The Blunt Truth

A blog chronicling the evolution and implementation of marijuana laws in the United States

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The Blunt Truth

The Week in Weed: October 18, 2019

By Susan Ryan on October 17, 2019

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. You might think news about Rudy Giuliani and Ukraine wouldn’t appear on a blog devoted to cannabis, but you’d be wrong. Two of the former mayor’s associates were indicted for moving foreign money into U.S. elections. One of their targets was a Nevada gubernatorial candidate; they hoped he would provide them with a cannabis license. In more…

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Higher Laws — What’s New on the Legislative Front for Cannabis Businesses

By Catherine M. Dacre on October 16, 2019

It is widely known that California’s Governor Gavin Newsom has signed into law (and also rejected) a flurry of bills in recent weeks. But what has been done in the cannabis space? So glad you asked, because, indeed, Newsom has signed several bills impacting the cannabis industry, reflecting a focus on encouraging minority participation, encouraging union membership, and clarifying select existing regulations. How is this accomplished? For starters, Senate Bill (SB) 595, which provides some…

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CBD Lawsuit Reflects Trucker Termination for THC Tainted Drug Products

By Jennifer Mora, Adam R. Young & Craig Simonsen on October 15, 2019

The Western District of New York, in Horn v. Medical Marijuana, Inc., et al., issued an initial procedural order last week in a case where the plaintiff’s purchase and use of the defendant products resulted in a failed drug test that resulted in his employer terminating his employment. Horn v. Medical Marijuana, Inc., et al. No. 15-cv-701-FPG (W.D.N.Y.) We have noted previously that the federal Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently announced that drugs that include…

The Blunt Truth

The Week in Weed: October 11, 2019

By Susan Ryan on October 10, 2019

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. We’ll start this week with some financial news. CBD sellers looking for a payment processing method got some good news. Square has just announced that they will start servicing the industry. The state of California has issued guidance for financial institutions on how to deal with cannabis businesses. And data compiled by the Financial Crimes Enforcement …

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D.C. Sees Latest Test Case for Employees Seeking “Reasonable Accommodation” for Off-Duty Medical Marijuana Use

By Eric Janson on October 8, 2019

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed suit last week in the D.C. Superior Court on behalf of Doretha Barber, a sanitation worker with the D.C. Department of Public Works, who claims that she was denied reasonable accommodation and placed on an indefinite leave of absence after disclosing that she is a medical marijuana card-holder under the District’s medical marijuana program. Specifically, Ms. Barber alleges that she suffers from degenerative disc disease which causes…

The Blunt Truth

The Week in Weed: October 4, 2019

By Susan Ryan on October 3, 2019

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. We start off today with Pennsylvania. Could it be the next state to legalize? First, the state’s attorney general announced that he is in favor. Meanwhile, the governor asked the Pardons Board to speed up applications for those with low-level marijuana offenses. Plus, a new bill would legalize cannabis with state-run stores. What about other…

The Blunt Truth

The Week in Weed: September 27, 2019

By Susan Ryan on September 26, 2019

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. Let’s start off with the big news: the SAFE Act passed in the House. For news coverage, see here, here and here. For our take on this legislation (spoiler alert: we’re not so sanguine about its chances in the Senate), see here. So, did anything else happen this week? Glad you asked! In addition to…

The Blunt Truth

SAFE Act Passes in the House, But…

By Stanley Jutkowitz on September 26, 2019

Yesterday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 1595, the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act (SAFE Act), by a vote of 321-103, with 90 Republicans voting in favor of the bill. Some have hailed the bill as a panacea for banking cannabis related businesses (CRBs). While this post is not intended to be a comprehensive analysis of the SAFE Act, it is important to note what the Act does and does not do. Among…

The Blunt Truth

Upcoming Webinar: Risky Business: US Immigration Law and the Marijuana Industry

By Susan Ryan on September 26, 2019

TBT readers are invited to join Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s upcoming webinar, “Risky Business: US Immigration Law and the Marijuana Industry,” on October 22 at 12 pm CT. Register here There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. About the Program: Despite the growing trend by states and foreign countries to legalize cannabis for recreational or medicinal use, and the growth of the legalized cannabis business in the U.S. and abroad, federal law and…

The Blunt Truth

The 10th Circuit Grants Re-leaf to Workers Seeking Overtime Under the FLSA

By Jinouth Vasquez on September 25, 2019

Looks like arguments seeking to dismiss FLSA wage claims under the guise that “cannabis is illegal under federal law” have gone up in smoke. The 10th circuit created a buzz in Robert Kenney v. Helix TCS, Inc., Case No. 18-1105, by holding that cannabis industry workers can claim overtime under the Federal Labor Standards Act (“FLSA”). The FLSA requires employers to pay employees overtime if employees work more than 40 hours in a workweek.…

The Blunt Truth

A blog chronicling the evolution and implementation of marijuana laws in the United States

Blog Authors

The Week in Weed: October 18, 2019

Higher Laws — What’s New on the Legislative Front for Cannabis Businesses

CBD Lawsuit Reflects Trucker Termination for THC Tainted Drug Products

The Week in Weed: October 11, 2019

D.C. Sees Latest Test Case for Employees Seeking “Reasonable Accommodation” for Off-Duty Medical Marijuana Use

The Week in Weed: October 4, 2019

The Week in Weed: September 27, 2019

SAFE Act Passes in the House, But…

Upcoming Webinar: Risky Business: US Immigration Law and the Marijuana Industry

The 10th Circuit Grants Re-leaf to Workers Seeking Overtime Under the FLSA

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