Indiana Schedule III Cannabis: Why Federal Rescheduling Won’t Legalize Hoosier Marijuana
When marijuana moves to Schedule III, Indiana businesses will ask the same question: “So… can we finally operate legally?” In Indiana, the honest answer is: not unless Indiana law changes. Federal rescheduling can change momentum, but it does not create an Indiana licensing window by magic. 1) Schedule III: a federal reclassification, not a permission […]
Tennessee Schedule III Cannabis: The Trigger Is Real — But It’s Not Instant Legalization
Tennessee Schedule III Cannabis: The Trigger Is Real — But It’s Not Instant Legalization Tennessee is one of the few states that baked a key idea into its planning: federal rescheduling/descheduling can be a trigger for state program design. But here’s the nuance: even if marijuana becomes Schedule III, Tennessee still needs legislation, agencies, rules, […]
Breach of Contract in Cannabis Deals: How Courts Actually Treat Your Agreements
The cannabis industry is booming across state-legal markets, but what happens when a deal goes bad? Breach of contract in cannabis businesses is more complex than most industries due to federal vs. state legal conflicts. Enforcing a contract in the cannabis business isn’t always business-as-usual. Cannabis operators, investors, and entrepreneurs must contend with a legal […]
Virginia Cannabis Microbusiness License: 2027 Timeline
A Virginia cannabis microbusiness license requires planning around the current law and licensing process—not an outdated application announcement. The Cannabis Control Authority’s published rollout points to a 2027 retail launch. This guide replaces our earlier March 2026 proposal-based summary. Discuss your cannabis business with Howard East Tell us your state, business stage and the legal […]
Inflated THC Potency Lawsuits in 2025: What Cannabis Operators Need to Know
Inflated THC Potency Lawsuits are no longer a fringe theory – they are becoming one of the fastest ways for regulators, competitors, and consumers to attack cannabis businesses in 2025. When THC percentages on labels are inflated, plaintiffs now frame those numbers as fraud, unfair competition, and even RICO. If your COAs and labels look […]
Why the Hemp Loophole Defense Just Failed in Federal Court
Why the Hemp Loophole Defense Just Failed in Federal Court If you’ve been told that the hemp loophole defense will protect your THCA or “Farm Bill compliant” business in federal court, the Lucas Sirois case out of Maine should make you very uncomfortable. In November 2025, a federal jury convicted Sirois on every major count—conspiracy […]
Hemp Clone Loophole: How Congress Missed It In 2025
The new hemp clone loophole appears in Congress’s latest hemp rewrite, where “hemp” is defined by total THC at the time of testing but largely ignores clones, mother plants, and tissue culture. A young cannabis clone that tests under 0.3% total THC is treated as legal hemp—even if it will later produce high-THC flower—creating a […]
Hemp banking after FinCEN guidance
The new federal funding bill didn’t just tweak hemp’s definition—it rewired hemp banking. Congress added a 0.4 mg total THC cap per container, banned most synthetic or converted cannabinoids, and told FDA/HHS to classify “THC-like” compounds. When that new definition kicks in, FinCEN’s existing hemp and marijuana guidance will push many intoxicating hemp brands out […]
2025 Federal Hemp Law Update: What the New Definition Means for Your Business
I’ve been talking about this day since 2019, back when I did my first “hemp is legalized” bit and walked through the THCA loophole that blew that video up. Now it’s here in black and white. Congress has finally rewritten the federal definition of hemp in a way that doesn’t just “tighten” the rules; it […]
Cannabis Regulatory & Compliance Litigation: Defending Businesses Against Enforcement, Rulemaking, and Zoning Actions
Introduction: When Compliance Becomes Combat Every cannabis operator learns fast—compliance isn’t optional; it’s survival.But when regulators overreach, rules conflict, or enforcement turns arbitrary, your business deserves more than compliance. It deserves a defense. At Howard Law Group, we represent cannabis licensees and stakeholders in regulatory and compliance litigation—from defending administrative actions to challenging unconstitutional agency […]