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Dec 3, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
There’s been lots of movement lately in New Jersey’s cannabis world. The state’s decision to begin enforcing its hemp law sends a strong signal: they’re serious about regulating these businesses. But while the Cannabis Regulatory Commission is quick to act on hemp sales, the same urgency is clearly missing when it comes to cannabis consumption lounges. For many advocates and business owners, this delay isn’t just frustrating—it’s a major missed opportunity.
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Nov 7, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
On Oct. 10, 2024, a New Jersey Federal District Court made a big decision on hemp. The Court largely invalidated New Jersey's recent attempt to tighten controls on "intoxicating hemp products" like Delta-8 and Delta-10, which were previously sold in gas stations, smoke shops, and convenience stores without much oversight. The state had put forward amendments aimed at restricting these products to those over 21 and regulating them like cannabis.
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Oct 15, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
Pittsburgh is one of my favorite cities. It's SixBurgh, the land of Primanti's, and a place I’ll always feel connected to as a proud Pitt alum. So, when I heard that the Pittsburgh City Council had moved to protect medical cannabis users in the workplace, I had to dive in. On Sept. 24, 2024, the City Council passed an ordinance making it illegal for employers, employment agencies, and labor organizations with 5 or more employees to discriminate against medical cannabis patients.
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Oct 8, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
Halloween is one of my favorite holidays. There’s something in it for everyone—adults and children alike. In Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey, it's the perfect time to enjoy the fall air, colorful leaves, football, homecoming, and of course, trick-or-treating. There's nothing quite like seeing neighborhoods come alive with spooky decorations and people dressed up as everything from politicians (it’s an election year after all) to witches, clowns, and Barbie dolls.
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Sep 24, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
Skip to main content September 24, 2024 Volume XIV, Number 268 Legal Analysis. Expertly Written. Quickly Found.
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Sep 18, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
Recently, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit handed the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”) a big loss when it comes to hemp. In Anderson v. Diamondback Investment Group, LLC, the court ruled that the DEA’s interpretation, which classified a host of hemp-derived products as illegal, was incorrect. I’ve previously written about the impact of Loper Bright Enterprises v.
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Aug 27, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
I’m sure you’ve heard by now that Ready-to-Drink Cocktail Permits (“RTDC permits”) are coming to Pennsylvania, as almost all the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board’s (PLCB) recent advisory opinions have been about this topic. The wait is finally over, and the application has arrived on PLCB+, the PLCB’s online licensing platform. Starting Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, beer distributors and businesses with retail liquor licenses will be able to apply for the authority to sell ready-to-drink cocktails.
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Jul 23, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
Much of what I write about here deals with the licensing and legal analysis of the biology, botany, and chemistry of cannabis. However, this blog aims to inform medical cannabis users of their rights. In the past, I’ve discussed the rights of medical cannabis users in the employment context. Today, I’m addressing Pennsylvania’s Driving Under the Influence (“DUI”) laws due to recent confusion and the desperate need to clarify how medical cannabis users can handle these laws.
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Jul 16, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
Last month, the United States Supreme Court issued its decision and opinion in Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, significantly overruling the nearly 40-year-old precedent set by Chevron. The Chevron decision required federal courts to defer to a government agency's interpretation of an ambiguous statute unless that interpretation was “arbitrary, capricious, or manifestly contrary” to the statute.
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Jul 10, 2024 | 
natlawreview.com | Benjamin SHEPPARD
On June 26, 2024, the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control issued an amended advisory notice (AN 2024-04) regarding the product/brand registration and renewal process. This notice amends the previous advisory (AN 2022-03) issued on Dec. 19, 2022, addressing industry concerns and technical matters related to the new brand registration renewal process. Key Changes Effective ImmediatelyThe elimination of alternative "product ID" numbers is a major change.
