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Election 2016: Cannabis Legalization Results

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Yesterday’s election was historic in many ways.  The imminent change in federal administration may have repercussions for state-run legal marijuana regimes.  Until now, states with legal marijuana regimes have been functioning under the protection of what’s called the “Cole Memo” – a document issued by the US Department of Justice, which directs federal prosecutors to use discretion in prosecuting marijuana-related crimes per eight enforcement priorities.  While many believe that Hillary Clinton would have most likely maintained the status quo regarding the Cole Memo, President-Elect Donald Trump’s position is less clear.  Look for future blog posts for more comprehensive analyses on this issue.

Yesterday’s election was a watershed moment for marijuana legalization among the states.  Please see our summary of the results of marijuana initiatives.

Adult-Use Marijuana

Four states have legalized marijuana for adult-use, joining Alaska, Colorado, Oregon and Washington.

  • Arizona (Failed) – The state electorate defeated Proposition 205 with a 52.1 percent “no” vote.  It would have allowed adults to carry up to one ounce, grow up to six plants (12 total per household), and consume marijuana in private spaces.  Retail marijuana sales were set to have a 15 percent tax imposed.  Some Arizona residents expressed concern that decriminalization would not keep up with the new law.  They pointed out that any possession of plants in excess of the limit could still have been charged as a felony.
  • California (Passed) – Proposition 64 makes recreational marijuana legal all along the West Coast and many people argue will mark a path to federal legalization.  Also known as the Adult Use of Marijuana Act, the law allows for adults to possess up to an ounce of cannabis and purchase dried flower and cannabis products from licensed retailers as well as grow six plants for personal use.  Initial taxes imposed include a 15 percent excise tax on retail sales plus a cultivation tax per volume.  Proponents estimate that the Act could result in $1 billion annually in state tax revenue.  One major concern, however, is that large, well-funded investors will swallow up smaller family farmers formerly engaged in the state’s medical marijuana program.  One LA-based private equity fund plans to deploy $75 -$100 million over the next few years to acquire property and build out cultivation centers and dispensaries in Southern California.
  • Massachusetts (Passed) – Question 4 provides for adults to possess up to one ounce of marijuana, keep up to 10 ounces at home, and grow up to six plants.  Marijuana sold by licensed retailers is subject to an excise tax of 3.75 percent in addition to the state’s 6.25 percent state sales tax.  Some concern exists regarding the timetable to get the legal regime up and running.  It took about 3 years for the first medical marijuana dispensary to open after passage of Massachusetts’ medical marijuana law.  Some have also expressed worries that the 3.75 percent tax will fall short of the funds necessary to launch the state’s regulatory scheme which includes the creation of a cannabis control commission.
  • Maine (Passed) –  Question 1 allows people 21 years of age and older to use marijuana recreationally.  The measure would permit each adult to grow up to six plants for personal use and would levy a 10 percent sales tax on retail marijuana and marijuana products while restricting use to private residences.  Under the measure, municipalities could regulate the number of retail stores or ban them entirely.  One concern voiced by legalization proponents is the state-wide cap on canopy space and language which designates 60 percent of licenses for large growers and only 40 percent for small growers.
  • Nevada (Passed) – Question 2, also known as The Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, expands moves already made by some Nevada counties to adopt medical marijuana regulations.  The Act makes it legal for adults age 21 and over to purchase marijuana for recreational use, possess up to an ounce of marijuana, and grow up to six plants at home (if that residence is more than 25 miles from a licensed dispensary).  Wholesale marijuana is subject to a 15 percent excise tax.  Unlike Oregon, the Act limits the number of retail licenses by each county’s population.  Counties with fewer than 55,000 residents could only have 2 retail establishments.

Medical Marijuana

Four states have joined the ranks of 25 states and the District of Columbia in passing or expanding some form of medical marijuana law (not including CBD-only laws):

