Author: Rod Kight

[ad_1] Rod Discusses Hemp, the Future of Cannabis, and International Trade with Sean Hocking on the Karma Koala PodcastI recently spoke with Sean Hocking about hemp, the future of cannabis, and international trade. Sean is the publisher of Cannabis Law Report and conducts his interviews via his Karma Koala podcast. A native of Australia, Sean keeps up with and routinely reports on international cannabis legal news. You can listen to our conversation below or directly on Spotify.January 29, 2024ATTORNEY ROD KIGHT REPRESENTS CANNABIS BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.Rod Kight is an international cannabis lawyer. He represents businesses throughout the cannabis industry. Additionally,…

[ad_1] Rod Kight and Lukas Gilkey of Hometown Hero discuss hemp and cannabis policy.I recently sat down with my friend and client Lukas Gilkey, one of the founders of Hometown Hero, to discuss hemp policy and the the future of cannabis. Hometown Hero is a leader and Lukas is highly knowledgeable. The first two segments of our talk are below. I hope you enjoy. Please feel free to contact me directly with any questions. This is part 1:This is part 2:  January 23, 2024ATTORNEY ROD KIGHT REPRESENTS CANNABIS BUSINESSES THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.Rod Kight is an international cannabis lawyer. He represents businesses throughout the…

[ad_1] Rod Kight discusses a recent DEA letter to the GA Board of Pharmacy.[Note from the editor: This is an article about the HHS’s recommendation to the DEA that marijuana be reclassified to Schedule III that I wrote for the American Journal of Endocannabinoid Medicine. It is reprinted here with permission. You can read the article in its original form by clicking here.]On November 27, 2023, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) issued a warning letter to the Georgia Board of Pharmacy (GBP) stating:“All DEA registrants, including DEA-registered pharmacies, are required to abide by all relevant federal laws and regulations. A DEA-registered pharmacy…

[ad_1] Sadly, “HEMP TODAY” MEDIA is Stuck in the Past on Cannabinoid HempEditor’s note: This article was originally published in Let’s Talk Hemp. It is reprinted here with permission. Thanks to Morris Beegle and the Let’s Talk Hemp staff.A recent spate of articles in Hemp Today, an industry media outlet focusing on fiber, grain, and other industrial uses for cannabis, decries the popularity of intoxicating cannabinoid products. While one article admits, “there’s nothing inherently wrong with delta-8 THC” when properly formulated, the author recommends that D8 and other intoxicating hemp products be taken away from the hemp industry and sold solely through federally…

[ad_1] DEA Confirms the legal status of Magic Mushroom spores.It has become a bit of a parlor game for lawyers to contact the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and request its position on the legal status of various compounds. Most recently, attorney Michael McGuire of New York Cultivation Law PLLC contacted the DEA to request the “control status” of “magic mushroom spores” under the CSA. In a response dated January 2, 2024, (full letter below), the DEA states: “If the mushroom spores (or any other material) do not contain psilocybin or psilocin (or any other controlled substance or listed chemical), the…

[ad_1] THCa hemp is currently the riskiest sector of the industry.INTRODUCTIONTHCa hemp flower is making big news and transforming the cannabis industry. In conjunction with hemp-derived beverages, THCa flower is providing broad access to, and normalization of, cannabis in ways that were unimaginable a few years ago. As I’ve discussed before, progressive cannabis reformers are shifting their advocacy and focus from “marijuana” to “hemp”, both of which are “cannabis”. THCa hemp, hemp derived beverages, and other hemp products offer an alternative pathway for consumers and businesses to access the cannabis market than the federally illegal, state-regulated marijuana track. Additionally, the…

[ad_1] Rod Kight discusses THCa legal issues with CBD OracleOccasionally, a news organization takes the time to dig into a complicated issue and write a comprehensive and informative story. Journalist Lee Johnson did just that with THCa hemp in an article he wrote for CBD Oracle this week. The article quotes me and my colleague (and friend), Neil Willner, at length. You can read the article by clicking here.Here’s an excerpt: Federal Statutes Account for THCA, But This Is Only for Pre-Harvest TestingThe most common objection to [the conclusion that THCa hemp is federally legal] is an understandable one. In the…

[ad_1] ATACH, a MARIJUANA lobbying group, maligns the hemp industry in a federal court brief.In a legal brief to the US Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit, the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH), uses “Reefer Madness” fear mongering in an attempt to overturn the hemp industry’s recent victory in Arkansas.Despite the plain language of the 2018 Farm Bill and the conclusions reached by several federal courts, including the federal District Court in the Arkansas case, ATACH disputes the fact that “Congress legalized all ‘downstream products and substances’ made from hemp… if their Delta-9 THC concentration does…

[ad_1] Rod Discusses Several Recent Cases in the Cannabis Civil War in an Article for Natural Products Insider.NOTE: I wrote this article for Natural Products Insider. This portion of the article is reprinted with permission. You can read the entire article by clicking here. -Rod KightThe past year has seen intense lobbying efforts, social media campaigns and lawsuits in what is becoming known as the “Cannabis Civil War” between the hemp and marijuana industries.At stake is control over the rapidly expanding and lucrative market in cannabinoids and cannabis products. I use the term “cannabis” in this context as a generic…

[ad_1] You need Kight Law’s new 50 State Hemp Product Spreadsheet.At Kight Law, we spend every day working directly with our clients to help them navigate the rapidly evolving cannabis industry. The most difficult issue our hemp clients face is keeping up with various state laws regarding hemp, including understanding where their products can be sold, requirements for labeling and registration, and discerning the legal provisions that each state uses to regulate hemp products. Dealing with 50 different state laws and regulations can be a nightmare, which is why we completely revised and updated our 50 State Hemp Spreadsheet and…

[ad_1] Congress Extends 2018 Farm Bill Until September 2024During the past six months, I have been repeatedly asked to predict what would happen with the Farm Bill. This is because the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, better known as the “2018 Farm Bill” expired at the end of September. “Will it change?” “Will hemp be outlawed?” “Will I still be able to sell [insert- THCa, delta-8 THC, D9 gummies, etc]?” “What can we do to ensure that hemp remains legal?” Although I routinely discuss this with lobbyists and associations, the fact is that no one knows what will happen with…

[ad_1] New York Hemp Industry Scores Big Win in New YorkOn Thursday the New York State Supreme Court issued an injunction in favor of several hemp companies and organizations (Hemp Parties) against the New York State Cannabis Control Board (CCB) and other state agencies and officials prohibiting them from implementing and/or enforcing Emergency Regulations adopted in July regarding the processing and retail sale of cannabinoid hemp products. The Emergency Regulations subject to the injunction provide for: (1) a required ratio of CBD or other cannabinoids to THC equaling or exceeding 15:1 in hemp infused products; and (2) per serving and…