Elizabeth Gustafson has extensive experience with intellectual property and trademark litigation, antitrust, internal and government investigations, and breach of contract claims.

Cannabis: In Focus

  • SAFE Banking Gets a Senate Hearing
  • Representative Nancy Mace Is Promised a Hearing on her Descheduling Bill
  • CLAIM Act Reintroduced in Congress
  • Hawaii Federal Judge Says 11th Amendment Protects State’s Choice to Define Hemp
  • Maryland Governor Signs Cannabis Regulation Bill


Continue Reading Cannabis Legal Report—Week of May 8, 2023

Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the Small Business Tax Equity Act (H.R. 2643) on April 17, 2023, a bill that will allow cannabis businesses to obtain tax write-offs for ordinary business expenses.

Currently, cannabis businesses are not able to deduct business expenses under a provision of the tax code known as Section 280E

As a consequence of cannabis’ federal illegality, cannabis companies are generally locked out of the nation’s federal bankruptcy courts. Perkins Coie’s Cannabis industry group’s Tommy Tobin recently sat down with Billy Organek, a program fellow at the Harvard Law School Bankruptcy Project, to discuss the effects of current bankruptcy laws on cannabis companies in the

Cannabis: In Focus

  • Two Bipartisan Bills Introduced to Regulate CBD
  • Congressional Letter Circulated Regarding Biden Administration’s Cannabis Scheduling Review
  • Alcohol Industry Group Issues Open Letter Supporting Cannabis Legalization
  • SEC Charges Cannabis Company With Securities Fraud


Continue Reading Cannabis Legal Report—Week of March 27, 2023

Cannabis: In Focus

  • Attorney General Garland Testifies Before Senate Judiciary Committee
  • Ninth Circuit Affirms Ruling that California County May Deny Licenses to Cultivate Cannabis
  • Oklahoma Recreational Cannabis Measure Fails
  • Medical Cannabis Patient Sues Arkansas Company for Inflating THC Levels


Continue Reading Cannabis Legal Report—Week of March 20, 2023

Cannabis: In Focus

  • DEA Classifies Two Lab-Derived Cannabinoids as Schedule I
  • Washington Federal Judge Dismisses Suit Challenging Residency Requirements

DEA Classifies Two Lab-Derived Cannabinoids as Schedule I

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) determined that two lab-derived cannabinoids— delta-8 THC acetate ester (delta-8 THCO) and delta-9 acetate ester (delta-9 THCO)—do not meet the federal definition