis industry rang in 2021 with sky-high equity values and anticipated social justice reforms seemingly imminent. However, differing ideas regarding how to...more
For nearly a decade, financial institutions operating in states with regulated cannabis markets (whether medicinal or recreational) have struggled with their ability to offer banking services to entities legally operating...more
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
On April 19, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act in a 321-101 vote. The bill has benefitted from bipartisan support after being co-sponsored by a large group of both...more