The great coronavirus pandemic of 2020 has made it, literally, official: America, from coast to coast, has embraced cannabis. Of the 47 states that have legalized medical cannabis, all have classified medical dispensaries as essential businesses exempt from any orders for businesses generally to close. Of the 11 states that have legalized cannabis entirely, only Massachusetts has deemed…
One of the most frustrating issues, if not the most frustrating issue, facing the legal Californian commercial cannabis market today? The thriving black market. From the perspective of those within the legal, regulatory compliant realm, it’s like watching your potential success slip through your fingertips, especially in the state where the black market produces more than twice…
In 2019, Washington Legislature passed SB 5318, a bill dedicated to reforming the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (“WSLCB”) and its role within Washington’s cannabis industry. After listening to numerous members of the community, including a number of Cultiva’s Clients. Thanks to the passage of SB 5318, the WSLCB will dedicate more focus on…
According to the report BDS Analytics and Arcview Market Research, California’s legal cannabis market is expected to reach $3.1 billion this year. This makes the Californian marijuana market the largest in the world—bigger than Colorado and Washington, two of the pioneer states for legalizing recreational cannabis, and even bigger than Europe. Anybody looking to enter the…
By no means has commercial cannabis licensing in Los Angeles has been a smooth ride. Los Angeles decided to issue commercial cannabis licenses in three phases, each phase accepting licenses for a different segment of the cannabis industry. However, Phases 1 and 2 were both significantly delayed for various reasons, some citing the lack of…
By Ryan Masters On Friday July 19, Mondelez Canada Inc., the company that makes Sour Patch Kids, sued the makers of “Stoney Patch” cannabis-infused gummies, in California federal court. Mondelez is claiming the makers of Stoney Patch are commiting trademark infringement, trademark dilution, trade dress infringement, unfair competition, and breaking several similar California State laws.…
The rules regarding mailing CBD and hemp-based products have changed. Last week, the United States Postal Service (“USPS”) released new mailing standards for “products derived from cannabis and industrial hemp” in light of Congressional and Departmental clarification that interstate commerce of hemp is expressly permitted. The USPS apparently intended to grant broader permissions with respect…
The United States Department of Agriculture (“USDA”) released a document titled “Executive Summary of New Hemp Authorities” yesterday, May 28, 2019, which, among other things, affirmed our analysis that states (and tribes) cannot block the transportation or shipment of hemp throughout the US — directly contradicting not only it’s own previous statements, but also those…
By: Fabiola Jimenez, Strategic Legal Counsel at Cultiva Law The 420 Bills, introduced in Congress by two Senators from Oregon, seeks to overcome one of the greatest uphill battles faced by the cannabis community: the stigma that sometimes attaches to the plant. Despite the fact that the legal marijuana industry has engendered billions of dollars…
By: Sam Mendez, Strategic Legal Counsel at Cultiva Law Washington Governor Jay Inslee announced his Marijuana Justice Initiative last Friday at the Cannabis Alliance‘s annual Cannabis Summit. The Initiative will provide for an expedited clemency process for people with a marijuana misdemeanor conviction and no other convictions, which the Governor said should affect approximately 3,500 individuals. The…