  • Arkansas  (Passed)  – Issue 6, also known as the Arkansas Medical Marijuana Amendment, is a constitutional amendment that allows an independent commission to grant licenses for up to eight grow facilities and 40 for-profit dispensaries statewide.  It does not provide for home growing.  A second measure, Issue 7, was disqualified by the Arkansas Supreme Court due to lack of compliance with registration and reporting laws for paid canvassers.  This measure would have allowed for some home growing for patients who live more than 20 miles from a cannabis care center.
  • Florida  (Passed) – Amendment 2 provides for the state Department of Health to register and regulate dispensaries and issue ID cards to marijuana patients and caregivers.  Individuals with medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, PTSD, and Crohn’s disease would be eligible for a card with approval from a licensed Florida physician.  Because Florida’s demographics include 20 million residents, many of whom are seniors, baby boomers, and veterans, many see the passage of Amendment 2 as a lucrative business opportunity.  One newly-formed venture capital firm is currently raising $15 million to fund various medical marijuana-related ventures.
  •  Montana  (Passed) – Ballot Issue 14, also known as I-182, expands legal access to medical marijuana.  It repeals the three-patient limit and other requirements like unannounced inspections and review for physicians who provide certifications.  Newly added qualifying conditions include chronic pain and PTSD.  The implementation of the law could be delayed for months because of an error written into the measure.  The initiative aims to immediately repeal the three-patient limit, but the measure’s language indicates that the limit would not be lifted until June 30, 2017.
  • North Dakota  (Passed) – Initiated Statutory Measure No. 5 or The North Dakota Compassionate Care Act allows for the possession of up to 3 ounces of marijuana for conditions such as HIV/AIDS, cancer, epilepsy, and glaucoma.  It also provides for patients who live more than 40 miles from a licensed dispensary to grow up to eight plants.  The most vocal opponent to this measure was the North Dakota Medical Association.  It claimed that the petition “would be very difficult to implement in a safe and cost-effective manner.”

While these results undeniably illustrate a broad movement by states across the nation to legalize marijuana use in some form, our experience in watching what it takes for an initiative to go from “passed” to fully-implemented suggests that there is a lot that can happen, and there may be more uncertainty regarding what will be required of the industry in each of the states (at least in the short term).  We look forward to assisting our existing clients (as well as new ones) as they navigate the waters in these new markets.

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OLCC Releases Order Pertaining to New Pesticide Testing Rule

On September 30, we blogged about the OLCC and OHA’s emergency rulemaking in the face of the October 1 labeling, packaging, and testing deadline. One of the rule changes reduced the OLCC’s requirement for pesticide testing for usable marijuana.  The new rule calls for OLCC staff to assess pesticide testing capacity for the limited number of licensed labs approved for such testing.  After making the assessment, the rule requires the OLCC to issue an order dictating the percentage of usable marijuana a producer must test for pesticides.  Last week, the OLCC issued its first order.  The order states that each producer must submit 33% of its harvest lot batches to pesticide testing.  The entire text of the order can be found here.

The OLCC will most likely issue future orders which increase the percentage of pesticide testing required. We will post future blog entries as each order is published.

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October 1: Temporary Emergency Rulemaking

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The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) has announced that it will engage in temporary emergency rulemaking this week to address two key issues which may affect current medical marijuana businesses preparing for October 1, 2016.

1. Pending OHA Processor Registrations

The OHA has confirmed that it intends to adopt a temporary emergency rule that would allow applicants who have applied for a medical marijuana processor registration to continue operating without interruption under a pending registration status.  The expectation is that OHA dispensaries will be able to accept products from processors that are included on the list of Pending Processor Applications.  Under current rules, processors are required to complete their registration on or before October 1, which involves an OHA readiness inspection.  However, with less than a month until October 1, no processors have yet completed a full registration.

In order to get on the list of Pending Processor Applications, a processor must submit a “complete” application to the OHA.  If the OHA has deemed a processor application “complete,” it will place the applicant on the list. Beginning October 1, OHA dispensaries must only accept edibles, concentrates, and extracts from processors on the list.

In a previous blog post we summarized the processor registration requirements.  The OHA reviews applications for completeness once per week, in the order they are received. To avoid any business interruption, processors should still submit their applications as soon as possible.

2. Extended Deadline for Dispensary ODA Certification

OHA also announced that it intends to push back the date by which registered dispensaries must have a food establishment license from the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA), from October 1, 2016 to January 1, 2017.  Stay tuned for an upcoming blog post on working with ODA.  Also, in case you missed it, we posted our Top 5 tips for Oregon dispensaries gearing up for October 1.

We will also continue to publish blog posts to update you on key issues and changes affecting Oregon’s marijuana industry.

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October 1: Five Tips for Oregon Dispensaries

There are significant changes to the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program that will take effect on October 1, 2016.  In recent blogs we have covered:  (1) labeling; (2) packaging; and (3) processor registration. What do these changes mean for Oregon dispensaries?  Below are a few tips for dispensaries preparing for the upcoming rule changes.

1. Identify your top-selling products.                      

If you own or run a dispensary, evaluate your sales history and identify your top-selling products. By focusing on your main sources of revenue, you can hopefully prevent significant disruption to your inventory supply and cash flow.

2. Evaluate whether your top-selling products currently comply with October 1 labeling and packaging requirements.

Once you identify your top-selling products, evaluate whether those products meet the new packaging and labeling requirements. The sale of marijuana flowers and other items in exit packaging may not be affected.  However, the sale of concentrates, extracts, edibles, and other infused products that are generally delivered to dispensaries pre-packaged and labeled will most likely be impacted.

