Cannabis Law Now

Cannabis in the Show Me State: An Interview with BeLeaf Medical’s Mitch Meyers

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Hilary Bricken, Mitch Meyers) — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 16:20:28 +0000

In this episode of Cannabis Law Now, Hilary Bricken sits down with Mitch Meyers, partner at BeLeaf Medical, to discuss the ins and outs of operating a commercial cannabis business in the State of Missouri. Mitch shares her unique perspective as a pioneer in Missouri’s medical cannabis market, delving into regulatory hurdles, business opportunities, and the evolving landscape of cannabis law in the Midwest, which is rounding out to be one of the strongest cannabis markets in the United States.

The 4-1-1 on Cannabis Receiverships from a Top Cannabis Receiver

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Hilary Bricken, Richard Ormond) — Thu, 29 May 2025 13:55:45 +0000

In this episode, Hilary Bricken sits down with Richard Ormond, one of the nation’s leading cannabis receivers and an expert in cannabis receiverships. Richard, a partner at Buchalter and the owner of Stone Blossom Capital, shares his unique insights into the fast-evolving world of cannabis business restructuring, the legal complexities of court-appointed receiverships, and what makes cannabis receiverships distinct from those in other industries. Richard explains the role of a receiver and why courts appoint receivers for struggling cannabis businesses, and he discusses the regulatory hurdles and compliance issues that make cannabis receiverships especially complex. Step-by-step, Richard walks us through how a receivership is initiated, his duties as a receiver, and the typical outcomes for cannabis companies.

From Law Firm to Board Room: The Journey of a Cannabis Entrepreneur

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Hilary Bricken, Dina Rollman) — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 16:23:19 +0000

Dina Rollman is a cannabis industry veteran who has worn countless hats, making her way from cannabis attorney to cannabis business executive. She helped take Green Thumb Industries (GTI), a national cannabis company, from an idea on paper in 2014 to a publicly-traded company in 2018. She created and led GTI’s Government Affairs department, its Regulatory Compliance functions, its competitive licensing application team, and its Social Impact department. Dina also advised the c-suite on corporate strategy and legal strategy. After years of law firm and in-house work in the cannabis industry, Dina branched out to pursue her entrepreneurial goals in the industry, including KND Group, New Lake Capital Partners, Inc., Powr Plant, and StrainBrain.

In this episode, Dina shares with listeners her entrepreneurial evolution in the cannabis industry and where she sees future opportunities for growth and innovation. After a long career in the cannabis trenches as an attorney, Dina tells our audience about what it’s like (and how to survive) on the cannabis business side of the aisle.

Cannabis and Hemp Federal and State Advocacy in 2025

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Hilary Bricken, Chris Lindsey) — Mon, 24 Feb 2025 16:07:26 +0000

Chris Lindsey’s origin story in cannabis is a legendary one. He was once a practicing attorney that felt the strong arm of the federal government firsthand when he was charged and prosecuted by U.S. attorneys for drug crimes by virtue of advising cannabis clients on compliance with Montana law and participating in the Montana cannabis industry. Today, Chris is the Director of State Advocacy and Public Policy for the American Trade Association of Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH), advocating for federal and state cannabis and hemp law reform.

In this episode, Chris shares ATACH’s advocacy positions and progress on the Hill and what he sees happening in the future for cannabis and hemp businesses in the U.S., including the fate of the Farm Bill, rescheduling, and de-scheduling, and how state-legal cannabis and hemp can and should co-exist. Chris also details for listeners the current state of advocacy and lobbying within the cannabis industry and the different industry interests that are fighting for a seat at the table in DC for future reform and regulation.

