Itai Rogel’s Post

🌿 Big changes are coming to Massachusetts regulations! 🌿 David Ullian breaks down everything you need to know in Vincente’s latest article – a must-read if you’re in the needing a quick update on what’s to come! Starting November 22, here’s what to expect: 📋 Streamlined inventory tracking – digital options make it easier for businesses to manage products. 🚚 New flexibility for delivery operators – repackaging permissions, reduced staffing requirements, and expanded hours are all part of the update. 🩺 Better patient access – telehealth certification options are now available, and nurse practitioners can certify patients directly. 👀 For more details, check out the link below 👇 #ccc #cannabiscontrolcomission #cannabiz #newengland #regulations #regulatory

🌿 From legal battles over cannabis prohibition and medical marijuana amendments, to the rise of microdosing and new regulations for cannabis lounges—this week has been a whirlwind for the cannabis industry. Plus, a push for unified cannabis licensing could streamline operations for all. 🏛️🍄🛋️ #CannabisNews #CannabisReform #Microdosing #Legalization #CannabisRegulation #CannabisIndustry

The approval of rules allowing adult-use marijuana sales to start next month in Ohio marks a significant step forward in the state's cannabis legalization journey. This development is not only a positive move for the industry but also a testament to the state's commitment to swiftly implementing the will of the voters. However, navigating the complexities of this evolving regulatory landscape can be challenging for cannabis-related businesses. The team at Verde Compliance Partners, with their extensive experience and deep understanding of state and federal regulatory agencies and systems, is well-equipped to guide businesses through this intricate process. As Ohio's cannabis market expands, Verde Compliance Partners remains dedicated to helping businesses stay compliant and thrive in this exciting new era. https://lnkd.in/ejSMJ4hy?

The Department of Justice (DOJ) has issued a notice of proposed rulemaking to reclassify marijuana from a class I substance to a class III substance under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).  This change would apply to THC derived from the marijuana plant, and would not apply to synthetically derived THC or apply to hemp because hemp is excluded from the definition of marijuana. If marijuana is transferred into schedule III, the manufacture, distribution, dispensing, and possession of marijuana would remain subject to the applicable criminal prohibitions of the CSA. Any drugs containing a substance within the CSA’s definition of ‘‘marijuana’’ would also remain subject to the applicable prohibitions in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (‘‘FDCA’’).  If marijuana is reclassified, it does create questions as to the future of drug testing under federal authority.  Testing that occurs under the Mandatory Guidelines for Federal Workplace Drug Testing is limited to testing of substances scheduled as I or II under the CSA. The DOJ is looking for comments on this proposal and the public is encouraged to comment before July 22, 2024.  The DOJ will then need to review all comments received before issuing their final rule making on reclassification of marijuana. While no changes go into effect today, employers should consider what this change could mean to their testing programs in the future. The open public comment period gives employers the opportunity to share with the DOJ their support or concerns they might have about this potential change.  As always, its recommended employers review their drug testing policies with legal counsel before making any changes or when new regulatory action is being proposed or implemented. https://lnkd.in/gfRSM4kV

D.C.'s medical marijuana dispensaries are struggling due to competition from unlicensed "I-71 shops" and Maryland's new legal cannabis market. The "I-71 shops" exploit a legal loophole to sell cheaper products without requiring medical certification, putting pressure on licensed dispensaries. Five legal dispensaries have closed in the past two years due to an uneven playing field. In response, D.C. has created a pathway for unlicensed shops to become legal dispensaries, but enforcement has been limited. The D.C. Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (ABCA) has issued warnings and cease and desist orders to unlicensed businesses, with potential padlocking of non-compliant stores imminent. The city received 75 applications for dispensary status, with 13 accepted and 34 under review. Dispensary owners are urging the city to take stronger actions to shut down illegal shops to protect the regulated market. https://lnkd.in/gzWtCgRv

This. Is. Huge. 🤯 The DEA just announced the rescheduling of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. This decision comes on the heels of a recommendation from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and marks a significant shift in recognizing the medical value of marijuana and its relatively low potential for abuse compared to drugs like heroin and cocaine. This change will have a major impact on state-legal cannabis businesses by enabling them to take federal tax deductions previously unavailable under IRS code 280E. Although this rescheduling will facilitate more research by reducing regulatory barriers, it stops short of legalizing marijuana federally (but hopefully that's the next step — it may seem impossible, but rescheduling seemed like an insurmountable step not that long ago). 🍃 Read more: https://lnkd.in/e8k8Dxn4

Pennsylvania is pushing for monopolizing cannabis by mandating hemp products only be sold by licensed cannabis retailers. Sound familiar? They are proposing a $7500 license fee, $2500 of which is non refundable. Caps 50 growers, 50 processors and 100 dispensary licensees in the State. Current medical marijuana business would get priority almost guaranteeing no small business would get one. How can a State change the laws to put federally legal hemp products under a federally illegal program? Hemp products aren't subject to 280e laws further illustrating how wrong this legislation is. The bill goes further into the mud by dictating operational parameters that have no beneficial purpose.

The Biden administration's move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug is huge news for the budding weed industry, Axios' Emily Peck, Felix Salmon and Dan Primack write. Why it matters: The industry has been held back by the drug's squishy legal status. Shares of Canopy Growth — one of the largest publicly traded cannabis companies — rose 82% yesterday on the news. 💡 How it works: Though dozens of states have legalized or decriminalized marijuana, at the federal level it's classified as Schedule 1 — drugs with high potential for abuse and no medical use. That's made it difficult for the industry to operate across state lines and access banking services. It also means cannabis companies can't deduct business expenses on their federal taxes. The result: Profit margins are low.

📢 Exciting News! 📢 Be on the lookout for the latest publication from our team at Asebey Life Science Law! 📚💼 Co-authored by our own Edgar J. Asebey and Guilherme Ferrari Faviero, MS, MPH , the 2024 edition of The Legal Guide to the Business of Marijuana dives into the latest in cannabis, hemp, and psychedelics regulation. 🌿⚖️ #AsebeyLifeScienceLaw #CannabisRegulation #MarijuanaLaw #PsychedelicsLaw #RegulatoryLaw #2024Edition