All signs look favorable for the legalization of adult-use marijuana in Rhode Island in 2021. For many years, the legislative session in January started out with the same optimism, but then hope would fade out as other concerns would prevail, or as other, more pressing issues took precedence. But 2021 feels different. What makes this...
Many organizations are in the process of determining whether or not they are eligible to receive a second draw Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) loan. Although many of the eligibility requirements for second draw PPP loans are the same as for first draw PPP loans, second draw PPP loans have additional eligibility requirements. In particular, an...
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) on January 19, 2021 published its finalized federal regulations governing the cultivation of hemp. This comes two years after the crop was legalized at the federal level through the 2018 Farm Bill, which required USDA to develop rules for an industrial hemp program. Since then, USDA has released various...
By Alicia J. Samolis and Michael A. Gamboli In a further attempt to alleviate the adverse economic impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, on December 21, 2020, Congress passed a $900 billion stimulus bill, which the President signed into law on December 27, 2020. While the stimulus bill declines to extend the Families First Coronavirus...
By John Ottaviani Businesses often overlook protecting one of their most valuable assets, their trademarks. It is important for a business owner to know what a trademark is, why it is valuable, and why the business should seek registration for its most valuable trademarks. Among other things, a trademark registration makes it easier for a...
Last month, the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) approved the creation of two types of delivery licenses for adult-use marijuana: delivery operator and courier. The licenses will initially be available only to social equity program participants and to economic empowerment applicants. The CCC’s new rules create two types of delivery licenses. A “marijuana delivery operator”...
On December 21, 2020, Congress passed an approximately $900 billion coronavirus relief bill, which, if signed into law, would extend certain unemployment insurance (UI) provisions found in the CARES Act that was passed in March. A portion of the new bill labeled the “Continued Assistance for Unemployed Workers Act of 2020” would extend the following...
On December 21, 2020, Congress passed an approximately $900 billion coronavirus relief bill, the largest since the CARES Act was enacted in March. If signed into law, a portion of the bill labeled the “Economic Aid to Hard-Hit Small Businesses, Nonprofits, and Venues Act,” would provide for a second round of PPP and EIDL loans,...
United States Senate and House leaders have reached an agreement on an approximately $900 billion relief bill in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. If passed, this would be the largest relief package since Congress passed the CARES Act in March of this year. The full text of the relief bill has not yet been...
On December 9, 2020, the Small Business Administration (the “SBA”) released Paycheck Protection Program (“PPP”) Loans FAQ #53, which provides additional information regarding the Loan Necessity Questionnaires (SBA Forms 3509 or 3510) that will be required for all PPP borrowers that, together with their affiliates, received loans of $2 million or more. The SBA is requiring that these...
