U.S. Cannabis Sales Hit $30.1 Billion in 2024 Despite Job Cuts
U.S. cannabis shops sold $30.1 billion of legal cannabis in 2024. This marks a 4.5% rise from last year, based on the new Vangst Jobs Report with Whitney Economics.
The Truth About Federal Cannabis Legalization: 8 Myths Busted
As a cannabis lawyer, I often hear business owners talk about what they think will happen when federal legalization comes. Many base key business choices on these beliefs. But are these ideas correct? Let's look at the top myths about federal legalization and what you should really expect.
The Business Divorce – When Business Partnerships Unravel
I regularly meet with entrepreneurs who are struggling to disentangle themselves from business partnerships they entered with great enthusiasm but minimal legal forethought. The pattern is remarkably consistent: ambitious individuals launch ventures together based on verbal agreements or minimal documentation, only to find themselves trapped in complicated legal relationships when disagreements inevitably arise.
5 Fatal Flaws: How Cannabis Entrepreneurs Sabotage Their Own Success
After working with dozens of cannabis business owners who learned expensive lessons firsthand, I've identified some critical mistakes that consistently turn promising ventures into cautionary tales. Here's some of what separates the survivors from the casualties in this high-stakes industry.
Maine Cannabis: Navigating the Pine Tree State's Dual Markets
Maine's cannabis industry runs like parallel worlds—the well-established medical program and the newer adult-use market each follow different rules, yet sometimes overlap in interesting ways. This dual-market system has created one of the nation's most diverse cannabis markets, where small-scale caregivers work alongside larger commercial businesses.
The Secret Roadmap: Finding Your Way Through Local Cannabis Ordinances
Maria and James thought they'd found the perfect spot for their caregiver store—a charming storefront in a bustling downtown area. The space was perfect: great visibility, ample parking, and a landlord who welcomed their vision. Three months later, they discovered a small detail buried in the local ordinance that made their dream location impossible. That $15,000 lease deposit? Gone with the wind.
Maine Lawmakers Consider Safety Testing for Medical Cannabis
Maine's medical cannabis community is watching closely as state lawmakers review proposals that could bring Maine's program in line with safety standards common across the country. The Veterans and Legal Affairs committee met Monday to discuss nine cannabis-related bills, with special attention on two that focus on product safety testing.
What Small LLC Owners Need to Know About the Corporate Transparency Act
The Corporate Transparency Act is a federal law that requires most small businesses, including LLCs, to report information about their owners to the government. The goal is to prevent illegal activities like money laundering and fraud.
Why Settlement Is Usually the Smarter Choice: 7 Reasons to Avoid the Courtroom
In the world of legal disputes, there's a persistent myth that having your "day in court" is the ultimate way to achieve justice. Television dramas glorify courtroom showdowns, with passionate attorneys delivering compelling arguments that sway judges and juries. However, the reality of litigation is far less glamorous – and far more costly in multiple ways.
The Federal-State Cannabis Divide: Where Things Stand in 2025
The relationship between federal and state cannabis laws has always been a mess, and 2025 is bringing its own twists to the story.
Breaking the Green Ceiling: Your Guide to Cannabis Banking in 2025
If you've been in the cannabis industry for more than five minutes, you've probably discovered that banking isn't exactly straightforward. Even as we move through 2025, with more states than ever embracing legal cannabis, the banking situation remains... let's just say "complicated."
Why Weed Businesses Pay Federal Taxes Even Though They’re Illegal
It sounds crazy, right? The federal government says marijuana is illegal but still wants tax money from weed businesses. Here’s why cannabis businesses have to pay federal income taxes even though they’re illegal.
Warning for Cannabis Businesses: Your Contracts May Not Be Enforceable
Despite many states legalizing cannabis and growing public acceptance, cannabis remains illegal at the federal level as a Schedule I controlled substance. This legal contradiction creates serious problems for cannabis businesses, especially when it comes to enforcing contracts.
Supreme Court Grants Extension in Landmark Cannabis and Guns Rights Case
In a development that could have far-reaching implications for both cannabis users and gun owners across America, the Supreme Court has granted the government more time to consider whether to appeal a significant ruling on federal gun prohibitions for marijuana consumers.
Justice Brett Kavanaugh approved the extension last week, giving government lawyers until June 5 to determine their next steps in the case known as U.S. v. Baxter.
Bipartisan STATES 2.0 Act Aims to Bridge the Gap Between Federal and State Cannabis Laws
Representatives Dave Joyce (R-OH), Max Miller (R-OH), and Dina Titus (D-NV) have reintroduced the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) 2.0 Act, marking a significant bipartisan effort to address the increasingly confusing patchwork of cannabis laws across America.
Women are driving the wellness revolution in cannabis
Women are increasingly embracing cannabis for wellness purposes such as stress relief, sleep improvement, and pain management, prompting some brands to create products tailored to health-conscious consumers.
Federal Judge: Ban on Cannabis Users Owning Firearms Is Unconstitutional
Another appeals court rules that cannabis users can own guns
January 9, 2025
A fifth-curcuit federal appeals court ruled this week that the government can't prosecute someone for owning a gun simply because they use cannabis. The court said this type of prosecution goes against America's historical gun rights and violates the Second Amendment.
The case involved Patrick Daniels Jr., who faced charges for having both cannabis and a firearm. The court said this old law doesn't match up with how gun rights have traditionally been protected in the U.S.
Cannabis Reformers Want to Boot DEA from Rescheduling Hearings
DEA Accused of Blocking Cannabis Rescheduling
January 7, 2025
Cannabis companies Village Farms and Hemp for Victory filed a motion on January 6 claiming the DEA is trying to block cannabis from being moved from Schedule I to Schedule III.