New York Cannabis: Ups, Downs, and In Between

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Greg Wersching, Hilary Bricken) — Fri, 24 Jan 2025 20:46:45 +0000

New York’s adult use cannabis roll out has been rocky at best. However, there are still business opportunities to be had. In this episode of the Cannabis Law Now podcast, we hear from Greg Wersching, the Vice President of Business Development at Housing Works in Brooklyn, New York. Housing Works is a 35-year old non-profit that opened the first licensed adult use cannabis dispensary in New York City in 2022. Today, the organization has two dispensary locations and has incubated multiple other cannabis retailers. Greg shares with listeners how to navigate New York cannabis retail and dispensary oversight, the ins and outs of New York’s cannabis regulatory regime, how New York’s social equity program has fared to date, and what the future holds for New York cannabis retail.

Local Government and Cannabis Enforcement: What Matters and Why

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Jennifer Morris, Hilary Bricken) — Thu, 19 Dec 2024 16:58:53 +0000

In this episode, Husch Blackwell's Hilary Bricken hosts Jennifer Morris, former Supervisor of the Cannabis Enforcement Team for Riverside County, California, who discusses her experience navigating one of the toughest cannabis markets in the U.S. as California transitioned from illegal to legal adult-use cannabis with the passage of key legislation in 2016. Jennifer highlights the County's enforcement priorities, and the rise of local cannabis control, and offers valuable insights on how industry and local governments can work together for a thriving, well-regulated cannabis marketplace. Her expertise in local enforcement procedures is essential for both industry professionals and government regulators.

Building a Lasting Cannabis Brand with Tiffany Chin from Death Row Cannabis

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Husch Blackwell ) — Tue, 19 Nov 2024 20:21:03 +0000

Tiffany Chin is the current CEO of Death Row Cannabis, which is Snoop Dogg’s cannabis brand company that has now launched numerous cannabis products in the U.S. cannabis market. Death Row Records played a significant role in hip hop and cannabis culture over more than 30 years, selling 40 million albums across the country and it’s one of the best-known labels worldwide when it comes to advocacy and support for cannabis and the cannabis community. Borrowing from that star and branding power, Death Row Cannabis is increasingly becoming a household cannabis brand. That wasn’t always the case though, and under Tiffany’s leadership and vision, the brand has grown and continues to thrive. In this episode, Husch Blackwell's Hilary Bricken and Tiffany Chin walk listeners through the ups and downs of cannabis branding and how to vet and choose wholesale partners accordingly. She also discusses the various highs and lows experienced by Death Row Cannabis as well as some of its branding goals for the future. If you’re interested in how great cannabis brands are built, last, or fail, be sure to tune in now!

2024 Cannabis Industry Pitfalls on Blast

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Marc Hauser, Hilary Bricken) — Tue, 1 Oct 2024 16:59:55 +0000

In this episode, we hear from seasoned cannabis industry advisor, Marc Hauser, and host Hilary Bricken, about the top pitfalls and traps in today’s cannabis industry. Marc, a former practicing transactional and corporate attorney, is the current Chief of Staff of Jardin, a well-known Nevada-based cannabis retailer. Marc shares with listeners the variety of issues he’s witnessed in the past seven years in the cannabis industry, including with federal enforcement, state regulation, public and private markets, cannabis company governance, and misguided perceptions of the industry. Marc also discusses the current perils tied to cannabis politics, rescheduling, “hemp versus marijuana”, and the industry scuttlebutt surrounding the same. If you want to cut through the noise to get down to the hardline cautions currently in the cannabis industry, tune in now!

Cannabis Companies and the Corporate Transparency Act

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Yuefan Wang, Hilary Bricken) — Mon, 26 Aug 2024 22:26:25 +0000

The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) seeks to increase corporate transparency and combat financial crimes in the U.S. such as money laundering and terrorist financing. Enacted in January 2021 as part of the National Defense Authorization Act, the CTA requires certain business entities to disclose their beneficial owners—individuals who ultimately own or control the company. Namely, corporations, limited liability companies, and similar entities must report their beneficial owners to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network. Some entities, such as large operating companies, regulated entities (banks, insurance companies, etc.), and entities already subject to extensive federal regulation, are exempt from these reporting requirements. There are steep penalties for non-compliance or falsifying information, including fines and possible imprisonment. Even though cannabis companies are federally illegal, they are not exempt from reporting under the CTA. In this episode host Hilary Bricken, and Yuefan Wang, corporate, M&A, and securities partner at Husch Blackwell, discuss the mechanics of the CTA and how and when cannabis companies must comply, including consequences to cannabis companies if they fail to report.

