Maine has amended its cannabis excise tax law to offer tax relief for some cannabis businesses. The new law, which took effect on January 11, 2026, creates specific exemptions from excise tax for certain transfers of adult-use cannabis between licensed facilities.
Cannabis Law Now
Why Retailers Selling THC Products Need to Tune In Now
By Steve Levine
If you’re a retailer selling hemp derived or marijuana derived THC-infused products, you’re probably feeling the impact of recent Congressional actions. The rules of the game have changed, and it’s more important than ever to understand exactly what you need to do to stay compliant and protect your business.…
Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Regulate Hemp Products Ahead of an Impending Ban
In our previous legal update last month, we outlined language included in one of the appropriations bills which was passed in connection with ending the historic government shutdown. The package contained language that, among other things, recriminalized synthetic or artificially derived cannabinoids and products containing more than .4 mg of total THC combined with any…
Major Changes Ahead for the Hemp Industry: 365-Day Countdown Begins Following Government Shutdown Deal
In the wake of the recent government shutdown, significant changes are on the horizon for the hemp industry. As detailed in a legal update from Husch Blackwell, the congressional package to reopen the government, signed into law on November 12, 2025, includes provisions that will dramatically reshape the legal landscape for hemp-derived products—though these changes…
How Michigan’s New 24% Wholesale Cannabis Tax Will Affect Marijuana Businesses
On October 7, 2025, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed into law the Comprehensive Road Funding Tax Act (House Bill 4951), which will impose a 24% excise tax on wholesale marijuana transactions beginning January 1, 2026. This new tax is in addition to the existing 10% excise tax and 6% sales tax on retail marijuana…
The Devil Is in the Details, and So Is the Gross Margin: How Detailed Regulatory Strategy Can Make or Break Investment for Early-Stage Hemp Beverage Brands
Hemp-derived THC beverages comprise one of the fastest-growing beverage categories in the United States right now. With Circle K and Target recently announcing market entry the industry is quickly reaching mainstream status and creating interest for more brands to enter the space. At the same time states across the country are quickly enacting legislation to…
Husch Blackwell Guides One of the First Minnesota Cannabis Testing Businesses through Zoning Approval
In March 2025, the Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) officially closed its application window for cannabis licenses in Minnesota. While some license types were decided by lottery, others were uncapped, including testing facilities. Testing facilities are integral to the Minnesota cannabis supply chain as they ensure that all products bought and sold in Minnesota are…
OCM Guidance Regarding Ownership Transfers Provides Pathway for Funding Social Equity Licensees
The Minnesota Office of Cannabis Management (“OCM”) conducted its license lottery for social equity applicants on June 5, 2025. Lottery winners received preliminary approval and must secure a business location and, in many instances, additional capital is required to commence operations.…
ESOPs for Cannabis Companies
Employee stock ownership plans (ESOPs) have been used as a business succession strategy by employers across many industries. In the cannabis industry, ESOPs have come and gone and come again as a trendy topic promising to fix many of the tax and liquidity issues operators in the industry face. But are the benefits real, or…
Minnesota and Lower Potency Hemp Edibles
On the heels of the 2018 Farm Bill, some states have opted to regulate hemp-derived cannabinoid consumer products. One of the early movers in this area is the State of Minnesota. The regulations in Minnesota for hemp-derived cannabinoid products (as well as licensing for them) are changing, with licensing opening up this fall. Interestingly,…