Current Inventory

On and after October 1, if a dispensary has a product in inventory that does not meet the new labeling  requirements, under OAR 333-007-0010(5) the dispensary will be required to:

  • transfer/return the non-compliant item; or
  • if the item cannot be returned – for example, if the vendor cannot be located – dispose of the item in a manner specified by the OHA.

Future Inventory

On and after October 1, a dispensary may not accept any products that do not meet the new labeling and packaging requirements. Ask your vendors that supply pre-packaged and labeled products whether their products comply with the new labeling and packaging requirements. The OLCC has told us that relatively few labels have been submitted for pre-approval. With only one exception (which is explained below), all labels must be pre-approved by the OLCC. If you anticipate a potential disruption in inventory supply, try locating vendors who will likely be compliant by October 1.

Generic Labels

A label that provides only the necessary information required by the rules – and no graphics, photographs, or logos – is considered a “generic” label and requires no pre-approval by the OLCC. You are not required to provide notice to OLCC that you will use a generic label. Consider whether use of generic labels could be a temporary solution.

3. Talk to your extract, concentrate, and edible suppliers about the status of their OHA registration.

On and after October 1, a registered dispensary may accept only a transfer of edibles, concentrates, or extracts from an OHA-registered medical marijuana processing site. Ask your processor vendors about the status of their OHA registration. You can also continue to check the OHA Pending Processor list.

The rules do not prohibit sales of edibles and concentrates that were taken into inventory from a non-registered processor prior to October 1, or extracts that were taken into inventory from a non-registered processor prior to March 1, 2016. Dispensaries may consider purchasing edibles and concentrates from non-registered processors prior to October 1. In contrast, at this time all extracts must come from processors on the OHA Pending Processor list. Regardless of how this rule affects you, if a product in your inventory does not meet the new labeling and packaging requirements, you may not sell it to a consumer (see above).

4. Testing

Beginning October 1, a dispensary may not accept or sell a marijuana product that has not been tested by a laboratory accredited by ORELAP and licensed by OLCC (with one exception explained below). A list of accredited and licensed laboratories will be made available on the OMMP laboratories web page. Currently, no such labs are listed but the OLCC announced today that the first two labs have been certified and licensed.

With respect to inventory accepted by a dispensary prior to October 1, a dispensary may transfer such marijuana items to a patient or caregiver until January 1, 2017 if the item is labeled with the words “DOES NOT MEET NEW TESTING REQUIREMENTS.” These words must be bold, in all capital letters, and at least 12 point font, and the label must be easily seen by the patient or caregiver. We also read this mean that recreational customers may only be sold items tested under the new rules, but we to confirm this with OHA.

Given the current number of accredited and licensed labs, dispensaries should plan their inventory purchases accordingly.  In addition, we recommend affixing the necessary disclaimer labels well before October 1.

5. Do You Need an ODA License?

On and after October 1, a dispensary that sells or handles edibles must be licensed by the Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA). Check our blog later this week for more information on the ODA’s licensing process.

If you have any questions or concerns about what to do with marijuana items that do not comply with packaging or labeling requirements or about our tips, please do not hesitate to contact a compliance attorney. We are here to help.

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October 1: How will Oregon medical marijuana processors be affected?

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On and after October 1, 2016, ALL medical marijuana processors must be registered with the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) in order to sell processed marijuana items to a dispensary. This includes processors making concentrates, extracts, and edibles and other infused products. Many extractors have already initiated the registration process and are on the pending processors list. However, according to OHA rules, even these applicants must complete their registration – which includes an OHA readiness inspection – to continue selling their products on and after October 1, 2016.

Technically a processor on the pending processors list holds a provisional OHA license.  The hope is that OHA will continue the provisional license approach with respect to the October 1 deadline.  However, the OHA has not confirmed that it will in fact do so. Stay tuned to our blog for updates. If you are such a processor and have not begun the registration process, it would be prudent to do so as soon as possible.

In the meantime, processors and dispensaries should make plans regarding inventory. We have also summarized the application process below:

1. Create an account.
– Use https://ommpsystem.oregon.gov/ to create an account and submit an application.
– When you complete the online application, you will receive your MMPS number. Write this number on all forms and documentation that you send to the OHA.

2. Pay the registration fee.
– Use https://ommpsystem.oregon.gov/ to pay your registration fee.
– The full $4,000 registration fee is due at the time you file your application.
– If your application is denied, or returned as incomplete, you will be refunded the full amount minus a $500 application fee.

You then have 30 days from the date that OHA acknowledges receipt of your application to upload, or mail in, the following supporting documentation.

