Whether you run a nonprofit or serve on the Board, you have a responsibility to make sure the organization is in compliance. There never seems to be enough time to step back, take stock, and launch that preventative compliance review. At a minimum, there are things that any nonprofit can do – and every nonprofit should do:...
NonprofitGot Crypto?
June 24, 2022
Charities increasingly receive inquiries from donors regarding the entity’s willingness to accept cryptocurrency (“crypto”) donations. In the wake of the pandemic, charities should consider ways to diversify fundraising efforts in a compliant manner. Charities can best prepare themselves with the following steps to evaluate and accept cryptocurrency donations. Review and revise gift acceptance policies. Every...
With a stroke of his pen on Wednesday, Governor McKee signed the bill that dramatically changes the landscape for marijuana cultivation, possession, sale and use in Rhode Island. Many of the changes are effective immediately. There have been many failed attempts at such legislation over the past decade, but momentum has grown over the past...
NonprofitNon-Profit Organizations Can Reduce Risks by Addressing Data Privacy Concerns in Advance
May 20, 2022
With the threat of cyber-attacks making the news, it is a good time for all non-profit organizations to review their policies and procedures with respect to data privacy. Many non-profit organizations are particularly vulnerable to legal, financial, and reputational risks resulting from cyber-attacks and other data breaches because they do not have the staff, time,...
CannabisRhode Island Poised to Legalize Cannabis
May 19, 2022
After several years of fits and starts, Rhode Island is finally poised to pass a substantive cannabis legalization bill as soon as next week. An amended version of the previously-proposed cannabis bill is now on the fast track toward passage at the State House. Major developments in the amended bill include automatic expungement for past...
Rhode Island House Speaker Joe Shekarchi seems to think so. While he has been quoted in local media saying that while the legislature is “still not there” on a final product, he is at least ready to say that “we’ve worked down to almost one issue that’s left.” That specific issue, it seems, is who...
Intellectual Property & TechnologyUSPTO Issues Final Regulations Implementing the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020
December 27, 2021
The United States Patent and Trademark Office’s Final Regulations implementing the Trademark Modernization Act of 2020 went into effect on December 18, 2021. The regulations provide for two new ex parte proceedings for expungement and reexamination of unused registered trademarks, which aim to facilitate removal of fraudulent and unused trademarks from the federal register. The...
CannabisCan President Biden Legalize Marijuana?
December 20, 2021
Can the President unilaterally legalize marijuana under federal law? In early November, Congressional researchers concluded that, while President Biden cannot directly remove marijuana from control under federal controlled substances laws, he could order executive agencies to consider either moving marijuana to a different schedule so that it could be legally possessed and sold or changing...
CannabisAt Long Last, Rhode Island License Lottery to Proceed
October 27, 2021
The future of nearly two dozen pre-approved companies seeking medical cannabis dispensary licenses in five of Rhode Island’s six geographic zones will be decided on Friday, October 29. The license hopefuls submitted substantial applications to the state in December of last year, but the license lottery – originally expected to occur in the first quarter...
CannabisUnionization Efforts Underway at Local Dispensary and Cultivation Workplaces
October 21, 2021
Workers at Solar Therapeutics, a cannabis dispensary in Somerset, Massachusetts, voted last week to join the United Food and Commercial Workers (“UFCW”) union, after Solar Therapeutics’ management declined to voluntarily recognize the union. “I am so proud of my coworkers for sticking together,” said one Solar employee about the vote. “We love our jobs and...
