Legal Issues

California’s Attorney General Rob Bonta recently expressed concerns over the federal risks associated with opening interstate cannabis commerce for the state’s industry.

In Colorado, a new voter initiative aims to empower cannabis consumers with the right to acquire concealed carry firearm permits, challenging the current restrictions imposed by federal law.

Activists in Texas are suing the city of Harker Heights for failing to reform its local cannabis laws after voters approved decriminalization changes in 2022.

The Securities Exchange Commission (SEC) recently obtained judgments against two former CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. executives for fraudulent offerings.

A New York judge has approved a settlement between the state Cannabis Control Board and four military veterans who had sued the state over its social equity licensing plan, ending the months-long injunction on the state’s cannabis licensing process.

The Maryland Supreme Court has declined to review a lower court’s injunction against the enforcement of a state law banning intoxicating hemp products. Under this development, the injunction will remain in place and retailers can continue to sell products containing delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC.

New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has signed a bill to allow for the sealing of eligible misdemeanor convictions after three years and certain felony convictions after eight years, following the candidates’ release from incarceration.

The National Labor and Relations Board has approved a settlement that will see a Missouri cannabis dispensary company reinstate five employees and pay more than $145,000 in backpack, front pay, and interest and compensation to 10 employees who were terminated after a March union organizing action.

The California Department of Cannabis Control has clarified that the National Agricultural Workers Union is not a bona fide labor organization following reports from earlier this year that the organization is one of many “fake” unions in the space.

Florida inspectors announced last week they had uncovered more than 8,700 hemp extract-edible packages that were deemed attractive to, or marketed to,  children.

The Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled that hemp-derived delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC products are not considered controlled substances under state law.

A federal judge in Northern Virginia has denied an attempt to block a recently enacted state law that imposed stricter limits on intoxicating hemp products, with the judge arguing the state “demonstrated that delta-8 THC is a credible threat to the Virginia population.”

A federal judge has blocked an Arkansas state law that sought to ban hemp-derived THC products. The move prevents any enforcement actions under the ban and will keep thousands of employees, farmers, business owners, and consumers from being made into criminals “despite no change in federal law.”

The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit that challenges medical cannabis business fee hikes in the state, arguing that the licensing fees — despite the lawsuit’s claims — are not considered an illegal tax.

The Minnesota Supreme Court this week affirmed that cannabis odor is not enough reason for police to conduct a warrantless vehicle search.

In the third lawsuit brought against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission over its handling of the medical cannabis application process, Medella LLC is accusing the agency of wrongfully implying that one of the company’s owners or senior directors had a criminal record.

A lawsuit filed in federal court last week is looking to challenge Virginia’s newly imposed THC limits on hemp products in the state.

In a move that highlights the discrepancy between state-level and federal regulations on hemp, the state of California has filed a lawsuit against several U.S. hemp brands claiming violations of the state’s Proposition 65 rules.

A Missouri judge this week dismissed the bid by a medical cannabis company to stop the recall of nearly 63,000 of its cannabis products.

A Missouri cannabis company that had nearly 63,000 products recalled earlier this month is being sued by a medical cannabis firm that purchased more than $300,000 worth of the now-recalled products.

A New York judge partly lifted the injunction against state regulators issuing new cannabis licenses, allowing 30 licensees who have been deemed ready by the Cannabis Control Board to move forward; however, 400 cannabis licenses remain in limbo.

Daniel Herer, son of cannabis activist and author Jack Herer, is being sued by a former business partner for allegedly reneging on business agreements. Herer has denied the charges in his own filing and claims that the plaintiff Herer Brands Inc. is infringing on intellectual property.

The town of Hancock, Maryland is headed to mediation with multi-state cannabis company Trulieve over profits from its 5% equity stake in the company, which was previously arranged in exchange for a medical cannabis license.

A vape shop in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is suing the district attorney and other law enforcement officials, claiming that they conducted a warrantless search of the business and wrongfully seized legal hemp-derived THC products.