By Alicia J. Samolis and Michael A. Gamboli On September 9th, the President announced a COVID-19 Action Plan (the “Plan”) and released two orders that contain surprisingly broad measures. The Plan will impact many businesses and organizations across the nation. Of particular note is: 1. Large Private Employer Testing Mandate. According to the announcement (no...
By Eugene G. Bernardo II and David M. DiSegna On August 31, 2021, the IRS issued Revenue Procedure 2021-39, which allows issuers of tax-exempt private activity bonds to continue to hold TEFRA hearings via teleconference through March 31, 2022. Pursuant to § 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code, tax-exempt qualified private activity bonds are subject...
Green Thumb Industries (“Green Thumb”) has announced that it has closed a deal to acquire one of only three existing medical cannabis dispensaries in Rhode Island, further expanding the Chicago-based company’s substantial footprint in the legal marijuana industry nationwide. Green Thumb is acquiring CanWell Processing and Mobley Pain Management and Wellness Center, each of which...
The federal Food & Drug Administration (“FDA”) has refused to consider an application by Charlotte’s Web Holdings, Inc. (“Charlotte’s Web”) for a CBD product to be sold as a dietary ingredient. Instead of clarifying the uncertain legal environment around of the sale of CBD products intended for human and animal ingestion, the FDA’s inaction maintains...
Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court denied review of a case out of Colorado dealing with a medical marijuana dispensary’s challenge to a tax code provision. After denying review, Justice Thomas—one of the Court’s most conservative members and one not known for offering unsolicited political or legal opinions—issued a statement indicating that, with an increasing...
On July 6, 2021, Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed Pay Equity legislation (the “Act”) (H 5261A, S 0270A) into law. The Act is a broad piece of legislation that applies to all employers. While the Act does not go into effect until January 1, 2023, given the penalties and damages available under the Act, and the...
By Michael Gamboli and John Ottaviani A recent United States Supreme Court decision has limited the claims that an employer could assert against departing employees who steal trade secrets and confidential information from the employer’s computer systems. Background. The Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (“CFAA”) is a federal law that makes it a crime for a person to:...
Utilize a Formal Employment Application (Optional but Recommended) Nonprofits should require applicants to fill out an employment application prior to starting work, even if the applicant is known to the nonprofit. While it seems like a formality, an application will help the nonprofit defend against negligent hiring claims. Depending on the position and circumstances, the nonprofit...
On Tuesday, June 22, Rhode Island took a major step towards legalization of marijuana. Although House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi still says legalization won’t be decided until after the budget process ends (perhaps even during a special session later this year), the Senate Judiciary Committee, by a 6-2 vote, sent a cannabis legalization bill to...
Massachusetts consumers finally have a new way to obtain recreational marijuana. In recent weeks, marijuana delivery services have started to operate in the Bay State. But customers are quickly learning that the process is not quite as easy as ordering products from Amazon or the local grocery store. According to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission...
