As entrepreneurs and consumers eagerly await the implementation of New York’s adult-use program, lawmakers are taking steps to allow New York to effectuate its adult use cannabis program faster. Last week, the New York Senate and Assembly approved Senate Bill S8084A, a bill to provide provisional marijuana cultivator and processor licenses for existing hemp businesses. Championed by Senator Michelle Hinchey, the bill has been delivered to Governor Hochul and is awaiting signature.… More

Cannabis employers face a multitude of challenges in managing their workforces. Some of these challenges begin even before making the first hire. In a highly-regulated industry, workplace issues can quickly snowball into complicated legal challenges for cannabis employers.

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Foley Hoag LLP partners Christopher Feudo and Allison Anderson – labor and employment attorneys who regularly advise clients in the cannabis industry – discussed wide-ranging legal issues cannabis employers should be thinking about,… More

If you’re a New Yorker or a person who has visited New York recently, you’ve probably seen or heard of stores selling a product or service to consumers and providing cannabis as a “gift” in return. Others – banking on lack of enforcement – may simply be selling cannabis at retail even though no licenses are yet available. Some of the “dispensaries” are even in the heart of Manhattan. This practice,… More

Last week, the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Cannabis Policy (the “Committee”) released a new cannabis bill (H 174/S 72, the “Bill”) through the Committee without any opposition.  The bill proposes major changes to host community agreements (“HCA”) and the current approach to social equity in the industry. It also proposes to provide a legislative fix allowing for on-site consumption establishments. This bill will require the Cannabis Control Commission (“CCC”) to make some substantial changes to the existing regulations,… More

On January 25, 2022, the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) held its fifth public meeting. The CCB and Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) made several noteworthy announcements, including the approval of delegation of hiring to the Executive Director to streamline hiring and onboarding, and the roll out of virtual “Cannabis Conversations” planned for different regions in the state, among other items.

Most notably,… More

As Foley Hoag recently covered in its webinar, “Connecticut Adult-Use Cannabis: The Application Process Begins,” Connecticut is on the precipice of commencing its first adult-use application round beginning on February 3, 2022. But like many States initiating a brand new application process, several questions remain. Recognizing that, the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection provided the below Q&As related to the adult-use law and application process as a whole:

1. Am I restricted in the number of applications I can submit?…

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In most jurisdictions, applicants need to evidence some form of site control of the location for which they are seeking to secure a license to operate a cannabis facility.  While some jurisdictions allow provisional applications that let an applicant apply preliminarily without a location or simply identify a location, eventually every applicant needs to evidence control of the proposed site, either in the form of fee ownership, a lease,… More

The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection (“DCP”) has announced the timeline for adult-use applications, signaling that the Connecticut adult-use marketplace is ready to grow.

DCP will begin accepting applications for certain adult-use cannabis establishment licenses by February 3, 2022. The majority of licenses will be subject to initial license caps as well as a lottery, with the exception of social equity cultivation licenses located in Disproportionately Impacted Areas.… More

2021 has been a big year for the cannabis industry. We have seen several states pass legislation either permitting adult use, or permitting or expanding a medical marijuana program. Some states have introduced new license types, and some have issued new license awards. While the main area of industry growth continues to be at the state level, several bills introduced in Congress this year have indicated that we may see some exciting movement on the federal level in the coming year.… More

The deadline for municipalities in New York State to choose whether they will allow retail sales of adult use cannabis is rapidly approaching. To date, approximately 25% of the state’s towns, and 30% of villages, have enacted local laws banning adult use retail dispensaries and on-site consumption lounges within their jurisdictions. So far, none of the state’s largest cities have opted out, and relatively few cities have opted out generally,… More