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Cannabis & the Law

Foley Hoag has been at the forefront of the medical and adult-use cannabis industry since the very early stages of its regulation and legalization in specific U.S. states and beyond. Our leading, full-service Cannabis Practice is comprised of attorneys with unique insight and experience to assist cannabis and cannabis-related operators and investors with all aspects of their business. Our practice is national and international in scope, as we represent cannabis clients in transactions in a variety of states and Canada.

Federal Court Declares New Jersey's Cannabis Labor Peace Agreement Mandate Preempted by Federal Law: What Every Licensed Operator Needs to Know
Blog August 18, 2026
On August 10, 2026, the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey entered final judgment in Curaleaf Holdings, Inc. v. New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission, No. 25-cv-16397 (D.N.J.), declaring that the labor peace agreement ("LPA") requirement in the Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act ("CREAMMA") and its implementing regulations is preempted by the National Labor Relations Act ("NLRA") as applied against plaintiff Curaleaf…
Medical Marijuana in Health Facilities: Colorado's New Law and What It Means for Your Organization
Blog August 07, 2026
On August 12, 2026, Senate Bill 26-007 (Colorado’s non-mandatory version of California’s “Ryan’s Law”) will take effect. This new law permits (but does not require) a health facility to allow certain patients who are terminally ill to use medical marijuana within the health facility, subject to certain parameters…
Rhode Island CCC Application Reset
Blog July 28, 2026
Rhode Island's adult-use cannabis retail licensing process has been the subject of a roller coaster ride in the last half year since the submittal deadline, and the Rhode Island Cannabis Control Commission’s (“CCC” or “Commission”) Friday, July 24, 2026 update gave the clearest picture yet of not just where things stand, but most importantly, where this process is  headed…
DEA Inspections and Information Requests: What You Need to Know
Blog July 24, 2026
While the medical marijuana rescheduling order made clear that the Drug Enforcement Agency (“DEA”) would prioritize the review of medical marijuana applications submitted during the first sixty (60) days of the application window, we are watching now the details and process of that review come into picture…
Barr Proposal To Legalize and Regulate Hemp-Derived Consumer Products Enters Crowded Field of Hemp Legislation
Blog June 03, 2026
After months of anticipation, on May 28, 2026, Representative Andy Barr (R-KY) introduced a bill to legalize and tightly regulate consumable hemp products…
Cannabis Rescheduling and the Path to U.S. Exchange Listings: What Management Teams Need to Know Now
Blog May 28, 2026
The federal regulatory landscape governing cannabis in the United States is undergoing its most significant transformation in over fifty years…
Minnesota Governor Walz Signs Landmark Cannabis Omnibus Bill, Reshaping State’s Cannabis Industry
Blog May 28, 2026
On May 26, 2026, the Minnesota Governor Tim Walz signed into law the 2026 Omnibus Cannabis Bill…
Update – Governor Spanberger Vetoes Adult-Use Cannabis Bill
Blog May 20, 2026
Yesterday, Governor Spanberger vetoed HB642/SB542, dashing the hopes of legislators and cannabis advocates alike and yet again casting uncertainty on the future of adult-use cannabis in the Commonwealth…
NLRB Rules that Post-Harvest Workers are Covered by Federal Labor Law
Blog May 14, 2026
As we previously blogged, the line between “agricultural” work and “processing” work in the cannabis industry has real consequences for whether workers can unionize under federal labor law…
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About Our Blog

Foley Hoag has been at the forefront of the medical and adult-use cannabis industry since the very early stages of its regulation and legalization in specific U.S. states and beyond. Our leading, full-service Cannabis Practice is comprised of attorneys with unique insight and experience to assist cannabis and cannabis-related operators and investors with all aspects of their business. Our practice is national and international in scope, as we represent cannabis clients in transactions in a variety of states and Canada.

We have developed this blog specifically to track the regulatory framework for the cannabis industry and provide insight on legal issues of concern to cannabis businesses.

Our focus will include reporting legal developments and providing commentary on:

  • Legislative developments;
  • Regulatory and policy enactments;
  • The appointment and constitution of the Cannabis Control Commission;
  • The impact of recreational cannabis regulation on the existing medical marijuana regulatory framework;
  • Developments in federal law;
  • Municipal issues;
  • Corporate considerations;
  • Employment issues; and
  • Policy matters.