Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana.
The big news on Capitol Hill this week was the Senate’s lack of action on the banking bill. Senator Mike Crapo (R-Idaho), the chairman of the Senate banking committee, opposes legalization and seemed disinclined to move
Earlier this month, Governor Pritzker signed into law SB 1557, revising the Recreational Cannabis Law to expand permissible marijuana testing and related adverse action.
The Original Legalization Bill As Enacted
The Illinois Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act (410 ILCS 705) (the “Legalization Act”) legalizes recreational cannabis for Illinois adults starting January 1, 2020. The Legalization Act specifically allows Illinois employers to enforce “reasonable zero tolerance or drug free workplace policies, or employment policies concerning drug testing, smoking, consumption, storage, or use of cannabis in the workplace or while on call provided that the policy is applied in a nondiscriminatory manner.” The Act also permits employers to prohibit employees from being under the influence of or using cannabis in the employer’s workplace or while on call. Further, the Act (i) allows employers to discipline or terminate an employee who violates the employer’s workplace drug policy, and (ii) specifically insulates employers from liability for disciplining or terminating employees based on the employer’s good faith belief that the employee was either impaired at work (as a result of using cannabis) or under the influence of cannabis while at work.
Continue Reading Illinois Amends Recreational Cannabis Law To Protect Drug Testing By Employers
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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