3. Upload your supporting documentation.
– Use https://ommpsystem.oregon.gov/ to upload all supporting documentation.
– You must submit the following:

  • Proof that the business applicant is registered with Oregon’s Secretary of State, as well as registration for any assumed business name that will be used
  • A site plan to scale
  • A floor plan to scale
  • Proof of lawful possession of the property to be licensed
  • A description of the products to be processed, with a request for endorsements, on the OHA processor endorsement form
  • An Individual History Form for each owner and Person Responsible (PRP)
  • A copy of government-issued photo identification for each owner and PRP
  • Extract processors must submit written proof from their local government that the proposed location is not located in a residential zone

4. Submit your background check documents.
– For each person listed on the application, complete and obtain the following:

Mail both items to the following address:
PO Box 14870
Salem, OR 97309-5066
DHS/OHA Background Check Unit.

– Submit payment for your background check(s).  Issue a $35 check or money order, payable to the “Oregon Health Authority,” for each individual listed on the application.

Mail each check or money order to the following address:
PO Box 14116
Portland, OR 97293-0116
OMMP Dispensary and Processor Unit

The OHA reviews applications for completeness once per week, in the order they are received. Once your application is deemed “complete,” the OHA will list your processing site on the Pending Processor Applications page. Once the OHA determines that you meet the initial application criteria, it will require you to submit a Notification of Processing Site Readiness form within 60 days. Finally, OHA staff will perform an inspection of your premises, and if the results are satisfactory, it will issue you a processing site registration certificate.

Please contact one of our compliance attorneys if you would like assistance with this process.

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Oregon’s Special Packaging and Labeling Rules for Small Containers

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Many people have been asking about what to do if their container is too small to fit all of the required label information. Think tinctures, single-serving shots, or small edibles. Fortunately, the OLCC and OHA heard these concerns and created special rules for small containers. If your container is too small to include all required label information, you may now use additional packaging for display purposes to include this required information.

Minimum Information on Small Container

The container actually holding the marijuana item must contain:

  • Information in a minimum 8-point font, Arial, Helvetica, or Times New Roman;
  • A principal display panel containing required information (product identity, universal symbol, net weight) if required for the type of marijuana item;
  • Business or trade name and licensee or registrant number;
  • For OLCC licensees, package unique identification number;
  • For OHA registrants, batch or process lot number;
  • Concentration of THC and CBD; and
  • Required warnings.

Additional Information

All other required information must be included on:

  • a leaflet or hangtag that will accompany the marijuana item; or
  • an outer package.

If an outer package is used, all required information must be listed on the outer packaging, even if some of it has been included on the inner container.  In other words, outer packaging must have a full label.

Check back next week for more updates, including details on the registration procedure for OHA processors, what to do with unsold dispensary inventory on October 1st, and more!

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Oregon’s Marijuana Packaging Rules

If you are an Oregon marijuana business owner, you will need to ensure compliance with not only new labeling rules, but also new packaging rules. The general rule to remember is that all marijuana items must comply with these packaging rules at retail sale to the end consumer. This rule applies to OLCC licensees immediately, and OHA registrants on and after October 1, 2016.

OLCC retailers and OHA-registered dispensaries will want to pay particular attention to the new packaging rules as they are ultimately responsible for ensuring that marijuana items leaving their businesses are properly packaged. With that said, any marijuana business that wants its product to be sold to consumers in their own packaging – without first being placed in “exit packaging” (which is explained below) – will also need to ensure that their products are properly packaged.

Pre-Approval

All packaging must be “pre-approved” by the OLCC. Both OLCC licensees and OHA registrants can pursue packaging pre-approval through the OLCC’s licensing portal (this is the same method used to obtain labeling pre-approval).

The OLCC will publish a list of pre-approved packaging. Any OLCC licensee or OHA registrant may use pre-approved packaging without first seeking permission from the OLCC. If you plan to use a pre-approved package from this list, be aware that:

  • the OLCC has not yet published the list;
  • once the OLCC does publish the list, there is no guarantee that the packaging you plan to use will be on the list; and
  • if you plan to use pre-approved packaging, but of a different size or color than is specified on the list, you may not use that packaging without first obtaining pre-approval from the OLCC.

General Requirements for Packaging

The general rule is that packaging used in retail sales to end consumers must:

  • protect marijuana items from contamination or exposure to toxic and harmful substances;
  • not be attractive to minors; and
  • be child-resistant.

There are three types of child-resistant packaging:

      1. Single Use. This packaging loses its child-resistance once opened; it may be used for usable marijuana (dried flower), single-serving edibles, single-serving topicals, single-serving concentrates, and single-serving extracts. singleusepackage
      2. Continual Use. This packaging maintains its child-resistance throughout the life of the marijuana item within; it may be used for usable marijuana, edibles, topicals, concentrates and extracts. continualusepackage
      3. Exit Packaging. This packaging can be used at the point of sale to enclose non-child resistant packaging. Use of exit packaging ensures that the sale to the end consumer complies with the new packaging rules. exitpackaging

For a complete list of packaging requirements and restrictions, see Oregon Administrative Rules 845-025-7000 to 845-025-7060.