Inside a Top MSO with Jushi’s EVP of Legal Affairs Matt Leeth

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Matt Leeth, Hilary Bricken) — Tue, 16 Jul 2024 18:27:51 +0000

There are now dozens of multistate operators (MSOs) in the U.S. cannabis industry. Since 2010, the concept of MSOs has carried many connotations, good and bad. At times, MSOs are considered the ultimate form of “Big Marijuana,” and at other times, they’re considered indispensable to the democratic experiment that is state-by-state legalization. Rarely do we get to peek into the daily inner workings of these MSOs, even though the overwhelming majority are publicly traded. In this episode, Husch Blackwell’s Hilary Bricken and Jushi’s Executive Vice President of Legal Affairs Matt Leeth discuss Jushi’s day-to-day happenings as well as long-term vision. Currently, Jushi operates 38 retail facilities and maintains roughly 1,200 employees throughout the U.S., while offering numerous cannabis brands to both patients and adult-use consumers. During this episode, Matt dishes on the challenges of scaling, regulatory differences from state to state, keeping investors happy, and what Schedule III will mean for Jushi and other MSOs.

What’s Next for Schedule III Marijuana

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (John Hudak, Hilary Bricken) — Mon, 17 Jun 2024 20:50:50 +0000

In October 2022, President Biden asked the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the U.S. Attorney General to review how marijuana is scheduled under federal law. In August 2023, the HHS marijuana recommendation went to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) for its consideration. On May 16, 2024, the DEA published its 92-page notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) to move marijuana from Schedule I on the CSA to Schedule III. We are currently in a 60-day public comment period that is part of the DEA’s rescheduling process and NPRM. Rulemaking is a complicated and drawn-out process with many twists, turns, and administrative nuances. In this episode, John Hudak, the Director of the Maine Office of Cannabis Policy and former Deputy Director of the Center for Effective Public Management (who was also a Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution where he led Brookings’ research into cannabis policy, regulation, implementation, and politics for over 10 years), takes the audience through this historic rulemaking effort by the DEA and what to expect next from federal and state governments. John covers timelines, rulemaking technicalities, the politics behind the NPRM, and the possibility of a bifurcated system for marijuana between pharmaceuticals and state-licensed markets.

How Florida Will Change the National Cannabis Landscape Through Amendment 3

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Hirsh Jain, Hilary Bricken) — Wed, 15 May 2024 20:31:25 +0000

This fall, Floridians will vote on Amendment 3, which would legalize cannabis for adults 21 years old and older in the Sunshine State. Existing medical marijuana treatment centers in the state will get first (and maybe the only) dibs to sell adult-use cannabis. It’s been a battle for Florida to even get adult use cannabis on the ballot, and the threshold for adoption of this constitutional amendment sits at a whopping 60% of voter support.

In this episode, Husch Blackwell's Hilary Bricken and Hirsh Jain, founder of Ananda Strategy, a leading cannabis consultancy serving cannabis brands, retailers, technology businesses, and venture capital funds in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe, take us through the importance and significance of Amendment 3—not just for Florida, but for the nation when it comes to meaningful cannabis reform and progress. While this episode was recorded prior to Amendment 3’s clearance for the ballot boxes by state government, Hirsh shares his invaluable insights on just why and how Florida will become the crown jewel of cannabis, surpassing even California and New York, if voters vote yes on Amendment 3.

