Cannabis Law Group’s Medical Marijuana Legal Blog

A federal judge ruled that the government lost its opportunity to seize a medical marijuana dispensary when it accepted $150,000. In May 2013, the federal government filed a forfeiture complaint against the owners of a property in San Francisco. The complaint accused the tenant of selling marijuana within 1,000 feet of the school, in violation…

Despite the changing tides for entrepreneurship in states that have legalized or decriminalized marijuana sales and use, many business owners are still hesitant given the potential for Department of Justice involvement or DEA enforcement of federal law. A historic measure similar to the one passed by the House earlier this year would end DOJ and…

Legalization of marijuana is not only shifting individual usage patterns, local markets, and medical treatment options–it is also having an impact on the global marijuana industry. While Colorado and Washington have completely legalized recreational use, over half of states have legalized marijuana for medical use. More legal growing operations in the United States means that…

Pot smoking has always been clouded with stereotypes–users were often considered druggies, hippies, or “stoners.” Now that the legal landscape surrounding marijuana use is shifting, many of these stereotypes are lifting. In addition to more users coming out from the shadows, those who may not have been interested in pot use may be more compelled,…

Advocates urging marijuana legalization at the federal level are hoping to reform current federal tax code that treats state-approved cannabis stores as criminal enterprises. The change could take place in a mere matter of months. Currently, the IRS prevents any business that sells Schedule I or II illegal drugs from deducting expenses associated with sales.…

With advocates and critics taking staunch positions on both sides of the marijuana legalization debate, important questions remain. How has legalization changed patterns of usage? Are patients seeing significant improvement when using medical marijuana? Have crime rates gone up or down in Colorado and Washington since recreational use was legalized? Are tax revenues worth other…

State and federal law enforcement officials are always on the lookout for illegal drug activity. This includes illegal possession, distribution, and trafficking of marijuana. In the state of California, where medical marijuana has been legalized, illegal grow operations, the black market, and thousands of recreational users make the state ripe for drug crime investigations and…

Migrants seeking work have continued to descend upon Humboldt County to work at the center of the marijuana industry in California. The workers come from all over the world and take part in the marijuana harvest as “trimmers.” According to an NPR report, “trimmers” are responsible for manicuring the buds so that they are prepared…

Officers who suspect that a driver is under the influence of alcohol can quickly test their own theory. In addition to field sobriety tests, officers can use a calibrated breathalyzer device which should correctly indicate the blood alcohol level of the driver. Nationwide, law enforcement departments are struggling with how to test whether a driver…

The benefits of marijuana use compared to the potential risk of inhaling the drug have been hotly debated. Whether you are a recreational or medical marijuana user, a dispensary owner, or you are against the use of marijuana, you are likely impacted by a side effect of marijuana use–secondhand smoke. For decades, medical professionals, including…