Legal Issues

Under a Michigan Court of Appeals ruling, individuals cannot make butane cannabis extractions and the practice — when done without a license — constitutes the manufacturing of a controlled substance.

A lawsuit against Missouri’s medical cannabis system claims the state-imposed license caps violate Missourians’ constitutional right to farm.

The Massachusetts Supreme Court has ruled that employees who use medical cannabis to treat a work-related injury cannot rely on workers comp insurance to cover it.

Purdue Pharma, the manufacturer of OxyContin, pleaded guilty this week to illegally marketing its deadly and addictive opioid products. As part of its federal settlement, the company faces over $8 billion in penalties.

More cannabis companies are being targeted by class-action lawsuits over automated calls and text messages made potentially in violation of the Federal Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

Colorado cannabis security firm Helix must pay overtime wages after its case was declined by the Supreme Court. The firm had argued that, because cannabis was federally illegal, industry workers were not protected by federal law.

The trademark battle between Woodstock Ventures and Woodstock Roots over the “Woodstock” name as it pertains to cannabis products is headed to the U.S. Second Circuit Court of Appeals.

The couple behind the cannabis-friendly cryptocurrency ParagonCoin, which launched in 2017, failed to appear in court and may be on the run after they were fined $250,000 by the SEC and told to refund $12 million to investors.

The attorneys behind a potential landmark lawsuit challenging the federal prohibition of cannabis as unconstitutional are calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to hear their case.

A great-grandmother is suing Disney after she was arrested at the company’s Florida theme park last year for carrying hemp-derived CBD oil, which is legal under federal law.

The SEC has filed charges against six people for allegedly defrauding more than 400 investors out of $25 million; the scheme supposedly took place between September 2017 and February 2019.

An additional 350 Missouri cannabis patients have been identified as having received fake physician certifications for the state’s medical cannabis program; the scheme has affected about 1,000 patients, so far.

Dan Bilzerian, CEO of Ignite International Brands Ltd, is being sued by the company’s former executive vice president who claims he was fired after blowing the whistle on irresponsible spending.

Brian Lannon, the co-founder and former CEO for Cannalysis, a California testing lab, has filed suit against the company over allegations of wrongful termination, fraudulent activities, and more.

The FTC has filed a rare lawsuit against CBD company Whole Leaf Organics over unfounded treatment claims made by the company.

Florida MCBD is suing New York-based Columbia Care claiming a pattern of wrongful interference as Columbia worked to secure a Florida cannabis business license.

Harborside in California is continuing its challenge of the federal tax code 280E, which the company’s legal team says is unconstitutional and runs afoul of the 16th Amendment.

The Maine Cannabis Coalition is suing the state over its recent decision to remove residency requirements for cannabis licensees.

Arkansas-based Harvest Cannabis Dispensary has won a preliminary injunction in its trademark dispute against Natural State Enterprises, a multi-state cannabis operator.

A RICO case brought by an Oregon homeowner against more than 80 cannabis companies has been dismissed at the plaintiff’s request.

Lawsuits tied to a 2018 crackdown on Tennessee CBD retailers can move forward after a court rejected a request by law enforcement officials to have the case thrown out.

The Nevada Bar warned in 2017 that attorneys working with cannabis companies could face discipline but, three years later, no disciplinary actions have been taken against lawyers who advise and invest in the cannabis space.

A hemp delivery driver from Colorado was indicted in South Dakota on charges of cannabis possession and intent to distribute; the driver faces a potential prison sentence of up to 15 years if convicted.

A judge in Hanover County, Virginia has tossed a cannabis possession charge after a laboratory supervisor claimed in court that their lab could not differentiate between illegal cannabis and legal hemp CBD flower.