Skip to main content

Propose a Blog Post

 

Popular posts from this blog

Is Cannabis Now Legal in Mexico? Answers here…

  First, thanks so much to my friend and Mexico City attorney Elias Lisbona Jassán of Perez Ferrer Abogados , who co-authored this piece with me, David Feldman . To answer the question in the headline, I think the legal term is “sort of.” This topic, of course, is important not only for the 120 million folks living in Mexico but for all of us in the rest of North America. It also portends where things might be headed in the rest of this hemisphere, and increases pressure on US lawmakers and leaders to consider further action if Mexico were to join Canada with full adult-use legalization. In addition, it enhances the hope of many to create multilateral trade in cannabis once the US moves to legalize it. How did we get here? For those who have not focused much on the developments in Mexico, let’s review the timeline in order. • Cannabis became illegal in Mexico in 1920. Interestingly, for just four months in 1940, cannabis became “legal,” when then-President Lázaro Cárdenas enacted r...

Cannabis Branding: On the Edge of the Metaverse

Photo by julien Tromeur on Unsplash Branding in the Metaverse is all the rage. In the last three months alone, well-known brands like Nike, Converse, New Balance, Vineyard Vines, Tahari, Anthropologie, Hollister, Abercrombie & Fitch, and, even Walmart, have all filed applications with the United States Patent and Trademark Office  for intent-to-use trademarks in connection with “digital goods;”# opportunistic filings by individuals not affiliated with name brands have appeared in Classes 9, 35, and 41# for both PRADA and GUCCI; and Metaverse Law, a clever California law firm has been diligently going through the motions in their attempt to trademark the very word on everyone’s lips. But what is Metaverse, and why should you, the owner of the expertly cultivated flower brand, or producer of the most delicately infused edibles care? Metaverse is a virtual world meant to support decentralized, persistent three-dimensional environments, and accessible by anyone with a smart phone,...

INCBA Europe Conference at CB Expo in Zurich 2022 – a great success!

  On the weekend of September 10th, INCBA hosted the first ever Conference for Cannabis Lawyers in Europe at the CB Expo. Over the course of two days, seventeen attorneys from Europe and the US presented seven sessions on the main legal issues facing the European cannabis market. Topics included the principle of free movement of hemp and cannabis products within the EU, the legal classification of CBD products as food or cosmetics, contractual aspects of importing cannabis products into the EU, the legal hurdles in the legalization of recreational cannabis, and much more. The active and participatory audience included both lawyers as well as interested entrepreneurs who could take away valuable insights for their businesses. In addition to the unparalleled education, there was plenty of networking to be found, including the social reception at Cannavigia sponsored by INCBA on the eve of the conference, at the after-party of the conference itself, or at the closing dinner with INCBA...

INCBA Statement on Recriminalization of Hemp in the United States

For immediate release  November 20, 2025  Last week, after the longest shutdown in US history, Congress re-opened the federal government after passing the Continuing Appropriations, Agriculture, Legislative Branch, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Extensions Act, 2026 . One effect of the bill is to recriminalize hemp-related activity previously made lawful under the 2018 Farm Bill by banning most hemp products that contain THC and other hemp-derived cannabinoids. The International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) recognizes that this new law will have a significant impact on the legal work of its attorney members and the businesses of their clients, in addition to the ongoing challenges to the cannabis industry as a whole and is prepared to meet the moment head on.   The legislative language requires, among other things, that upon the one-year anniversary of its enactment the definition of “hemp” will change to encompass total THC—including delta-9, delta-8...

Trailblazers of Justice: Celebrating Black Legal Leaders in Cannabis Law and Criminal Justice Reform

As we honor Black History Month , it's a time to celebrate the incredible Black trailblazers who have shaped the American landscape, particularly in fields like cannabis law and criminal justice reform. The contributions of Black attorneys, judges, and legal scholars have been essential in challenging systemic inequities, advocating for fair policies, and advancing the legalization and decriminalization of cannabis. Meet ten visionaries whose bold advocacy has forever changed the fight for cannabis justice and equality.  Natacha Delinois Andrews – Founder and Executive Director of the National Association of Black Cannabis Lawyers (NABCL) As Founder and Executive Director of the National Association of Black Cannabis Lawyers (NABCL), Natacha Delinois Andrews leads the charge in diversifying the cannabis legal sector. Her pioneering work focuses on recruiting and training Black legal professionals for the rapidly expanding cannabis industry, while providing crucial legal resources t...