Exception to the Child-Resistance Rule

Packaging does not need to be child-resistant if the product being sold is a marijuana seed or immature marijuana plant. Regardless of this exception, all packaging – including non-child resistant packaging and exit packaging – must be pre-approved by the OLCC.

Transportation Packaging

An additional rule applies to all transfers of marijuana items among OLCC licensees. In short, these transfers must use shipping containers and must be labeled with a UID tag prior to transport. For a complete list of requirements and restrictions applicable to these transfers, see Oregon Administrative Rule 845-025-7700.

For more information, please visit the OLCC’s page for packaging and labeling pre-approval. There you will find links to guides, workshop presentations, and frequently asked questions. If you have further questions, please contact one of our compliance attorneys and we will be happy to assist you with your packaging or other needs.

Tune in tomorrow for information on how small packages (e.g., 5ml plastic screw top containers) can comply with the new packaging and labeling rules.

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Oregon’s Marijuana Labeling Rules

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Whether you are involved in the medical or recreational side of the Oregon cannabis industry, you will likely be required to comply with new labeling regulations on and after October 1, 2016. These regulations, contained in Oregon Administrative Rule 333-007-0010 to 333-007-0100, apply to all recreational licensees at all times during licensure, and most medical registrants. These labeling requirements do not apply to you if you are:

  • A grower providing usable marijuana or an immature plant to a patient who designated you as their grower or to the caregiver of a patient who designated you as their grower; or
  • A designated caregiver who is transferring a marijuana item to the patient who designated you as their caregiver

Generic Labels

A label that provides only the necessary information required by the rules, and no graphics, photographs, or logos, is considered a “generic” label and requires no pre-approval. You are not required to provide notice to OLCC that you will be using a generic label.

Pre-Approved Labels

All other labels require pre-approval from OLCC before they may be placed on a marijuana item. OLCC licensees and OHA registrants may submit labels for pre-approval through the OLCC’s licensing portal. Although not ideal, if you are unable to obtain pre-approval prior to October 1, 2016, you may use a generic label until you are pre-approved. Going forward, certain label information may be changed without the need for a new pre-approval. The OLCC has been working on detailing what label information this applies to (e.g. strain, net weight, test results, etc.). We will update you as we learn more.

General Requirements for Labels

A container holding a marijuana item must have a principal display panel (PDP) that provides:

  • The product’s identity;
  • The universal marijuana symbol at a minimum size of .48” x .35 inches; universalsymbol
  • If applicable, the medical grade symbol at a minimum diameter of .35 inches; and medicalsymbol
  • Net weight in US Customary and metric units.

Labels must:

Pictograms may be used in place of written label information where appropriate, such as for activation time.  activationpictogram

Specific Labeling Requirements by Product Type

Follow the links below to find administrative rules containing lists of labeling requirements for each different product type.

Prohibitions

A label may not contain any untruthful or misleading statements. These include:

  • Use of the term “organic” unless the product has been certified;
  • Claiming that the product is gluten-free, unless labeling follows FDA labeling requirements for gluten-free products; and
  • Health claims that have not been substantiated by the totality of publicly available scientific evidence, for which there is scientific agreement among experts.

A label must not be attractive to minors. This includes:

  • Brands or designs that resemble a product marketed to children;
  • Brands or designs typically marketed to children;
  • Cartoons; and
  • Images of minors.

For more information, please visit the OLCC’s page for packaging and labeling pre-approval. There you will find links to guides, workshop presentations, and frequently asked questions. If you have further questions, please contact one of our compliance attorneys and we will be happy to assist you with your labeling or other needs.

Tune in tomorrow for information on packaging requirements under the new rules.

 

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OMMP Reporting: Do your best

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As many of you know, the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program (OMMP) requires reporting to track medical marijuana transfers. All registered dispensaries and processors must submit inventory and transfer reports on a monthly basis. Dispensaries participating in early retail sales must submit quarterly reports. In addition, some growers and patients growing for themselves are required to submit similar reports. Reports are due by the 10th of each month.

We have now been through two reporting periods. The feedback has been that grower reporting has been very cumbersome. This is partly because of the following:

  1. A separate user account must be created for each grower.
  2. A different e-mail address is required for each account.
  3. A grow site may have numerous patients designated as their own grower.
  4. A patient does not appear on the online system because renewals have not been fully processed.
  5. Some users have experienced technical difficulties with the website.

In response to points 1-3 above, the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is in the process of creating a new user status called a “Grow Site Administrator.” Delegating reporting duties to a Grow Site Administrator requires a signature from the patient. In addition, it is unpredictable how long it will take the paperwork to be processed by the OHA once it is submitted. The idea is a good one for growers staying in the OMMP, but this may be too late for grow sites transitioning into recreational production facilities relatively soon.

