2024 is going to be a crazy year for cannabis businesses and investors. Among many other things, there will be a general election, possible rescheduling to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), an upcoming Farm Bill that could re-tool how hemp and hemp products are regulated, and maybe even some federal cannabis legislation.
It’s hard to believe that we are wrapping up the first year of the Oregon Psilocybin Services (OPS) program. Final rules were released at this time last year, following a protracted, two-year development period. The application window for licenses opened timely on January 2, 2023, and the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) continues to administer this
Recently I spoke with some good friends in the finance space about the global economy, China, and debt capital. One is a vice president and underwriter at a US East Coast private equity firm. The other is the owner of an investment banking firm in the midwestern US. They are steeped in the finance world,
One of the main reasons why I am such a vocal supporter of written cannabis contracts is allocation of risk and liabilities. Parties to a cannabis contract have a number of ways that they can allocate risks and liabilities that they just won’t have in a “handshake” deal. Today I’ll explore six of the top
A common way to get and retain employees is to issue them options or equity securities like corporate stock. But like with everything else, issuing securities is heavily regulated. Today, we’ll look at a few key issues for cannabis businesses that want to offer equity incentives. How do cannabis companies offer equity incentives? There are
One of the best insurance policies a cannabis business can get is a written contract. Paying a lawyer a little bit up front can save hundreds of thousands when things go south. A lot of folks in the cannabis industry are still doing deals on a handshake basis (you can see some of our older
New AD/CVD Petitions: Aluminum Extrusions On October 4, 2023, antidumping (AD) and countervailing duty (CVD) petitions were filed against Aluminum Extrusions from fifteen countries, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, India, Indonesia, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, the People’s Republic of China, South Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Vietnam. The petitions were filed by
Collecting Judgments Against China: Navigating Bilateral Treaties, US Judgments, and International Conventions In today’s globalized economy, businesses frequently find themselves in transactions spanning multiple countries, with inherent risks of international disputes. When disputes arise with Chinese entities, understanding the process of enforcing and collecting judgments against Chinese companies becomes crucial. China’s unique legal landscape, coupled
When Congress passed the 2018 Farm Bill, did it intend to legalize intoxicating hemp products? If it did, why didn’t it just legalize marijuana? And why didn’t it address the manufacture or sale of intoxicating hemp products? I think the answer to all of these questions is clearly “no.” Congress did not intend to open
Political Risks in Emerging Markets Emerging market countries offer tantalizing rewards. High growth rates, untapped resources, and burgeoning middle classes can make for attractive investments. But amidst this allure lies an unpredictable nemesis: political risk. From the abrupt twists of military coups in West Africa to nationalization policies in Latin America, and from regulatory upheavals
