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Hemp / CBD

New York Cannabis
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At the Crossroads of Hemp / CBD and Business

Hemp and CBD Lawyers providing industry-expert legal planning, regulatory support, corporate guidance, and compliance strategies.

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The Rise of Cannabidiol

Cannabidiol’s (CBD) rise to prominence has been met with equal parts acceptance and dispute. The Agricultural Act of 2014 (also known as the 2014 Farm Bill) allowed for clinical studies of the CBD. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (2018 Farm Bill) expanded on its predecessor by legalizing the cultivation of hemp. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) oversees hemp at the federal level and works closely with states and tribes under the 2018 Farm Bill. States and tribes can now license hemp cultivation by submitting regulatory plans to the USDA.  

Hemp CBD Labeling

FDA Regulation

The FDA has historically pushed back on CBD, concluding that CBD cannot legally be added to food, beverages, or dietary supplements in the form of hemp-derived cannabidiol (“Hemp CBD”) without violating the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The FDA often sends out warning letters to distributors and sellers of Hemp CBD products that, among other things make unsubstantiated medical claims. A number of states also prohibit manufacturing or distributing Hemp CBD products intended for human or pet consumption. At the same time, a number of states allow Hemp CBD to be used as an ingredient in food and beverages. This complicates the U.S. Hemp CBD industry and makes it difficult to create and maintain a lawful CBD business.   

Our Hemp CBD business attorneys understand the interplay between federal law, state law, FDA regulations, and USDA regulations, and they are well-versed in the convoluted and sometimes conflicting state and federal laws. Our experience with cannabis dates back to the days of the emerging medical marijuana industry, so we have a wealth of experience in interpreting and even challenging inconsistent federal and state laws.

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Local, National and International Hemp Lawyers

As the global hemp and CBD markets continue to develop rapidly, Harris Sliwoski remains at the forefront as a global leader. We offer next-level services to businesses of many sizes at the local, national and international levels, helping them navigate the applicable laws and industry regulations, including FDA compliance requirements.

Harris Sliwoski is an elite-level global hemp law firm spread across multiple worldwide offices with decades of combined hemp and cannabis experience. We pave the way in international cannabis law and set the standard by conducting conferences, publishing media content and providing top insights in our award-winning Canna Law Blog.

Full Legal Services Surrounding Hemp & CBD

Our Expertise

Our Hemp CBD business attorneys work on a wide range of businesses within the industry, from small start-ups to large-scale, established businesses looking to expand into this rapidly growing market. We have worked on the following hemp matters:

  • Investigating the source of hemp products to verify that they are not derived from marijuana and do not contain prohibited levels of THC;
  • Analyzing risks associated with transporting hemp interstate and internationally;
  • Obtaining licenses for the cultivation or processing of hemp;
  • Advising clients on best practices for the manufacture, labeling, and distribution of hemp products;
  • Responding to complaints and seizures of Hemp CBD products;
  • Providing updates to clients as regulations and laws change across the country;
  • Hemp seed sourcing, importation, certification, and labeling; and
  • Counseling clients on developing policies and regulations from the FDA and USDA.

Our international Hemp CBD lawyers have also represented a number of companies that buy and sell and import and export Hemp and Hemp CBD around the world. We help these companies with their international transactions and with the import and export issues they face.

With the guidance of our Hemp CBD business attorneys, you can rest easy knowing your business is doing all that it can to comply with these complex and evolving laws, and comfortably push your business full speed ahead.

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AWARD-WINNING
CANNA LAW BLOG

Understand your rights, responsibilities, and opportunities everywhere you operate.

Follow our Canna Law Blog for in-depth analysis and up-to-the-minute information on the laws and issues affecting the cannabis industry.

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High Dive: Are We Creating "Big Marijuana"?

Hilary explains the far-reaching impacts of the Washington States historic 502 initiative, legalizing marijuana for recreational use. She explores the complex issues pertaining to big business entering into the marijuana industry.

