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…
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 House and Senate Conferees Agree on Compromise Bill to Implement Significant Changes to Commonwealth's Cannabis Industry
Blog April 06, 2026
Earlier today, Massachusetts legislators agreed on a compromise bill to reform the Cannabis Control Commission (“Commission”) and implement certain meaningful reforms to help businesses still standing after a few years of strong market downturns…
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…
CMS LEAD Model Cracks Door Open to Cannabis Conversation
Blog January 12, 2026
On the heels of an executive order that is intended to reschedule medical marijuana and increase federal cannabidiol research, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center recently announced hemp product flexibilities in the context of the Long-term Enhanced ACO Design (LEAD) model…
Lone Star State Takes Texas-Sized Leap Forward on Medical Cannabis
Blog August 11, 2025
While the world is watching Texas’ special legislative session for its high drama on redistricting and hemp, on Friday, the Texas Department of Public Safety (“DPS”) released information on the required Supplemental Application Narrative and Forms that must be completed to remain eligible to receive a Dispensing Organization license for all 139 applicants that applied for licenses in 2023 and prior…
Proposed Bill from Joint Cannabis Committee Would Adopt Meaningful Reforms to Struggling Mass. Cannabis Industry
Blog May 28, 2025
Nearly nine years after voters authorized the regulated sale of adult use cannabis in Massachusetts, the Joint Cannabis Committee is addressing the challenges (and that’s an understatement) the industry is facing with a very meaningful reform bill…
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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.