Variscite Changed New York Cannabis Licensing: What Applicants Should Do Now

Illustration of scales, law book and cannabis leaves representing Variscite New York cannabis ruling

Variscite New York cannabis is the focus of a pivotal appellate ruling that upended the state’s licensing regime. The landscape of New York cannabis licensing was turned upside down when the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit decided Variscite NY Four, LLC v. New York. The panel ruled that the state’s extra-priority rules—designed […]

New York Dispensary Siting (2025–2026): LOCAL Map, Proximity Rules & Municipal Notice

Abstract cannabis dispensary siting illustration with map and cannabis leaves

New York Dispensary Siting (2025–2026): LOCAL Map, Proximity Rules & Municipal Notice Before you lock in a lease, validate your New York dispensary siting decision using the state’s official tools and rules. This guide walks you through using the LOCAL map, confirms proximity buffers and explains the required municipal notice. For hands-on support or document […]

Canada’s Cannabis Laws vs. The U.S.: 7 Big Differences & What’s Next

Canada’s Cannabis Laws vs. The US

A side-by-side look at federal and local rules shaping the cannabis market in Canada and the U.S. Canada’s Cannabis Laws vs. The U.S. isn’t just a headline—it’s the core tension driving how North American cannabis is grown, packaged, advertised, and sold. In this expanded, practical guide—built from a video conversation between U.S. cannabis attorney Tom […]

Marijuana Legalization and Crime: Data-Backed Safety Gains

marijuana legalization and crime

Last updated: September 16, 2025 How Legal Cannabis Is Actually Making Our Communities Safer: A Lawyer’s Analysis Direct Answer: Decades of data show marijuana legalization and crime trends do not support a surge in violence. Legal markets free police resources for serious offenses, undercut illicit cartels, substitute some alcohol use with a less violence-linked option, […]

Illinois Cannabis Earn-Out Litigation: How to Win the Approvals, Accounting, and Control Fights

Illinois cannabis earn-out litigation

When a price functions like an earn‑out, approvals and accounting drive the outcome.Illinois cannabis earn-out litigation arises because earn-outs are supposed to bridge valuation gaps. In Illinois cannabis, they can also become the most expensive line item in litigation. Whether your deal was an equity sale, asset purchase, royalty, or management services structure, the pattern […]

Illinois LLC Books & Records Demands for Cannabis Operators

Illinois LLC Books & Records Demands

Illinois law gives cannabis LLC members (and some former members) the right to get material information about the company’s activities and financial condition, plus the records to be kept by statute. Cite 805 ILCS 180/10-15 and 805 ILCS 180/1-40. The company must respond to an Illinois LLC Books & Records Demands within 10 days by […]

Understanding French Cannabis Laws and Future Reforms

French Cannabis Laws

France has long maintained some of Europe’s most restrictive cannabis laws. Classified as a narcotic under the Public Health Code, the cultivation, sale and use of cannabis remains illegal outside limited exceptions. In recent years, however, the country has begun cautiously experimenting with medical cannabis and hemp, responding to patient demand and the growth of […]

Stop Punishing the Legal Guys: Treat All THC the Same and Let Legal Win

Treat all THC the same

Treat all THC the same. The current two-track hustle is pure hypocrisy, and it is killing the licensed industry while illicit and unregulated hemp operators rake it in. The loophole crowd pushes intoxicating “hemp” vapes and gummies online and in smoke shops with light oversight, bargain taxes, and zero real compliance, then undercuts licensed stores […]