California marijuana business attorney

May 14, 2022

Feds to Return $1.1 Million in Marijuana Fund Seizures

The U.S. Department of Justice has agreed to return more than $1 million in seized marijuana funds to settle a lawsuit filed last year by a California cannabis business lawsuit alleging “highway robbery.” California civil forfeiture cannabis business

Funds at issue belonged to Empyreal Logistics, an armored car company based in Pennsylvania that was targeted by local and federal task forces in San Bernardino County in November and December. As our Los Angeles marijuana business lawyers understand it, the cars were carrying cannabis business cash in conjunction with legal marijuana operations in California. A task force comprised of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the San Bernardino County sheriff’s office resulted in confiscation of cash.

While the company was operating legally under state law, the problem is the conflict with existing federal forfeiture laws, which open the door to target even compliant businesses. This is not new. Civil forfeiture law has enabled law enforcement agencies to seize millions from legal business proceeds – with threats to keep it. That’s precisely what happened here – and Empyreal Logistics sued.

April 21, 2019

Legal Issues in Selling Cannabis Seeds in California

By Cannabis Law Group

Last month marked the start of the typical marijuana grow season, which runs March through November, which meant individuals and large cannabis firms in California were on the hunt for high-quality seeds for purchase on the legal market. Cannabis seeds are at the core of the California marijuana industry, and the internet can connect farmers from San Diego to San Francisco and beyond to the growing demand. Los Angeles cannabis lawyer

But are sales of cannabis seeds legal? Some growers serve both the grey and legal market marijuana seeds.

As the legal cannabis market has expanded, selling cannabis seeds has become more commonplace, especially as consumers’ tastes become more refined. Still not all cannabis seed sales are lawful.

Genetic Seed Variations Can Be Protected Intellectual Property

December 14, 2018

California Vineyards May Cash in on CBD-Infused Wine After 2018 Farm Bill Lifts Hemp Ban

By Cannabis Law Group

California vineyards seeking to cash in on possible cannibdiol-infused (CBD) wines may benefit from provisions of the much-touted 2018 Farm Bill, which amended the federal Controlled Substances Act to remove restrictions on both hemp and hemp-derived CBD, which is unique from marijuana in its lack of THC, the psychoactive agent in cannabis. However, as experienced Orange County cannabis industry attorneys, we urge wineries to proceed with caution and legal consultation. Orange County hemp lawyer

Although the impact of removing restrictions on hemp and hemp-derived products is likely to be significant, technically federal agricultural subsidies don’t rope in growers of vegetables and fruits – including grapes. Plus, even as the federal ban on marijuana lifted, many states – including California – still have laws on the books making it unlawful to infuse hemp in alcohol or food products. The Farm Bill expressly allows states to govern their own regulation of hemp production, the same as it does with alcohol.

Congress did direct states to both license and track any hemp produced from seed-to-sale, but gives state lawmakers the authority to impose tighter hemp regulations if they so choose. However, state rules can’t be any less strict than federal guidelines and those regulations do need to get the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture’s approval stamp. Continue reading

October 15, 2018

California Marijuana Banking Attorneys: Navigating the Risks

By Cannabis Law Group

California marijuana lawyers have long known that one of the greatest risks when it comes to managing marijuana money is the potential to be accused of laundering it, given that it’s still illegal under federal law. Even as an increasing number of states have made the drug lawful to varying degrees, many financial institutions remain frigid about such partnerships. Los Angeles marijuana banking lawyer

There are ways to smartly navigate your finances, and the experienced legal team at the Cannabis Law Group in Los Angeles can help you establish the right plan.

Recently in Oklahoma, a top banking regulator informed lawmakers there that banking with marijuana now is more riskier than it’s ever been, despite the fact that marijuana is now legal to some degree in 30 states and available for recreational use in nine of them. The problem remains the federal government’s classification of marijuana as a Schedule I controlled substance – placing it in a category that stipulates extreme danger of addiction and no medicinal purpose.

Oklahoma media reported the banker told state lawmakers establishing marijuana policy that until Congress acts to initiate clear laws that either outright legalize it or empower the states to take on regulation themselves, financial institutions are going to be extremely wary of extending partnerships to those within the new medical marijuana industry there. Continue reading

October 11, 2018

Facebook Lifts Marijuana Business Pages Ban

By Cannabis Law Group

Facebook is ending its block on searches for marijuana and related products, according to MarketWatch. The change comes just ahead of Canada’s legalization of the drug. Searches related to the drug had been disallowed by the company for many months, according to the social media platform, because people had been using it to sell marijuana illegally online, which was a violation of its policies. cannabis attorney L.A.

This could be an important change as promotion of marijuana on social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest can be a main means by which to reach key demographics.

One of the main focuses of our L.A. marijuana business lawyers is ensuring our clients are abiding state regulation on marijuana advertising. Running afoul of state marijuana ad rules can result in huge fines. These rules are spelled out in Business and Professions Code (BPC), Division 10, Chapter 15 (26150-26156), which are fairly stringent. Continue reading