California Cannabis: Hilary Bricken to Present at Wine and Weed Symposium Tomorrow

Our own Hilary Bricken will have the great pleasure of speaking at the Central Coast Wine and Weed Symposium (presented by the Wine Industry Network) tomorrow, May 10, in San Louis Obispo. While the Symposium will focus on a variety of topics covering the cross section of the wine and cannabis industries, Hilary’s panel will specifically cover “Wineries & Cannabis: What You Can & Can’t Do” in regards to the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act (“MAUCRSA”) and its corresponding emergency rules.

The breakdown of Hilary’s panel is as follows:

On January 1st, California finally kicked it off its newly regulated adult use and medical cannabis markets, creating a plethora of business opportunities, some of which will undoubtedly impact the wine industry, both positively and negatively. However, acquiring state licenses and local approval to operate within the confines of the law can be challenging, costly and confusing, as state regulations and tax policies remain a work in progress and local commercial cannabis ordinances are different from one county and city to the next. In addition, with three separate state agencies taking on the comprehensive regulation of all kinds of cannabis businesses, understanding regulations across agencies is of the utmost importance to would-be cannabis entrepreneurs.

This interactive session, featuring leading cannabis legal experts, will address questions regarding what’s permitted and what’s not including but not limited to analyzing distribution restrictions, prohibited products, packaging and labeling, quality assurance standards, consumer protections, brand and advertising restrictions, as well as the overall temporary and annual state licensing, taxation, operational and reporting requirements, and the expected costs of and barriers to entry.

Hilary’s fellow panelists are heavy hitters in their own regard–Amanda Ostrowitz, an attorney, as well as founder and CEO of the very popular CannaRegs, and Rebecca Stamey-White, a partner at Hinman & Carmichael, LLP and a very well known and highly respected alcohol and cannabis regulatory attorney. We expect a lively and interesting discussion: Although the wine and cannabis industries don’t always get along, these two industries have a lot more in common than you might think.

For all your questions about wine and cannabis, as well as specifics regarding the regulatory challenges under MAUCRSA, we sincerely hope you can make it to the Wine & Weed Symposium!

source https://www.cannalawblog.com/california-cannabis-hilary-bricken-to-present-at-tomorrows-central-coast-wine-and-weed-symposium/

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International Cannabis Spotlight: The Netherlands

Everyone knows the Netherlands (especially the City of Amsterdam) as a pot capital of the world. Ironically, cannabis sales in the Netherlands are illegal. The country has decriminalized its use and possession to a certain extent, but law enforcement may impose a fine or misdemeanor upon a person in possession of marijuana-based drugs. However, the government has made it clear that prosecution of cannabis possession, in particular, is the lowest enforcement priority and there will likely never be a criminal investigation over cannabis prosecution.

Because of this, cannabis coffee-shops (i.e., retailers) have proliferated in the Netherlands. The government allows cannabis coffee-shops to sell cannabis to anyone as long as they follow certain regulations. Specifically, coffee-shops are not allowed to: (1) advertise, (2) trade in hard drugs, (3) sell drugs to minors, or (4) sell drugs in quantities of more than 30 grams. They are also responsible for preventing any public disturbance or nuisance.

Although there is a system in place for selling cannabis in the Netherlands, the cultivation and producing of cannabis is illegal. Retailers must rely on the black market to supply their stores. In order to combat the growth of the illegal market, the Netherlands’ government introduced a proposal that would allow certain Dutch states to legally produce and sell cannabis for a four-year trial period. This regulated supply chain for cannabis would allow certain suppliers to cultivate cannabis without facing arrest. This program will also implement government oversight into the cannabis market, requiring product testing and proper packaging. European governments are hoping this program can give lawmakers a clear understanding of what a legal cannabis market might look like in their nations. The bill is scheduled for a vote of Parliament this summer.

Additionally, the Netherlands has moved towards providing medical cannabis for patients. Under the proposed legislation, patients will be able to go to a designated pharmacy with their prescription and obtain cannabis. The government is also planning on working with designated cultivators to grow “pharmaceutical-grade cannabis” for qualifying patients.

All in all, things are moving forward on legalization. On the other hand, public cannabis consumption recently has seen its first restriction in The Netherlands. The Hague has become the first Dutch city to ban cannabis consumption in public. This ban has come as a response to the numerous complaints of residents and visitors of unwanted cannabis smoke. Coffee shops will have to monitor their odors to ensure that on-site consumption is not causing an unwanted nuisance. Certain legislators have also pushed for initiatives that would only allow for Dutch residents to purchase cannabis and cannabis products. However, those have mostly been abandoned.

The Netherlands’ cannabis policy is in flux due to the semi-legal market. If the pilot program succeeds and the Netherlands moves towards legalization, the Country could become one of the first legal cannabis countries. As an international law firm with offices in nearby Spain, we are always keeping tabs on new cannabis markets that arise in around the world. Although the Netherlands seems to be a “pot haven,” many changes still need to be made to have a completely legalized system.

source https://www.cannalawblog.com/international-cannabis-spotlight-the-netherlands/

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