The laboratory is both one of the most active and one of the most critical rooms in a GMP facility. The laboratory generates all the quality control reporting necessary to prove the quality of your final products. Laboratories have diverse diagnostic equipment pertinent to your operation, and depending on your budget, these tools can increase self-sufficiency and accuracy. Organizing the lab right is another step in your Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) approval process that will guide your product quality and innovations.

The UK are seen as pioneers in climate action and are vocal supporters of the Paris Agreement. A backdated agreement to 1990 sees the Government committed to reducing emissions by a whopping 78% by the year 2035. This would be a monumental achievement but nobody is addressing the elephant in the room, cannabis.

More and more US states are taking steps to ban the psychoactive cannabinoid Delta-8 THC. This compound has a similar structure to the conventional cannabinoid Delta-9 THC and has been increasingly used in commercial cannabis products in recent months.

The recent announcement by the state of Colorado proposed that all marijuana concentrates in electronic cannabais delivery systems (ECDS) must be tested for heavy metal contaminants in the emitted aerosol

There are hundreds, perhaps thousands, of companies involved in the Δ8THC segment of the hemp industry. Due to an oversupply in the market of hemp biomass, hemp extract, and CBD, we have seen a precipitous drop in both prices and profits for these commodities. In contrast, Δ8THC sales are exploding. For this reason, some contend that Δ8THC is singlehandedly saving the hemp industry from economic annihilation. Others, however, contend that Δ8THC is dangerous to the hemp industry’s reputation.

Given the relatively nascent nature of cannabis regulation, new cannabinoid discoveries and trends are happening with greater speed. Issues surrounding naturally occurring and synthetically derived cannabinoids are mounting and lines being drawn. Ultimately, products with intoxicating cannabinoids will find themselves in the marijuana regulated space while consumers will regularly find hemp products on mainstream retail shelves.

The short answer is that it depends on the use. Mexico is in the process of cannabis legalization. As of today, the harvesting, growing, transporting, and sale of adult use cannabis is expressly prohibited by law and sanctioned by the Federal Criminal Code.

As Congress continues to deliberate the federal legalization of marijuana, the cannabis industry continues to face scrutiny from the IRS under Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code (Code).

In an industry that runs on innovation and differentiation, a cannabis brand’s identity is among its most valuable—and most prone to copying—assets. It’s a common myth that cannabis industry brands cannot get trademark protection. In fact, many cannabis-related trademarks are registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO), including U.S. Weed Channel, MedMen, Cheech’s Private Stash, and GOT GUMMIES? to name a few.

On April 20, 2021, Denver Mayor, Michael Hancock, signed the Marijuana Omnibus Bill and Marijuana Hospitality Bill into law, which make significant changes to Denver’s current cannabis laws.  These changes directly address hot-button items such as social equity and permanently implement the relaxation of certain regulations initially implemented for safety purposes during the pandemic.  These changes are long overdue and signify that Denver may be assuming the mantle of trendsetter for a post COVID-19 cannabis industry.

Today, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) announced a settlement in its most recent law enforcement action in its ongoing efforts to monitor the marketplace regarding misleading cannabidiol (CBD) product claims. The action targets Kushly Industries LLC (Kushly) and the company’s sole officer for allegedly making false or unsupported health benefit claims about Kushly’s CBD product.

After decades of being prohibited in the United States, the 2014 Farm Bill allowed hemp to be grown again. One of the most consistent attributes of the hemp industry since then has been that the law seems to change constantly. This has made it more difficult for growers to plan for their businesses. We are now at a place, though, where the laws around hemp cultivation may be settling out, which will provide much-needed consistency for the industry.

Delta-8 THC is the latest trend permeating through the cannabis industry. The National Cancer Institute’s definition of Delta-8 THC indicates that it is “an analogue of THC” that contains neuroprotective properties that can increase appetite and reduce nausea, anxiety and pain. It produces some psychotropic effects but has “a lower psychothropic potency” than Delta-9 THC. In other words, it is a cannabinoid that can produce the “high” traditionally associated with Delta-9 THC, but not as much of it. The interesting thing about Delta-8 THC is that it can be produced from hemp as defined under the 2018 Farm Bill, which unlike marijuana, is federally legal. This would seem to make Delta-8 THC (and the products containing it) legal and freely enjoyable across the United States, but it is not quite that simple.

In a recent contested case hearing I participated in, the OLCC’s case presenter (the term used for the agency’s representative at the hearing who is the rough equivalent, but with significant limitations, of a prosecuting attorney) referenced a document that was given to him during settlement discussions. The document itself included a legend on each page declaring it to contain confidential financial information that may not be exploited in any manner without my client’s consent.

Proposals have been lodged with the Jersey legislature to amend the Proceeds of Crime (Jersey) Law 1999 expressly excluding lawful cannabis related activity from the definition of “criminal conduct”. This article is an in-depth review of the cannabis industry and Jersey’s relationship to it.

Vermont became the first state in the country to legalize marijuana through the legislative process (and not by voter initiatives) back in 2018. In October of 2020, Governor Scott decided not to sign Bill S.54 (Act 164) and the law went into effect without his signature. That made Vermont the 11th state to legalize the recreational sale of marijuana. However, Vermont residents and visitors won’t be walking into a retail cannabis store any time soon.

On March 25, 2021, Virginia Governor Ralph Northam signed into law new protections for employees related to the medicinal use of cannabis oil.  Effective July 1, 2021, the newly enacted § 40.1-27.4 will prohibit employers from disciplining, discharging, or discriminating against an employee for his or her lawful use of cannabis oil so long as the use is pursuant to a valid written certification issued by a health care practitioner for the treatment of the employee’s diagnosed condition or disease.

The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission recently voted to issue Guidance for the Retail Sale of Hemp to clarify requirements and restrictions on the retail sale of certain types of hemp products by licensed adult-use marijuana retailers to eligible consumers.

Alabama Governor Kay Ivey signed legislation legalizing medical cannabis on May 17, 2021. Known as the Darren Wesley “Ato” Hall Compassion Act, the law permits the use of medical cannabis to treat certain medical conditions including Crohn’s disease, depression, epilepsy, HIV/AIDs, panic disorder, Parkinson’s disease, persistent nausea, post-traumatic stress disorder, chronic or intractable pain, among others.  The law was effective immediately upon signing by the Governor, although medical cannabis will not become available for at least a year.

On March 31, 2021, Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law the New York Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act (MRTA), making New York the latest state to join a growing list of states and territories to legalize recreational use of cannabis for adults 21 and older. Effective immediately, the new law expands employment protections for lawful off-duty conduct to specifically include the use of cannabis as discussed below.