If you experience points 4 or 5, we have been told that you can submit your monthly report by e-mail to MMG.Online@state.or.us.

In the meantime, all we can say is do your best. For those worried about penalties, Emerge received the below automatic response from the OHA last week:

Thank you for contacting the program. If you have emailed us, we know you are doing your due diligence and trying to comply to the reporting requirements. You will not receive any civil penalties if your reporting is late. We continue to experience high volume and your email will be addressed as quickly as possible.  Please allow 7 – 10 business days for us to reply back to your request.

Thank you,

 The Oregon Medical Marijuana Program

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Oregon DOJ Clarifies Medical and Homegrow Plants Allowed

ORDOJ

We get this question a lot.  Can I have six mature medical plants and four home grow plants?  The answer is YES, (assuming you are over 21 and a patient growing at home).

The Oregon Department of Justice has published an opinion regarding the intersection of the laws that govern Oregon’s medical and recreational marijuana programs.

In summary, an OMMP grow site located at a patient’s residence may have:

  • 6 mature medical marijuana plants (a per-patient limit), and
  • 4 recreational marijuana plants (a per-household limit).

In addition, a patient may possess up to:

  • 24 ounces of usable medical marijuana (a per-patient limit), and
  • 8 ounces of usable recreational marijuana (a per-household limit).

There are different usable marijuana possession limits for growers, depending on whether the grower is producing marijuana at a patient’s residence.

Members of the public may possess only:

  • 4 recreational marijuana plants at his or her household (a per-household limit),
  • 8 ounces of usable recreational marijuana (a per-household limit), and
  • 1 ounce of usable marijuana in a public place.

The opinion also concludes that the limits in the Oregon Controlled Substances Act apply to possession of marijuana concentrates and extracts. Both patients and members of the public must abide by the following possession limits:

  • 16 solid ounces of marijuana products or concentrates,
  • 72 liquid ounces of marijuana products, and
  • 1 ounce of marijuana extract purchased from a licensed retailer or dispensary.

While members of the public may make their own marijuana concentrates, edibles, or other cannabinoid products for personal consumption, it is still illegal to process marijuana extract without a license issued by the Oregon Liquor Control Commission or Oregon Health Authority. The entire opinion is available here: https://www.doj.state.or.us/agoffice/agopinions/op2016-2.pdf.

The information in this blog post is a summary. These laws and rules are nuanced, and are applied differently based on several factors, such as location of possession. Contact a member of our compliance team with any questions.

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FRANCHISE LAW

Franchisors

Franchise law is a heavily regulated area of law.  We help clients expand their businesses through franchising and other distribution methods. We have experience in many industries including, restaurants, health, and beauty, alcohol, and cannabis among others. Our representative services include the following:

Franchisees

We also help potential franchisees interested in buying a franchise. We are able to assist with evaluation of franchise opportunities with respect to:

Alternative Structures

However, not all businesses are suited to franchise. We are also experienced with helping clients structure alternative distribution methods to prevent classification as a franchise.

MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS

Our M&A attorneys are highly experienced in counseling clients who are considering acquisitions or exit strategies.  We have many years of experience handling deals of various types and sizes, ranging from sales of small closely-held business, private companies, and publicly-traded corporations.  We have represented business owners, private equity firms and investment banks in a wide range of industries. 

We have a deep business bench, and Emerge attorneys have handled transactions of all shapes and sizes.  Whether your deal is valued at $100,000 or $100,000,000, our experienced attorneys will guide you through the deal process.

We understand the intensity, technical skill and judgment needed to get deals done, and we provide our clients with timely, practical and cost-effective legal advice.  We are highly capable in all aspects of M&A, including the following:

CANNABIS INDUSTRY

Emerge Law Group is highly experienced in the cannabis industry.  We have helped many clients obtain state licenses and local permits to operate cannabis businesses throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.

Emerge attorneys were instrumental in the drafting and passage of Oregon Measure 91, legalizing marijuana in the State of Oregon, and have represented cannabis businesses well before many law firms were willing to enter the cannabis industry. As a firm that has provided legal services in the cannabis space for many years, we are familiar with the unique and complex issues businesses and individuals face in an emerging and highly regulated industry.

We regularly help clients with:

Cannabis laws and rules are also regularly changing.  Members of our team are dedicated to attending legislative hearings, state agency and local city and county meetings to stay up-to-date on any new changes and how to adjust to any new changes.

See our Cannabis Industry page for more information.

