On Thursday, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management announced its intent to adopt expedited rules without a public hearing. According to the OCM, the expedited rules are “designed to regulate the adult-use cannabis, medical cannabis, hemp-derived consumer products, and lower-potency hemp derived edibles markets in Minnesota,” and will cover “all parts of a licensee’s
Latest from In The Weeds
Maryland Office of Social Equity Regulatory Update
The Maryland Office of Social Equity (OSE) is an office within the Maryland Cannabis Administration (MCA). Its purpose is to promote and encourage participation in the regulated cannabis industry by communities that have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis prohibition and enforcement. Last week, the OSE posted draft regulations concerning the OSE’s Social Equity Partnership Grant
Minnesota OCM Cancels Separate Social Equity Lottery
As MinnPost reports, Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management cancelled its social equity lottery, which would have occurred separate from the general applicant lottery in 2025. A portion of the licenses remain allocated to social equity applicants for when the general applicant lottery is held (with social equity applicants). The OCM anticipates the next lottery
Update: DC Cannabis Enforcement
The DC Alcoholic Beverage and Cannabis Administration (“ABCA”) Enforcement Division continues to exercise its enforcement authority against allegedly unlawful cannabis and entheogenic mushroom businesses in the District. A wave of enforcement activity has occurred after the DC Council passed emergency legislation this summer aimed at expanding and clarifying the ABCA’s civil enforcement powers. The emergency
Update: Maryland Cannabis Administration
Adult possession and use of cannabis has been legal in Maryland since Maryland’s Cannabis Reform Act (“CRA”) took effect in July 2023. The CRA established the Maryland Cannabis Administration (“MCA”) and tasked it with regulating Maryland’s cannabis industry. The MCA has since modeled the way states can implement technical standards, regulatory oversight, and social equity
Minnesota Publishes First Draft of Proposed Cannabis Rules
On July 31, 2024, Minnesota’s Office of Cannabis Management published its First Draft of Proposed Cannabis Rules. The proposed rules are not binding; rather, they are being published to solicit feedback from Minnesotans on each proposed rule. According to the OCM, the proposed rules “reflect a desire to construct a regulatory environment that (1) focuses
IRS Issues New Guidance for Cannabis Companies That Receive Over $10K in Cash
The IRS’s Office of Chief Counsel recently published a memorandum providing information for cannabis companies struggling to comply with the completion of Form 8300, which must be filed every time a company receives a cash payment over $10,000. The memorandum was issued in response to a series of questions from Bank Secrecy Act examiners working
Minnesota Regulatory Update
Sahan Journal reports, after discussion with the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management, that the “preliminary rules are expected to be published at the end of 2024, followed by a 30-day public comment period. Then, the office expects to adopt the rules in spring 2025.” This is a much-extended timeline than previously offered by the
Minnesota asks for Initial Comments
Minnesota has asked interested parties to give initial regulatory comments around cultivation, processing and manufacturing cannabis products. You can access the survey here. The survey is available through November 30.
This survey is intended to gather information and is not asking for comments on any particular regulation. However, it may be helpful for licensees
Primer on Cannabis Trademark Law and How Rescheduling Could Change the State of the Law
With more individuals and businesses entering the cannabis sector, there has been an increased interest in what kind of trademark protections a cannabis business can obtain. This article seeks to briefly cover what in the cannabis industry can and cannot be federally trademarked and where the laws are heading.
General Overview
Although more and