Cannabis Law Blog

"INCBA commends President Biden for leading the push to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III. This is a historic turning point that marks the most significant progress in the national cannabis legalization movement to date. This move marks a crucial step towards harmonizing federal law with states and the will of the majority of Americans that continue to call for cannabis legalization. By taking this critical step, we can begin to foster a cohesive national regulatory landscape and a sustainable cannabis industry.   The decision will eliminate the unfair tax burdens imposed on state-regulated cannabis operators and could pave the way for greater access to financial services and resources to build a sustainable industry and improve access to safe and effective plant medicine. In recognizing cannabis’ therapeutic benefits and revisiting unfounded narratives surrounding its purported harm, HHS and DEA have dealt a major blow to the stigma that has justified cannabis prohib

  INCBA Europe Co-Chair, Kai-Friedrich Niermann from Germany , provides an overview of the changes and the expected consequences, moderated by INCBA Europe co-chair Daniel Haymann from Switzerland and INCBA UK member Robert Jappie . Please feel free to enjoy the recording below, and be sure to follow our blog and our YouTube channel for more, great free cannabis law content. 

On April 30th, 2024, INCBA's Students Committee , in collaboration with INCBA's Ethics Committee , presented a special webinar entitled; "SO YOU WANT TO BE A CANNABIS ATTORNEY?" Our speakers, Student Committee Co-Chairs Alexis Lazzeri and Callie Hoffman , along with Ethics Committee Chair Marialle A. Bell discussed what it means to be a cannabis attorney, ways to pursue a career in this dynamic field, and unique ethical considerations for attorneys practicing in this industry. Please feel free to share with anyone you know who may be considering this career path!

The International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) hosted  its   inaugural Global Cannabis Intellectual Property Symposium in September 2023 in Montreal, Canada.  The Symposium  convened  cannabis IP  legal  thought leaders and delved into the nuts  and  bolts of IP,  e.g.,   patents, trademarks, licensing and  litigation/ disputes , drilling down into the illegality doctrine and other nuances that impact the inconsistent treatment of cannabis IP  by governmental agencies and courts . In addition, the summit hosted an informative in-house counsel panel, a session  that focused  on the  science of the  plant  ( for non-scientists ) , an illuminating presentation on international treaties, and an ed i fying  exposition on the unusual impact of federal illegality on professional responsibility.  A hybrid event, attendees  were   in   person  at McGill University  and  on Zoom ,  and the program included  speakers from Canada, Europe, Mexico, United Kingdom, United States, and elsewhere. T

INCBA Director Shay Gilmore's Summary of 2023 California Cannabis Legislation  Featured in the Daily Journal INCBA Director Shay Aaron Gilmore, The Law Office of Shay Aaron Gilmore, prepared a comprehensive summary of key legislation impacting the California cannabis industry signed by Governor Gavin Newsom on October 13, 2023. Check out the full article here: https://www.dailyjournal.com/articles/375420

  In a recent Law360 article , Meital Manzuri , the Board Secretary of the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) , and INCBA Students Committee Chair, Alexis Lazzeri , delved into the changing landscape of California's hemp and CBD regulations. The article dissects the impact of new laws like AB 45 and AB 420 on hemp product manufacturers across the nation. Manufacturers aiming to sell their hemp products in California must now adhere to state-specific regulations in addition to federal requirements. The article also highlights updates to hemp testing procedures, effective January 1, 2024, making it mandatory for products to undergo testing at a DEA-registered laboratory. A practical case study is included, demonstrating compliance standards for a hypothetical company. For more insights on the authors, please explore Manzuri Law . To learn more about the International Cannabis Bar Association , visit: https://incba.org .

On September 11th, 2023, leading legal experts, INCBA President Jason Horst , Managing Partner of Horst Legal Counsel, PC, Amber Littlejohn , Of Counsel at Ice Miller LLP, Shane Pennington , Partner at Porter Wright Morris & Arthur LLP, and Khurshid Khoja , Founder of Greenbridge Corporate Counsel discussed the Department of Health and Human Services’ recommendation to the Drug Enforcement Agency to reschedule cannabis to Schedule III, what its potential implications could be for the industry and the legalization movement, and what still needs to happen before rescheduling becomes a reality.