Cannabis Regulation in a Post-Cole Memo World: Expecting the Unexpected

This program will provide an overview of federal regulation of the cannabis industry, in light of the Department of Justice’s recent rescission of the Cole Memorandum, a 2013 memo that symbolized a major shift in drug enforcement.

Presented by Jonathan Havens, Co-Chair of Saul Ewing Arnstein & Lehr’s Cannabis Law Practice, the program will also briefly explore the role of the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in cannabis regulation, and finally, will conclude with insights as to what’s in the store for the future of the cannabis industry.

Learning Objectives:

1. Discern the Trump Administration’s position on marijuana regulation
2. Evaluate the Department of Justice's role in enforcing federal drug laws, particularly in the wake of its rescission of the Cole Memorandum
3. Consider how the FDA’s approval of cannabis products could steer the scheduling debate
4. Discuss current federal legislative efforts and proposals, and which, if any, could succeed
5. Comprehend the scope of the current state regulatory regimes and what is on the horizon
6. Navigate the legal challenges that local marijuana businesses face in light of the federally illegal status of the product (e.g., tax, IP, real estate, banking, etc.)