Farmers First According to Humboldt Trim Company

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Husch Blackwell ) — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 15:06:06 +0000

California’s Emerald Triangle is a famed region in the Golden State for the cultivation of top-notch cannabis. In particular, Humboldt County is home to some of the nation’s most seasoned, generational cannabis farming families. One such farmer is Andy Butts, founder and CEO of Humboldt Trim Company. In this episode, Husch Blackwell's Hilary Bricken and Andy Butts give listeners an insider’s view into farming and distributing cannabis from the Emerald Triangle. Andy also takes listeners through the current maze of California cannabis regulations as they impact generational farmers, craft cannabis, and the concept of cannabis appellations similar to wine. Andy takes a “farmer’s first” approach to cannabis cultivation for which the Emerald Triangle is known, and listeners truly get a feel for what commercial and agricultural life is like for sun-grown cannabis farmers in the Emerald Triangle.

THC Infused Beverages: Cantrip’s Journey Through the Hemp-Derived Looking Glass

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Adam Terry, Hilary Bricken) — Thu, 4 Apr 2024 18:22:24 +0000

In 2023, Total Wine & More jumped into the cannabis drinks arena in Minnesota. Since then, there’s been an influx of “THC Beverages” hitting the marketplace, including in interstate commerce. How is this legally possible, and why are these libations picking up great speed with consumers? Because a lot of these “THC beverages” fall into the hemp-derived cannabinoid category. Due to the passage of the 2018 Agricultural Improvement Act (known as the “Farm Bill“), hemp and all of its derivatives (containing no more than .3% THC and that are not synthetically derived) are no longer illegal schedule I controlled substances pursuant to the Controlled Substances Act. As a result, enterprising hemp product makers and businesses quickly took advantage of this seeming oversight, while states are just now playing catch up on the regulatory side. Some states are regulating these products, while others aren’t doing anything. In this episode, Husch Blackwell's Hilary Bricken and Adam Terry, CEO of Cantrip, which is taking the hemp-derived drinks space by storm, discuss the trials and tribulations (and successes) of navigating this emerging segment of the cannabis industry.

Cannabis Investing in the U.S.: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Emily Paxhia, Hilary Bricken) — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 18:44:50 +0000

Cannabis investing is risky business. The current federal conflict, a punitive federal income tax situation, and an inability to access financial institutions put off many institutional investors. Not so though for Emily Paxhia, seasoned institutional investor and one of the very first institutional investors in cannabis via Poseidon Asset Management. In this episode, Emily and Hilary discuss the past, present, and future of cannabis investing in the United States. Emily shares her insights on the biggest booms and busts for Poseidon and what she sees on the horizon for cannabis reform as it impacts investors of all kinds. Despite the current volatility for the U.S. cannabis industry, having launched multiple cannabis-focused funds in the past 10 years, Emily has high hopes for the future expansion of and innovation in the U.S. cannabis industry.

Catalyst Cannabis Takes on the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration Over Cannabis Excise Taxes

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Anthony Almaz, Hilary Bricken) — Thu, 7 Mar 2024 15:15:15 +0000

Since legalizing in 2016, California has experienced rampant rate failure across its licensed cannabis companies. The State of California also has some of the highest and most aggressive cannabis taxes in the nation. In an effort to stave off the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration’s (CDTFA) latest round of rulemaking that would, among other things, extend cannabis excise taxes to cannabis accessories, Catalyst Cannabis Co. (one of the state’s largest cannabis operators) is in a complex challenge with CDTFA over its rulemaking authority, alleged procedural violations, and the overwhelmingly negative impact of such tax rules. In this episode, Husch Blackwell's Hilary Bricken and Anthony Almaz, General Counsel for Catalyst Cannabis, break down and analyze this potential crucial fight between the industry and California’s top tax regulator.

