Legal Issues

The Georgia Court of Appeals has ruled that hemp-derived delta-8 THC and delta-10 THC products are not considered controlled substances under state law.

A federal judge in Northern Virginia has denied an attempt to block a recently enacted state law that imposed stricter limits on intoxicating hemp products, with the judge arguing the state “demonstrated that delta-8 THC is a credible threat to the Virginia population.”

A federal judge has blocked an Arkansas state law that sought to ban hemp-derived THC products. The move prevents any enforcement actions under the ban and will keep thousands of employees, farmers, business owners, and consumers from being made into criminals “despite no change in federal law.”

The Oklahoma Supreme Court declined to hear a lawsuit that challenges medical cannabis business fee hikes in the state, arguing that the licensing fees — despite the lawsuit’s claims — are not considered an illegal tax.

The Minnesota Supreme Court this week affirmed that cannabis odor is not enough reason for police to conduct a warrantless vehicle search.

In the third lawsuit brought against the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission over its handling of the medical cannabis application process, Medella LLC is accusing the agency of wrongfully implying that one of the company’s owners or senior directors had a criminal record.

A lawsuit filed in federal court last week is looking to challenge Virginia’s newly imposed THC limits on hemp products in the state.

In a move that highlights the discrepancy between state-level and federal regulations on hemp, the state of California has filed a lawsuit against several U.S. hemp brands claiming violations of the state’s Proposition 65 rules.

A Missouri judge this week dismissed the bid by a medical cannabis company to stop the recall of nearly 63,000 of its cannabis products.

A Missouri cannabis company that had nearly 63,000 products recalled earlier this month is being sued by a medical cannabis firm that purchased more than $300,000 worth of the now-recalled products.

A New York judge partly lifted the injunction against state regulators issuing new cannabis licenses, allowing 30 licensees who have been deemed ready by the Cannabis Control Board to move forward; however, 400 cannabis licenses remain in limbo.

Daniel Herer, son of cannabis activist and author Jack Herer, is being sued by a former business partner for allegedly reneging on business agreements. Herer has denied the charges in his own filing and claims that the plaintiff Herer Brands Inc. is infringing on intellectual property.

The town of Hancock, Maryland is headed to mediation with multi-state cannabis company Trulieve over profits from its 5% equity stake in the company, which was previously arranged in exchange for a medical cannabis license.

A vape shop in Lancaster, Pennsylvania is suing the district attorney and other law enforcement officials, claiming that they conducted a warrantless search of the business and wrongfully seized legal hemp-derived THC products.

A New York judge extended the statewide injunction against licensing new cannabis dispensaries pending the outcome of a hearing later this week; the licensing process was halted earlier this month after several veterans claimed in a lawsuit that the state failed to follow its own social equity rules.

A lawsuit filed in the Connecticut Superior Court is challenging the state’s cannabis legalization law and asking a judge to halt cannabis sales statewide because the plant remains federally prohibited.

A lawsuit filed by New York-based military veterans claims that cannabis regulators are failing to follow the social equity provisions included in the state’s cannabis legalization law.

Oklahoma Supreme Court Justice John Kane heard arguments on Tuesday in a case challenging a recently passed law that hikes medical cannabis licensing fees in the state.

The New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department filed a petition seeking a preliminary injunction against Sawmill Sweet Leaf, LLC, alleging the company has been diverting cannabis out of state and manufacturing concentrate without a permit.

Medical cannabis business applicant Alabama Always LLC is accusing the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission of improperly erasing recordings of its meetings in violation of the state’s Open Meetings Act.

Rhode Island dispensary Greenleaf Compassionate Care Center has filed a lawsuit over labor peace agreement provisions in the state’s cannabis legalization law, arguing it was “coerced into entering an oppressive collective bargaining agreement.”

Medical cannabis advocates in Oklahoma have filed a lawsuit challenging recent cannabis industry fee increases in the state.

A Florida appeals court this week ruled that the firing of a Department of Corrections officer over his prescribed medical cannabis use was justified under federal law.

An Arkansas judge last week voided 27 laws passed by lawmakers to amend the state’s voter-approved medical cannabis law in 2017, 2019, and 2021. The judge called the changes unconstitutional.