Cannabis Law: The Current State of Play under Federal Law

Attorneys who represent clients that are actively engaging (or considering actively engaging) in commercial cannabis activity should attend this program.

Attorneys will learn how cannabis is currently regulated at the federal level, including the criminal statutes implicated by commercial cannabis activity and the policies developed by the U.S. Department of Justice and other federal agencies tasked with enforcing such statutes. The course will also discuss current legislative reform efforts at the federal level and the impact of the Biden Administration’s October 2022 announcement granting unconditional pardons to individuals charged with cannabis possession and calling for expeditious review of cannabis scheduling under federal law.

The course will allow you to advise clients on the current state of play for the cannabis industry on the federal level, the legal risks of engaging in commercial cannabis activity under federal law and best practices for reducing such risk, and the potential for cannabis law reform in the near and immediate term. Lawyers who are interested in pursuing business opportunities in the cannabis sector should attend this program.

Learning Objectives:

• Review the federal cannabis laws currently on the books and the interplay with state laws
• Understand current federal law enforcement posture
• Analyze the federal cannabis reform efforts