PSYCHEDELICS

There is tremendous excitement about the potential for psychedelic drugs to benefit a wide variety of populations, including terminally ill patients suffering with anxiety and depression. Until recently, psychedelic substances have been accessible only in the illicit market and are illegal under federal and state to manufacture, distribute, or possess. These substances have, since 1970, been treated as having no legitimate medical use, and no commercial application. As such, no one invested in this area or required legal services, outside of the criminal context.

Today, researchers in a multitude of clinical studies are proving the medical safety and efficacy of these medicines, with the objective of changing the treatment of these substances under the Controlled Substances Act. Companies are now actively raising money to develop intellectual property and seize market opportunities associated with psychedelic drugs.

In addition, advocates at the state and local levels are not waiting for the rescheduling of these substances and are active in undertaking efforts to decriminalize these substances and/or make them affirmatively legal under state and/or municipal law. Decriminalization already has occurred in cities including Denver, Oakland, Santa Cruz, and Ann Arbor. Oregon is poised to be the first state to make psilocybin therapy affirmatively legal. Emerge Law Group is working with a wide array of clients pushing forward in this emerging area.

See our Psychedelics Practice Group page for more information.

TAXATION

CORPORATE AND PARTNERSHIP TAX

Businesses of all kinds benefit from a customized but systematic approach to structuring legal relationships. Emerge Law Group helps businesses and business owners with a variety of tax planning matters.

Representative client services include:

ESTATE PLANNING

Estate planning encompasses everything from a will and power of attorney to combined estate and business succession planning. In almost all cases, the purpose of the plan is to help the client protect those they care about most in the event they can no longer be there for them.

Emerge Law Group has experience with a wide range of tools used in estate planning, including wills, trusts, and family business entity planning.

TAX CONTROVERSIES

Emerge Law Group can assist with the resolution of difficult tax controversies. Our areas of emphasis and experience include:

REAL ESTATE TRANSACTIONS

Emerge Law Group assists clients with a wide range of real estate transactional matters.  We regularly help clients with:

LAND USE

Emerge Law Group also assists clients with all aspects of local government land use and development processes, ranging from preliminary property analyses and building permit issues to complex land use reviews and hearings. Our attorneys are experienced in obtaining land use entitlements and development permits for a wide range of uses.

We regularly help clients with:

Above all, we understand the value of working with cities and counties to enhance communities while developing the land to its potential. We strive to create solutions to land use issues that serve to better our clients and the communities in which they live and work.

LITIGATION AND ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION

The attorneys in Emerge Law Group’s Litigation and Alternative Dispute Resolution practice group litigate commercial, intellectual property, and public interest matters in state and federal courts, as well as private mediation and arbitration proceedings.  Our lawyers have represented national and regional financial institutions, major media, entertainment and technology companies, and other Fortune 500 companies in a broad array of high-stakes disputes.  Our team of litigators has handled leading cases that have shaped the law in cutting-edge business, technology, free speech, and public interest impact lawsuits in trial and the courts of appeal.

We have particular expertise in handling civil litigation and regulatory enforcement matters in the cannabis and psychedelic industries.  While many firms claim expertise in the these industries, few have our depth of experience successfully litigating contract, trademark, partnership, shareholder, land use, and real estate disputes in court and arbitration.  Even fewer firms have our level of experience handling writ of mandate proceedings against the government regulators.

Our litigators practice in California, Oregon, and Washington, but have appeared in state and federal courts nationwide.  Our knowledge of our clients’ businesses, goals and concerns, and our experience litigating at the highest levels, give us unique insight into possible outcomes and pitfalls as we continuously confront issues of new impression.

No matter what the industry, we pride ourselves in achieving our clients’ objectives through efficient and creative solutions primarily designed to avoid disputes in the first place—which is always the best litigation strategy.  Many times, our clients obtain excellent outcomes before or at the earliest stages of litigation because our adversaries quickly recognize the challenges they will face in litigating against us.  When litigation is unavoidable, however, we work hard to provide our clients with both cost-efficient and “big firm” quality representation.

 

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY

Your intellectual property (or “IP”) strategy can harness your most valuable information and intangible assets including your name, your brand, your designs, your content, your services, and your products — what makes your business stand apart in a competitive world.  We can help you evaluate and build your IP portfolio, then secure it, monetize it, and protect it.

IP encompasses multiple areas of law and different types of information or material.

Our Intellectual Property practice focuses on:

TRADEMARK

Trademarks include names, signs, logos, designs, phrases, slogans, expressions, and sometimes even colors, sounds, or smells that identify or distinguish one business compared to others.  Trademark protection is fundamental in securing your “brand.”

COPYRIGHT

Copyright covers original works of creative authorship fixed in a tangible medium of expression.  This includes literary, dramatic, musical, and artistic works, such as poetry, novels, designs, movies, songs, computer software, and architecture. Copyright does not protect facts, ideas, systems, or methods of operation, although it may protect the way these things are expressed.  Depending upon the type of work, “moral rights” (such as the right of attribution) may be implicated as well.

