On December 15, 2016, the Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act (the “MA Act”) became effective in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, decriminalizing marijuana ownership and use for private citizens and mandating the creation of a regulatory system able to sustain state-legal recreational marijuana businesses by January 1, 2018. The impact of such sweeping changes (along...
CannabisClient AlertsRecreational Marijuana Legalization in Rhode Island Derailed Until At Least 2018
May 25, 2017
Legalization of recreational marijuana in Rhode Island will not happen in 2017, as the Rhode Island House Committee on Judiciary has approved a bill recommending a study commission for marijuana legalization. The bill, H 5551 Substitute A2, would create a 17 member Special Legislative Commission to study the effects of legalizing recreational marijuana use on residents...
Client AlertsRhode Island Company Liable for Refusing to Hire Marijuana User – Is Massachusetts Next?
May 25, 2017
On May 23rd, the Rhode Island Superior Court ruled that a local company is guilty of discriminating against a prospective employee for refusing to hire the employee because the employee actively used medical marijuana pursuant to a state-issued medical marijuana card. The ruling in the case of Callaghan v. Darlington Fabrics and the Moore Company, is...
Client AlertsLitigation & DisputesCase Law Note: Two-year Policy Limitation on Bringing Suit Upheld
May 24, 2017
Two-year policy limitation on bringing suit upheld: Chase v. Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company, Case No. 2015-368-A (Rhode Island Supreme Court, May 23, 2017). Plaintiff Eric Chase submitted a claim to his insurer Nationwide Mutual Fire Insurance Company for extensive interior and exterior damage caused to his property in Newport. Nationwide accepted the claim, authorized...
NASCAR reportedly stripped the logo of Veedverks, a Colorado based medical marijuana company, off of the hood of driver Carl Long’s car last week. NASCAR claims that the logo did not receive prior approval as is required under NASCAR rules. The situation illustrates the difficulty that marijuana companies are having promoting their brands in ways...
Uber hasn’t done it. Amazon hasn’t done it. Barnes & Noble hasn’t done it. These big companies haven’t been able to figure out how to get a court to enforce their online terms of service. But there is no reason that your company cannot get it right. It’s not rocket science. You just have to...
Client AlertsCorporate & BusinessLitigation & DisputesReal EstateViewpoint: No Damage for Delay Clause in Construction Contracts
May 2, 2017
The Massachusetts Appeals Court recently shed light on the parameters of “no damage for delay” clauses in Central Ceilings, Inc. v. Suffolk Construction Company, Inc. The March 29 decision is a “must read” for everyone drafting construction contracts to ensure the language used comports with the intended result. Before diving into the facts of that case,...
Client AlertsLitigation & DisputesTown issues first-ever ‘Class T’ liquor license to the Odeum
April 29, 2017
EAST GREENWICH- The town approved a new liquor license earlier this week for the Greenwich Odeum, allowing the theater to continue providing entertainment and cocktails to its patrons. “One of the things that has made us successful is that people like to come listen to music, hear wonderful tales and have a cocktail,” said Jeffrey...
Client AlertsCorporate & BusinessStart with a Plan
April 24, 2017
In June 2016, the Securities and Exchange Commission issued a proposed rule that would require investment advisors “to adopt and implement written business continuity and transition plans designed to address operational and other risks related to a significant disruption in the investment adviser’s operations.” Release No. IA-4439, 81 FR 43530. Similarly, the North American Securities...
CannabisClient AlertsBecause traditional financing is largely unavailable, marijuana businesses turn to private investors or other financing sources
April 21, 2017
There are only a few lenders willing to finance activities in the marijuana industry, largely because marijuana is considered an illegal drug under federal law. As most banks are federally insured, loans provided to those in the marijuana industry are not likely to be insured. With banks unable or unwilling to take the chance, private...
