Blog
- Blog
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
Major changes have come to the New York State Cannabis market. On September 12, 2023, the New York State Cannabis Control Board — which is the State body responsible for regulating the adult-use, medical, and cannabinoid hemp industries in New York — met to consider Revised Adult-Use Cannabis Regulations, the…
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
Governor Kathy Hochul recently signed legislation aimed at curbing the illicit cannabis market in New York State. The new law, part of the FY 2024 Budget, provides increased enforcement power to the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) and the Department of Taxation and Finance (DTF) to crack down on unlicensed…
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
In this panel discussion, Partner Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq., joins local cannabis practitioners, The Rochester Business Journal, and The Daily Record, to discuss how the legalization of adult-use cannabis is progressing and how it is affecting the overall cannabis industry in New York State. The…
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
Under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act (“MRTA”), a new government entity was created to license the cultivation, processing, distribution, sale, and delivery of cannabis in New York State. Each commercial activity involving adult-use cannabis will require a license. Accordingly, because the law generally limits (1) vertical integration and (2)…
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
New York State just legalized cannabis for adults 21 and over, making it the 15th state to legalize adult-use marijuana despite the fact that the substance remains illegal under federal law. The law, which supporters tied to a move to promote racial equity, also expunges marijuana convictions for actions that…
New York State Governor Calls For Legalizing Adult-Use Cannabis In Annual State of the State Address
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
In January of 2021, New York State Governor Andrew M. Cuomo called for the legalization of adult-use cannabis in his annual “State of the State” address. This proposal comes after a multi-year effort to regionally coordinate state cannabis policy with the governors of New Jersey, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania. The goal…
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
By the end of 2020, more than 40 states could allow some form of legal marijuana / cannabis, including in more conservative jurisdictions, like North Dakota and Mississippi1. However, because possession of marijuana / cannabis remains illegal under Federal Law, these state-law developments could further increase confusion across the country…
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
On November 18, 2019, the New York State Bar Association’s Committee on Professional Ethics (the “CPE”) issued an opinion that “lawyers may assist clients in complying with New York’s medical marijuana laws,” even though marijuana/cannabis remains illegal under federal law.1
The CPE reasoned that, although Rule 1.2(d) of the New…
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
Even in states where Cannabis has not yet been legalized for recreational or adult use, many municipalities are starting to consider what they need to do to prepare themselves for legalization. For example, according to recent news reports, local health and criminal justice officials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania have started to…
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
As our earlier blog post explained, New York State seems to be on the verge of passing comprehensive cannabis/marijuana reform legislation. This presents several new legal issues for municipalities, including questions about how to regulate the emerging industry. Local governments will likely be interested in regulating a variety of different…
- By: Jacob H. Zoghlin, Esq.
- Cannabis / Marijuana
Across the United States, more and more states have enacted (either through the legislature or through ballot initiatives) cannabis/marijuana decriminalization laws, medical marijuana laws, and even adult use (sometimes known as “recreational”) marijuana laws. The national trend suggests that we may see wide-scale legalization sooner than many expect, even at…