Blog

Cannabis & the Law

Foley Hoag has been at the forefront of the medical and adult-use cannabis industry since the very early stages of its regulation and legalization in specific U.S. states and beyond. Our leading, full-service Cannabis Practice is comprised of attorneys with unique insight and experience to assist cannabis and cannabis-related operators and investors with all aspects of their business. Our practice is national and international in scope, as we represent cannabis clients in transactions in a variety of states and Canada.

Cannabis Rescheduling and the Path to U.S. Exchange Listings: What Management Teams Need to Know Now
Blog May 28, 2026
The federal regulatory landscape governing cannabis in the United States is undergoing its most significant transformation in over fifty years…
Update – Governor Spanberger Vetoes Adult-Use Cannabis Bill
Blog May 20, 2026
Yesterday, Governor Spanberger vetoed HB642/SB542, dashing the hopes of legislators and cannabis advocates alike and yet again casting uncertainty on the future of adult-use cannabis in the Commonwealth…
Stalemate over Virginia Adult-Use Cannabis Bill – Governor Faces May 22, 2026 Deadline
Blog May 13, 2026
The Virginia legislature and Governor Abigail Spanberger remain at a stalemate over a bill that would make the Commonwealth the latest state to approve an adult-use cannabis market…
DEA Application Portal for Expedited Registration of Medical Marijuana Dispensaries is Now Open
Blog April 30, 2026
As previewed in our recent blog posts (here and here), the DEA application portal for expedited registration of medical marijuana dispensaries is now open and businesses are currently able to submit applications…
Massachusetts Legislators Skeptical of Prohibitionist Ballot Initiative
Blog March 31, 2026
Nearly a full decade after Massachusetts voters approved the legalization of recreational cannabis, the Commonwealth’s cannabis industry is staring down an existential threat in the form of ballot initiative No. 25-10, known as “An Act to Restore a Sensible Marijuana Policy.”…
Wisconsin Introduces Bill to Legalize Cannabis and Impose Guardrails on Intoxicating Hemp Products
Blog March 03, 2026
On February 24, 2026, a coalition of Wisconsin Democrats introduced SB 1045, which proposes to legalize and regulate cannabis in the state while at the same time imposing new rules for intoxicating hemp products…
Virginia Legislature Advances Competing Bills to Launch Adult-Use Marijuana Sales
Blog February 17, 2026
The Commonwealth of Virginia has inched closer to (finally) launching an adult-use marijuana marketplace nearly 5 years after it legalized adult-use possession and home grow activities…
New Year's Resolution for VA Governor-Elect: Adult-Use Cannabis Sales in 2026
Blog December 31, 2025
Virginia will ring in the New Year with renewed momentum toward adult-use cannabis sales. After years of roadblocks following the legalization of adult-use cannabis possession and home cultivation in 2021, Virginia finally appears poised to launch a regulated adult-use cannabis market with statewide license caps, robust proximity protection and setback requirements among awarded licensees and adult-use product sales commencing as soon as November 1, 2026…
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About Our Blog

Foley Hoag has been at the forefront of the medical and adult-use cannabis industry since the very early stages of its regulation and legalization in specific U.S. states and beyond. Our leading, full-service Cannabis Practice is comprised of attorneys with unique insight and experience to assist cannabis and cannabis-related operators and investors with all aspects of their business. Our practice is national and international in scope, as we represent cannabis clients in transactions in a variety of states and Canada.

We have developed this blog specifically to track the regulatory framework for the cannabis industry and provide insight on legal issues of concern to cannabis businesses.

Our focus will include reporting legal developments and providing commentary on:

  • Legislative developments;
  • Regulatory and policy enactments;
  • The appointment and constitution of the Cannabis Control Commission;
  • The impact of recreational cannabis regulation on the existing medical marijuana regulatory framework;
  • Developments in federal law;
  • Municipal issues;
  • Corporate considerations;
  • Employment issues; and
  • Policy matters.