On January 1, 2020, the recreational use of marijuana will be legal under Illinois law. With the formal enactment of the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act, it is expected that numerous new companies will be gearing up to enter the Prairie State’s burgeoning cannabis market. As with any new business, one of the first things for owners to consider is the company’s brand, what it will be called and how best to protect it from would-be infringers.
Continue Reading Brand Protection for Illinois’ Budding Cannabis Industry
The Week in Weed: December 6, 2019
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. There’s lots of news to cover this week, so let’s jump right in.
New Jersey is talking about decriminalizing marijuana. Regular readers will doubtless recall that legalization failed earlier this year and that lawmakers are considering
Illinois General Assembly Passes Amendments to Recreational Cannabis Law That Help Reduce Employer Liability
The Illinois General Assembly passed SB 1557, revising the language of the Recreational Cannabis Law to reduce but not completely eliminate employer liabilities.
As we previously blogged, the Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (410 ILCS 705) (the “Legalization Act”) will legalize recreational cannabis for Illinois adults starting January 1, 2020. The Legalization Act
The Week in Weed: October 4, 2019
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
We start off today with Pennsylvania. Could it be the next state to legalize? First, the state’s attorney general announced that he is in favor. Meanwhile, the governor asked the Pardons Board to speed up applications
Unions Are Going Green: What Cannabis Companies Need To Know About Peace Agreements
If you are a cannabis business trying to operate in California (and now possibly Illinois too), you’ve probably heard that you need to enter into a peace agreement (also known as an LPA). But what is that?
Continue Reading Unions Are Going Green: What Cannabis Companies Need To Know About Peace Agreements
The Week in Weed: June 28, 2019
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Our first big story is legalization in Illinois. The law takes effect on January 1, 2020. That makes 11 states and the District of Columbia that have legalized recreational cannabis.
If you’re wondering why Illinois
Half Baked: Illinois Legislature Includes Some Employer Protections in New Recreational Cannabis Law – But Beware the Traps
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker is expected to sign a comprehensive recreational cannabis bill. While the “Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act” contains extensive provisions preserving an employer’s right to ban cannabis and otherwise have a “zero tolerance” substance abuse policy, there are potential traps for the unwary and, thus, employers should carefully consider how the new law will impact their existing substance abuse and drug testing policies and procedures.
Continue Reading Half Baked: Illinois Legislature Includes Some Employer Protections in New Recreational Cannabis Law – But Beware the Traps
The Week in Weed: June 7, 2019
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
First, a point of personal pride. The Blunt Truth started in February 2016, with the slightly crazy idea that a BigLaw firm could talk about marijuana on a regular basis. As of this week, we’ve
Illinois Marijuana Legislation Update: Senate Bill Would Protect Employers’ Rights
The Illinois General Assembly has been working on a marijuana legalization bill this session. The Senate Bill would protect employer rights to ban marijuana and discipline employees for use.
Across the country, states are moving to legalize medical and recreational marijuana. In states that legalize recreational marijuana, employers and drug testing services have seen significant increases in positivity rates for marijuana metabolites. Wider marijuana use will require employers to take action to ensure safe work environments for their employees, especially in safety sensitive settings. Drug policies must be updated and must address discrimination concerns. To that end, we are closely monitoring new forms of discrimination claims from medical marijuana users and regarded-as disabled employees. See our recent blog concerning a related Arizona court decision.
Continue Reading Illinois Marijuana Legislation Update: Senate Bill Would Protect Employers’ Rights
The Week in Weed: May 10, 2019
Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
Starting our coverage on the federal level, the Department of Veterans Affairs is opposing three bills that would facilitate veteran access to medical marijuana in states where it is legal. We last wrote about the “Veterans