TRADE SECRET

Trade secret laws can vary somewhat between states, but generally trade secrets cover information, including drawings, cost data, customer lists, formulas, recipes, patterns, compilations, programs, devices, methods, techniques or processes that derive economic value from not being generally known and are the subject of efforts that are “reasonable under the circumstances” to maintain secrecy.

PRIVACY

Depending upon where you live or operate, there is a special patchwork of laws and regulations that protect and regulate personal information.  If you are handling or giving out personal or potentially sensitive information, you may be implicating privacy laws.

PUBLICITY

Publicity rights address the commercial use of an individual’s face, name, image, or likeness.  These rights vary state-to-state.  Marilyn Monroe, for example, lived in multiple states which created complex questions about her publicity rights.

Our Intellectual Property services include:

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

In states where new cannabis banking opportunities exist, Emerge Law Group has the proven expertise in creating canna-banking programs to efficiently capitalize on those opportunities. Our Banking Practice Group specializes in working with banks and credit unions to develop regulatory compliant programs and operational best practices. We also train banking staff to become experts in canna-banking so they can effective understand and manage the risk affiliated with canna-banking.

We regularly help clients with:

EMPLOYMENT LAW

At Emerge Law Group, we recognize that employees are the heart and soul of any successful business.  Our Employment Law Practice Group works with employers to help them effectively manage their workforce, navigate the complex web of federal, state and local employment laws and, if necessary, defend against claims before administrative agencies and in court.

We regularly help clients with:

CORPORATE FINANCE AND SECURITIES

Our corporate finance and securities lawyers are experienced attorneys who have practiced at large law firms, worked as in-house counsel for public companies and investment banks, and owned and operated start-up companies. We work with clients to help achieve their financing goals while safely navigating the highly technical securities law landscape. 

In addition to representing issuers, we also routinely represent institutional and individual investors, including in connection with fund formation and investments.

Our expertise includes:

We have a deep understanding of the financing options available to businesses, including simple unsecured loans, asset-backed financing, convertible debt, common and preferred equity, crowdfunding and various other structures.  We work closely with our clients to understand their business and financing needs, ensure they are prepared to approach investors and choose the right partners, structure and negotiate terms, navigate the due diligence process and successfully close the deal.

COMPLIANCE AND LICENSING

ALCOHOL AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY

Emerge attorneys have represented businesses in the alcohol and beverage industry, including wineries, breweries, distilleries, restaurants, bars, movie theaters, golf courses, and gas stations.  We can help you vet new locations, acquire existing locations, and apply for the appropriate liquor license.  We also provide training to comply with applicable rules and regulations, prepare operating procedures, submit renewals, and keep clients protected in the event of any potential violations or administrative hearings.

CANNABIS INDUSTRY

Emerge Law Group is highly experienced in the cannabis industry.  We have helped many clients obtain state licenses and local permits to operate cannabis businesses throughout California, Oregon, and Washington.  We regularly help clients with:

Cannabis laws and rules are also regularly changing.  Members of our team are dedicated to attending legislative hearings, state agency and local city and county meetings to stay up-to-date on any new changes and how to adjust to any new changes.

See our Cannabis Industry page for more information.

PSYCHEDELICS INDUSTRY

Emerge Law Group is a leader in the psychedelics industry.  There is tremendous excitement about the potential for psychedelic drugs to benefit a wide variety of populations, including veterans struggling with PTSD and terminally ill patients suffering with anxiety and depression.  Until recently, psychedelic substances have been accessible only in the underground; they are illegal under state and federal law to manufacture, distribute, or possess.  These substances have, since 1970, been treated as having no legitimate medical use, and no commercial application.  As such, businesses have not invested in this area or required legal services, outside of the criminal context.

Today, psychedelics are proceeding toward legalization on multiple paths.  Researchers in a multitude of clinical studies are proving the medical safety and efficacy of these medicines, with the objective of changing the treatment of these substances under the federal Controlled Substances Act, opening legal access to them.  Private and public companies are now actively raising money to develop intellectual property and capitalize on the market opportunities associated with psychedelic drugs.  Opportunities to be early actors in this new arena are tremendous.

See our Psychedelics Practice Group page for more information.

BUSINESS AND CORPORATE

Our business transactions team is made up of highly experienced transactional attorneys who have practiced at large law and accounting firms, worked as in-house counsel for public companies and investment banks, and owned and operated start-up companies. We understand complex legal matters and provide high quality legal services in a cost-effective manner.  Our clients value our experience, knowledge and judgment.

ENTITY FORMATION

Our team routinely advises clients regarding:

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

Emerge attorneys also advise on-going concerns with: