Author: citedinacticle

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Last year, I attended an Expert Seminar in Amsterdam on Cannabis Regulation, EU Drug Law, Trade Rules, and the UN Drug Control Treaties. A central topic focused on advancing full cannabis legalization while complying with EU law and international Drug Treaties. During the discussion, Czechia presented its three-pillar approach to cannabis regulation: (1) decriminalization (in 2010, Czechia decriminalized cultivating up to five plants and possessing up to half an ounce of marijuana); (2) regulation of “psychomodulatory substances”; and (3) full commercial regulation. Like Germany, Malta, and Luxembourg, Czechia’s approach relies on scientific evidence. It shows that regulation, rather than prohibition, better protects children and society’s health, safety and welfare.

What is the Psychomodulatory Substances Law?

The law and related rules (effective on July 1, 2025), creates a new category of psychoactive substances with acceptable health risks. The current list includes four substances: low-THC cannabis extracts and tinctures (≤1% THC), kratom, and kratom extract. Other substances, like Hexahydrocannabinol (HHC), could be added if research shows their low health risks after two years. To be included, substances must prove they don’t pose significant public health or societal risks.

HHC faces hurdles in gaining approval. Czechia previously sought

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As the U.S. cannabis community awaits the resumption of the DEA’s administrative law hearing on rescheduling marijuana later this month, this blog will take a glimpse at the ever-dynamic global landscape of cannabis policy. While some countries may expand, retract, or maintain the progress seen in 2024, much attention will focus on the key developments that marked the past year. Notably, Europe saw significant movement in cannabis policy.

Key global cannabis law developments in 2024 Germany passed a quasi-legalization law with two phases. Phase I, implemented in 2023, legalized cannabis cultivation clubs, home cultivation, and personal possession. Phase II, still in the early planning stages, would introduce regulated marijuana sales through pilot programs. The most impactful change, however, has been the expansion of medical marijuana access, which has surged since the law’s enactment. Poland’s Parliamentary Committee on Petition presented a proposal to decriminalize personal marijuana possession and home cultivation to the Prime Minister. While the proposal is not binding, it could pave the way for future progress, contingent on the outcome of Poland’s May presidential election. The Netherlands, after multiple delays, is poised to meet demand for regulated marijuana through licensed cultivators supplying coffee

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The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal has reinstated a civil rights lawsuit against Humboldt County, California, that challenges the county’s practices in imposing punitive daily fines. It is the first time a federal appellate court has weighed in on local government’s enforcement of code violations involving cannabis farms.

The Court of Appeal decision

The decision, in Thomas v. County of Humboldt, comes after years of complaints by cannabis cultivators that local governments impose unfair fines for technical violations at licensed farms. That counties and municipalities have adopted and are enforcing large fines involving licensed properties is one of many reasons why increasing numbers of farms have given up their licenses and shut down completely or returned to the illicit market. This is hurting state efforts to bolster the legal market and suppress the illicit market for cannabis.

Lessons for industry and regulators

A takeaway from the decision is that local governments need to keep the goal of remediation in mind in establishing penalties, must be more reasonable in allowing cultivators to fix violations, and more flexible in decisions to impose fines and settling disputes. The decision should motivate county and city attorneys, and cannabis licensees and

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Cannabis concentrates have become a cornerstone of modern cannabis consumption, offering a potent, clean, and diverse way to experience cannabinoids and terpenes. These products, ranging from shatter to wax and live resin, are derived through sophisticated extraction methods that deliver enhanced flavors and intensities for consumers. For both seasoned cannabis users and industry professionals, understanding the nuances of concentrations is essential.

However, questions are frequently entertained as to whether high potency concentrates are safe for consumers, and what if any action Washington lawmakers (as well as lawmakers in other states) will take. Until then, it is business as usual for cannabis concentrate producers, and business is booming. So, let’s take a look at what concentrates are, how they are made, and what products consumers enjoy as a result of this innovative technique for cannabis enjoyment.

What are cannabis concentrates?

Cannabis concentrates are products derived from the cannabis plant that are rich in cannabinoids (such as THC or CBD) and terpenes. These are the components that have psychoactive qualities and make you feel good. By extracting and isolating these compounds from plant material, producers create a variety of potent and flavorful products seen in retail stores

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The days of smoking cannabis out of apples is over. Smoking devices are readily accessible in tobacco shops and cannabis retailers, and their production and sale are big business. Creative shapes and sizes impress and create unique smoking experiences. However, as states across the U.S. continue to legalize cannabis for medical and recreational use, the legal status of cannabis paraphernalia—such as bongs, pipes, and rolling papers—remains a gray area due to ongoing federal prohibition of these devices. However, that does not mean that companies producing these products cannot seek protection of their intellectual property on the state and federal levels. And with a little creative tact, companies can find ways to federally protect their brands.

What are drug paraphernalia?

The term “drug paraphernalia” refers to any equipment used to produce, conceal, or consume illicit drugs. Under federal law, this encompasses:

“any equipment, product or material of any kind which is primarily intended or designed for use in manufacturing, compounding, converting, concealing, producing, processing, preparing, injecting, ingesting, inhaling, or otherwise introducing into the human body a controlled substance.”

Examples of paraphernalia include:

Pipes: Made from various materials such as metal, glass, wood, or ceramic. Water

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Welcome the ninth annual “State of the State” post on Oregon cannabis. I feel like an old man. As compared to 2023, things this year were pretty mellow. That’s not to say, however, that we don’t have trends, intrigues, controversies, mysteries, etc., worth writing about. Let’s dive right in.

Sales and market data

According to OLCC data, retail sales between January 1, 2024 and November 30, 2024 clocked in at $881 million. That is remarkably consistent with 2023, where we saw $874 million over the same 11-month span. If things remain steady for the next couple of weeks, Oregon should avoid a third consecutive drop in annual sales.

Prices are also relatively static. The median price per gram in the extract/concentrate category was $15.83/gram in November, floating from $15.36 to $16.00 throughout the year. For “usable marijuana”, which includes dried flowers and leaves, prices fluctuated from $3.89/gram to $3.57/gram last month.

October saw Oregon’s largest METRC harvest, ever, with 5,733,288 pounds reported. I’m sure the illicit market had a bumper year too; weather is the same for everyone and the enforcement paradigm is static. Anyway, the October numbers equal 900,000 more pounds than the same

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Yesterday, in the grand American tradition of bungled, cannabis social equity programs, the Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) canceled its social equity applicant lottery. In its announcement, OCM pivoted to an early 2025 lottery combining social equity and general applicants.

This development was no real surprise, following a court order delaying the preapproval lottery last month. It’s also no surprise in the very big picture: I’ve said since forever that cannabis lotteries are a bad proposition and states should knock it off. Here we are again, though. To all my fellow Minnesotans– welcome!

We have clients who were selected for the OCM preapproval lottery and others who were not. In all, two-thirds of applicants were denied. Grievances were roundly and rightly aired on social media and elsewhere. The loudest complaints came from applicants who had committed significant, time, energy and capital into a system designed to ameliorate harms caused by marijuana prohibition, but seemed to do the opposite.

Per OCM’s announcement, applicants in the “denial” camp will be allowed to withdraw their applications and request a refund of fees, provided they do so on or before January 10, 2025. These stymied applicants would still be allowed to apply in

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As a mediator specializing in cannabis-related conflicts, I’ve witnessed firsthand the increasing need for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in this rapidly evolving industry. With three-quarters of Americans now living in states where recreational or medical marijuana use is legal, the landscape of potential disputes has expanded dramatically. Currently, 24 states and the District of Columbia have legalized recreational marijuana, while 14 states permit its use for medicinal purposes. Yet cannabis with more than .3 percent THC by dry weight remains illegal under federal law. This has created a complex legal environment, ripe for controversy.

Participants in the cannabis industry deal with a wide array of legal disputes. These include conflicts over intellectual property, mergers and acquisitions, and the ownership and management of cannabis farms, processing and distribution companies, and dispensaries. We’re seeing an increase in employee claims, personal injury cases, water rights disagreements, and land use and environmental regulation violations. Violations of the ADA and federal safety laws, local code enforcement targeting landlords, and conflicts between neighboring farmers over odors and pollen drift are all part of the growing list of legal issues in this sector.

The cannabis industry faces unique challenges when it comes to resolving disputes through traditional

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