Photo of Tommy Tobin

Thomas Tobin’s practice focuses on complex commercial litigation and class action matters involving statutory, constitutional, and regulatory issues in a range of industries, including food and beverage, consumer packaged goods, and cannabis. In the food and beverage sector, Tommy has experience defending false advertising claims and consumer protection claims for well-known international corporations.

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