March has been a big month for cannabis reform and the $40 billion state-regulated marketplace.
President Biden mentioned cannabis reform and his administration’s efforts to reschedule the substance in his State of the Union address—a historic first for any U.S. president. Vice President Kamala Harris held a cannabis event in the White House, where
On January 12, 2024, a 252-page memorandum from the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (“HHS”) was publicly released. This memorandum, dated August 29, 2023, portends a potential monumental shift in the regulation of marijuana under federal law and recommends that marijuana be regulated under schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (“CSA”). The
After Tuesday’s election, Ohio is the latest state to legalize adult-use cannabis despite opposition from Republican Governor Mike DeWine and several trade groups.
Voters approved State Issue 2 with 57% voting in favor and 43% against. The measure allows Ohioans 21 years or older to buy, possess, and grow cannabis up to certain limits. It
Cannabis: In Focus
Continue Reading Cannabis Legal Report—Week of October 16, 2023
Politico and Bloomberg both reported today that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is officially recommending that marijuana be moved to Schedule III from Schedule I under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), a historic shift that indicates the top health agency no longer considers cannabis to have high abuse potential with no
The Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform (CCSR) recently released its comprehensive report on the federal classification of cannabis, co-authored by Perkins Coie Cannabis industry group co-chair Andrew Kline, with support from associate Tommy Tobin, and edited by paralegal Hanna Barker Mullin.
CCSR makes the case in its report that marijuana is improperly placed in the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra shared during a press conference on June 15 that relevant federal agencies are working to complete their administrative review of cannabis scheduling this year, according to Marijuana Moment.
Last October, President Biden took the historic step of directing his administration to “expeditiously” review
On June 8, 2023, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced a crackdown on sales by unlicensed cannabis sellers, which could face fines of up to $20,000 a day under recent legislation allowing for enhanced enforcement. The legislation allows the Office of Cannabis Management to assess civil penalties against unlicensed cannabis businesses and makes it a crime
As the Biden administration actively reviews the classification of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), a diverse group of cannabis companies and organizations is partnering with scientific and legal authorities, including Perkins Coie LLP, to launch the Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform (CCSR).
The current classification of cannabis as a Schedule I drug puts
Our democracy is driven by both laws and fundamental freedoms. Americans expect governmental oversight that balances freedom of choice with protection of public health and safety. Sometimes these two imperatives that are emblematic of a free society do not align perfectly. In this op-ed published by Bloomberg Law, Perkins Coie Senior Counsel Andrew Kline