Cannabis Banking from the Inside: An Interview with Salal Credit Union

Tue, 20 Feb 2024 17:23:40 +0000

Due to current federal law, cannabis businesses notoriously cannot access financial institutions, even just for depository accounts. In 2014, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) released guidelines that opened the door for financial institutions to provide banking services to cannabis businesses as long as strict “know your customer” standards are followed. Those FinCEN guidelines are still valid today, and they represent the only method through which financial institutions can validly bank cannabis businesses, but they’re no picnic to follow for either financial institutions or cannabis industry customers.

In this episode, Husch Blackwell's Hilary Bricken interviews Brett Ballman and Karen Petrick of Salal Credit Union as they take listeners through the ins and outs of cannabis banking under the FinCEN guidelines and also discuss how certain states differ from others in their approach to cannabis banking. Brett and Karen also explore how federal reform will impact their cannabis industry banking customers and what they see on the horizon for the cannabis banking industry.

The ‘CannaBoies’ Lawsuit and Why it Matters

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Josh Schiller, Hilary Bricken) — Mon, 5 Feb 2024 22:32:58 +0000

On October 26, 2023, a group of large cannabis companies based in Massachusetts filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Massachusetts against Merrick Garland, our current U.S. attorney general, alleging that, while Congress has the constitutional power to ban cannabis from interstate commerce, the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) exceeds that power by overreaching to ban cannabis from purely intrastate commerce. Essentially, neither the Commerce Clause nor the Necessary and Proper Clause of the Constitution give Congress a “general police power” to take over regulation of strictly intrastate commerce. Plaintiffs’ counsel in this case is renowned civil rights trial firm Boies Schiller Flexner, LLP, and Joshua Schiller is one of the litigators leading the charge.

To overcome negative precedent in this area, plaintiffs argue that highly regulated state markets actually reduce interstate cannabis commerce (meaning, heavy state government oversight reduces illicit interstate transactions) and that cannabis isn’t fungible anymore—state-legal products (that are tracked, traced, packaged, labeled, and tested in line with strict state rules) are easily distinguishable from illegal ones. They also argue that Congress long ago abandoned its alleged goal of banning cannabis intrastate for the sake of keeping it out of interstate commerce, using as examples the continually renewed federal spending bills in support of state-legal medical cannabis, the fact that D.C. allows for medical cannabis, and the multiple (now rescinded) Department of Justice memos that essentially let the states take over intrastate cannabis control anyway.

In this episode, Husch Blackwell's Hilary Bricken and Joshua Schiller of Boies Schiller Flexner takes listeners through the intricate in’s and out’s of this potentially landmark lawsuit, why it matters now more than ever for the fate of the cannabis industry, and how Josh believes the federal government will handle the case (while potentially getting in front of the Supreme Court on appeal).

A Conversation with Andy Williams, Cannabis Industry Founding Father

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Marshall Custer) — Thu, 7 Apr 2022 20:59:44 +0000

In this episode of The Grass is Greener podcast, Husch Blackwell’s Marshall Custer has an engaging discussion with cannabis industry founding father Andy Williams – founder of Medicine Man and MedPharm Holdings. Andy discusses his experiences and insights on the current state of the cannabis M&A market and what it will take for current operators to maximize their value to future buyers.

ESG in the Cannabis Industry: More than a Buzzword

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Marshall Custer, Alyssa Samuel) — Wed, 1 Dec 2021 16:58:44 +0000

To learn more about Husch Blackwell's innovative cannabis law team or to subscribe to more cannabis legal content, visit our website at www.huschblackwell.com.

The State of the Cannabis Industry: Where Do We Go from Here?

stephanie.dorssom@huschblackwell.com (Marshall Custer, Steve Levine) — Tue, 19 Oct 2021 18:33:05 +0000

In the inaugural episode of The Grass is Greener: Cannabis Law News, Husch Blackwell Cannabis Group Co-Leaders Steve Levine and Marshall Custer discuss the state of the cannabis industry, including the current federal landscape and predictions for the future. The big money that we’ve been waiting for may be trickling in, but what will the exit moment look like for most operators?