A recent U.S. Department of Treasury Inspector General report suggests that an increase in tax enforcement measures for the legal marijuana (cannabis) industry are imminent, with or without a corresponding increase in IRS guidance. The legal cannabis industry has expanded prodigiously over the last decade and, as of 2020, a majority of states now allow […]
Compliance and Regulations
How to make sure your cannabis is the real deal?
This same question is asked by many consumers across various categories of products we consume everyday. Do I really know the chicken I’m about to buy is raised on a free-range farm? Is the medicine I’m about to take authentic? Is the fish I’m planning to eat for dinner from Boston as advertised? We all […]
Data Privacy and Cybersecurity: Essential Risk Areas to Address in a Cannabis Compliance Program
by Eliyahu S. Scheiman, JD and Stephanie M. Garfield, JD Even during this unprecedented time, as millions of Americans confine themselves to their homes and companies temporarily shutter their retail operations, cybersecurity incidents will continue to affect the business world. Cannabis companies are particularly attractive targets for hackers because they possess a wealth of personal […]
Simplifya Closes $1.5 Million in Over-Subscribed Bridge Round; Increases Round to $2.5 Million In Response to Strong Interest from Investors
PRESS RELEASE Denver – April 23, 2020 – Simplifya, the leading provider of regulatory and operational compliance software for the cannabis industry, announced today that it has closed $1.5 million of its currently over-subscribed bridge round. Based on strong interest and preliminary commitments, Simplifya expects to close an additional $1 million as part of the […]
Environment, Health and Safety from Home, Resources to Rely on while Social Distancing
You are a cannabis industry professional navigating the “new normal.” You have scheduled a productive day of workbooks, crafts and electronic device time for the children. You have negotiated workspace allowances with your cohabitants (“You can pace the family room on your calls all you want, but the kitchen table is mine!”). A professional coffee […]
Keeping Pace With Creative Compliance in the Fast-Moving Cannabis Space
Last year, when censors rejected a Super Bowl ad from cannabis brand Acreage Holdings, it was both a sign of cannabis’ mainstream emergence, and also an indication of America’s ongoing complicated relationship with the plant. Now, the political headwinds around legalization are starting to turn, and the cannabis industry has reached a critical point in […]
Cannabis and EHS Regulations Part 4
The Carrot and the Stick The last two articles in our series discussed some of the benefits of designing a progressive, comprehensive environment, health and safety (EHS) program in the cannabis industry. We described the “carrot” of increased business growth due to being an industry leader and implementing a top shelf EHS program. In turn, […]
Accreditation: Adding Value to Supply Chains
In the first installment, we established the differences between first, second, and third party certification. For this article, we will delve deeper into third party certification by exploring the difference between certification and accreditation. The terms certification and accreditation are often used interchangeably, though they have very different meanings. As certification has become the buzz word […]
Call for National Lab Testing Standards
Medical and Recreational Marijuana: Legal Issues, Operational Challenges and Regulatory Hurdles That Marijuana-Related Businesses Frequently Encounter PART 3 of 6: An Overview of How the Lack of National Standards for Laboratory Tests of Marijuana Products Affects the Public Health and the Marijuana Industry This article is the third part of a six-part series discussing the […]
Environmental Health and Safety Compliance in The Cannabis Industry: Starting at Ground Zero (Part 3)
By Grant Gilezan & Gerald Hincka In Part 2 we discussed envisioning the scope of your environmental, health and safety (EHS) compliance program so you can determine whether you want to pursue a “good enough” program or set yourself apart by pursuing a program that goes above and beyond to protect its employees and the […]
