The Blunt Truth

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

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The Blunt Truth

New Mexico and Virginia Legalize Cannabis for Recreational Use

By Jennifer L. Mora & A. Scott Hecker

April 20, 2021

Following closely on the heels of both New York and New Jersey enacting recreational cannabis laws, New Mexico and Virginia have enacted their own laws allowing adults to use cannabis for recreational purposes. Virginia went further by enacting the first law providing employment protections to individuals using cannabis oil. Although not immediately effective, New Mexico and Virginia employers should immediately assess the implications of the laws on their current policies and drug testing practices. Virginia’s…

The Blunt Truth

The Week in Weed: April 16, 2021

By Susan Ryan

April 15, 2021

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. The big news this week is that New Mexico legalized adult-use marijuana. Mississippi’s medical cannabis program faces a state Supreme Court challenge. And South Dakota’s program is also having its day in court. Idaho may legalize hemp. And finally, Uber may get into the marijuana delivery business. New mexico New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham (D)…

The Blunt Truth

New York: Legalized Recreational Use of Cannabis & New Protections for Employees

By Ethan Goemann

April 13, 2021

On March 31, 2021, New York legalized the recreational use of cannabis, enacting “The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act.” This new law legalizes personal possession of cannabis, home cultivation of cannabis, and allows for the expungement of certain marijuana convictions. Importantly, it also modifies New York Labor Law to impose new restrictions on employers. New York’s cannabis law provides employment discrimination protection for cannabis users. Cannabis use is now part of the “off-duty”…

The Blunt Truth

The Week in Weed: April 9, 2021

By Susan Ryan

April 8, 2021

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. Federal legislation to legalize cannabis is under consideration. In state news, Virginia moved up its timeline to legalize possession and home grow. New York launched a cannabis control website. We take a look at what’s happening in Montana. South Carolina probably won’t legalize medical marijuana. And finally, only cannabis could unite Snoop Dogg and Charles Koch.…

The Blunt Truth

Firefighter’s Federal Disability Claims Based on Pot Use Snuffed Out by Connecticut District Court

By Cary Reid Burke, Stan Hill & Jennifer L. Mora

April 7, 2021

Big Takeaways Recently, when dismissing a former employee’s claims brought under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the District of Connecticut issued two welcome reminders to employers. First, to set out an ADA disability discrimination claim, a plaintiff must allege that the employer was aware of the plaintiff’s disability. Second, and just as important, the ADA does not provide protection against discrimination based solely on medical marijuana use or require accommodation of medical marijuana use…

The Blunt Truth

The Week in Weed: April 2, 2021

By Susan Ryan

April 1, 2021

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. It’s been a big week. New York legalized cannabis. New Mexico legalized cannabis. Virginia may speed up legalizing cannabis. The Biden administration is getting pushback on how it treats staffers who used cannabis. North Dakota won’t legalize cannabis, via legislation anyway. And finally, there’s a new version of “Chopped,” with a green ingredient. new york We’ve…

The Blunt Truth

Unionization Efforts Spreading Throughout the Cannabis Industry

By Ethan Goemann

March 30, 2021

With the cannabis industry’s growth into a multi-billion dollar industry, employing about 321,000 individuals, comes the intensification of focus from unions viewing the industry as a large growth opportunity. Much of the union organizing to date has been led by the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union, which launched a cannabis organizing campaign in 2011. Since October 2020, efforts to unionize workers in the cannabis industry kicked into overdrive. Ten cannabis facility workers…

The Blunt Truth

Upcoming Webinar: High Times in NJ: New Recreational Marijuana Law Limits Employers’ Options to Prevent Impairment

By Jennifer L. Mora, Robert Szyba & Adam R. Young

March 29, 2021

TBT readers are invited to join Seyfarth Shaw LLP’s upcoming webinar, “High Times in NJ: New Recreational Marijuana Law Limits Employers’ Options to Prevent Impairment.” Register here There is no cost to attend, but registration is required. Thursday, April 8, 2021 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Central 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Mountain 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Pacific Recreational and medical marijuana laws are sweeping the nation. Most…

The Blunt Truth

The Week in Weed: March 26, 2021

By Susan Ryan

March 25, 2021

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. Often, our news summary focuses on the states – they seem to have all the action. This week, however, we start with news from the federal government. The SAFE Banking Act is back. There’s new legislation that would allow cannabis companies to buy insurance. And the Biden administration takes action against staffers who have used marijuana. …

The Blunt Truth

More Cannabis Industry Securities Suits Hit Dockets

By Vincent Sama, Catherine Schumacher & Matthew Catalano

March 25, 2021

In our recent article [1] on securities litigation in the burgeoning legal cannabis industry, we noted that companies in this space must be careful and thoughtful in their disclosures to avoid securities litigation exposure. In the past month, at least three additional securities litigation complaints were filed against companies connected to the legal cannabis industry, including pre-M&A disputes in the Southern District of New York and a putative class action under the Securities Exchange Act…

The Blunt Truth

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

Blog Authors

New Mexico and Virginia Legalize Cannabis for Recreational Use

The Week in Weed: April 16, 2021

New York: Legalized Recreational Use of Cannabis & New Protections for Employees

The Week in Weed: April 9, 2021

Firefighter’s Federal Disability Claims Based on Pot Use Snuffed Out by Connecticut District Court

The Week in Weed: April 2, 2021

Unionization Efforts Spreading Throughout the Cannabis Industry

Upcoming Webinar: High Times in NJ: New Recreational Marijuana Law Limits Employers’ Options to Prevent Impairment

The Week in Weed: March 26, 2021

More Cannabis Industry Securities Suits Hit Dockets

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