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Get in Touch with Our Hemp / CBD Law Team

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Our Clients' Successes

“Harris Sliwoski expertly guided us through the formation of our company. They continue to assist with necessary registrations and compliance with numerous regulations. They were able to promptly answer all our many questions and provide understandable options, explanations and practical advice. We expect to continue to use Harris Sliwoski on a regular basis as our company expands. They were also able to introduce us other professional experts. We would not hesitate to recommend Harris Sliwoski to any companies in need of legal advice.”

user icon Three Continents Foods LLC

This law firm was a huge help as our company went through the process of commercial licensing in the California cannabis industry.  They have helped us with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while clearly communicating with us throughout the process.  Everyone we’ve worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field and we have always felt that we were in good hands through our legal representation.

user icon Wil Crummer, CEO PRO Farms

Legal stuff is always scary. And I’ve had to play offense a couple times, begrudgingly. To have Harris Sliwoski have my back? It made things a lot less prickly. They quickly walked me through my options, and were refreshingly consistent in their communications, timing and billing. I’ve been lucky to stay out of the legal side of things my whole career, thankfully. When things went a little wrong, Harris Sliwoski quickly made things right.

user icon Aaron Draplin, Founder Draplin Design Co.

I am impressed with this law firm. They answered all my questions regarding cannabis businesses and the California cannabis framework, and they have helped me with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while always clearly communicating with us throughout the process. They also redirected me to other quality people for my business needs. Everyone I worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field, and I was in good hands throughout my legal representation.

user icon Corey T., CEO Thinc Cubed, LLC

I have been working with the lawyers at Harris Sliwoski for more than 20 years both as a business owner and as an executive at a large east-coast health system and that is because they have always efficiently provided high level and clear international law advice. Most recently, Harris Sliwoski provided legal support on many matters related to procuring medical products worldwide. Their support was particularly helpful to during the onset of COVID, when there was a big need for securing PPE quickly, all while navigating complicated international and domestic legal requirements. Harris Sliwoski’s team of international lawyers helped by conducting rapid-fire due diligence on potential suppliers, navigating the legal logistics for getting product from overseas and through U.S. customs, and drafting contracts to protect against various sorts of horribles. They did this by essentially providing what amounted to 24/7 service. I cannot recommend them highly enough.

user icon Dan Pak Hospital Supply Chain Executive

Harris Sliwoski has represented our company in the legal cannabis industry for years. Harris Sliwoski has advised us in a wide variety of legal matters, and they are truly experts in their field. I would highly recommend Harris Sliwoski to anyone with questions about cannabis law, or any legal matters. They have been great for our Company, and will continue to guide us as our industry evolves

user icon Matt Hurt, COO Cannabis Nation

You won’t find a better partner than Harris Sliwoski when trying to navigate the complex world of healthcare regulations.  They not only give sound and reliable legal advice, but they are also very responsive and are able to guide you in a way that helps you reach your business objectives as well.

user icon Joseph Axelrod, General Counsel Irwin Naturals

When we started the process of building a ‘seed to sale’ cannabis company in Oregon, we saw the need for expert legal counsel.  The cannabis sector is fraught with potential peril at every turn, and we wanted the best legal advice we could find.  After talking to several firms and individuals, we feel extremely fortunate to have chosen Harris Sliwoski as our legal counsel.

user icon Tony Theiss, CEO and Co-Founder Redbarn Cannabis 

We use Harris Sliwoski on all our international legal matters, including on our international litigation matters. We have over the last few years been involved in a couple big international legal disputes and Harris Sliwoski’s international dispute resolution team provided us with expert legal assistance on both matters. They were always very careful to explain to us what they were doing and why and what their actions would likely cost us in legal fees. Most importantly, we did extremely well on both cases and I have no doubt Harris Sliwoski was a big factor in that.

user icon Kevin English, CEO We Are Camp

We have used Harris Sliwoski for legal help related to our international manufacturing. The lawyers with whom I worked had extensive familiarity with the international legal issues involved in our various projects and offered us key insights. I particularly appreciated how they always quickly and efficiently do what they say they will do and always within their cost estimates.

user icon Andrea Barona Valladolid, Senior Legal Counsel Fairphone
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