Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and plays an important role as a technology hub and port. The attorneys in our Seattle office represent clients in cannabis law, providing regulatory and operational guidance, corporate finance and investing advice, and dispute resolution all across the Evergreen State and around the country.
April 18, 2024
Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) was interviewed by the ABA Journal in "Pulling the Weed: Bankruptcy Opinion Shows Debt Restructure Path for Cannabis Workers."
April 10, 2024
Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) will join a panel presentation, "Empowering Women: Navigating the Path to Capital," at MJ Unpacked in Atlantic City on April 10, 2024.
April 11, 2024
Member Perry Salzhauer (Seattle) is presenting "Psychedelic Policy Experiments: A Snapshot of the State Laboratories," at the Psychedelic Law Summit on April 11, 2024.
April 2, 2024
On October 11, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule to require reporting under Section 8(a)(7) of the Toxic Substances Control Act for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.
April 1, 2024
Support for marijuana rescheduling has been pouring in as the Biden administration considers moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
March 27, 2024
Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) will present an American Bar Association Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) will present an American Bar Association (ABA) webinar, "Create Engaging Digital Content," on March 27, 2024.
March 25, 2024
McGlinchey is pleased to announce Members Douglas Charnas (Washington, DC), Heidi Urness (Seattle), and Lauren Ybarra (Dallas) will receive the 2024 Law360 Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing.
March 25, 2024
Seattle attorneys Perry Salzhauer and Daniel Shortt will join a panel presentation webinar, "Marijuana Business Law in Montana," for the National Business Institute (NBI) on March 25, 2024.
March 19, 2019
Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) was interviewed in an MJBizDaily article titled "THCA Meets Legal Definition of Hemp, Operators Say—but Not Everyone Agrees."
March 21, 2024
It is not yet known when the DEA will announce its recommendation or what the agency will recommend. Below, we explore the DEA’s options and potential timelines, as well as what will happen once the DEA does make a determination as to how marijuana will be scheduled going forward.
March 19, 2024
Law360 Pulse ran a feature on McGlinchey's new Seattle office, including an interview with Heidi Urness, the Seattle Office Managing Member.
March 18, 2024
McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce the opening of its new Seattle office, marking a significant step in its ongoing nationwide expansion.
March 1, 2024
Over the last several years, there has been a dramatic increase in retail and online sales of products containing hemp-derived and synthetically created cannabinoids.
February 21, 2024
Participants in the federally legal hemp industry are already required to navigate a complex web of federal and state law. However, in light of changes that have occurred and will continue to occur throughout 2024, hemp businesses must be prepared to pivot on a moment’s notice throughout the coming months.
February 12, 2024
Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) had his client alert "Rescheduling Marijuana: Understanding the Legal Impacts," quoted in an article "How Marijuana Could Become a Political Issue in 2024." Daniel explains the difference between rescheduling and descheduling marijuana.
February 13, 2024
Daniel Shortt discusses Ohio, rescheduling marijuana, administrative law related to cannabis, regulators, and hemp derivatives.
February 7, 2024
McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce that as of January 1, 2024, Michael Ferachi has been elected to serve a second three-year term as the firm’s Managing Member. “I am proud of the progress the firm made during my first term, ranging from growing our employee headcount and geographic footprint to expanding our practice areas,More
February 7, 2024
On January 29, 2024, the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) released the first package of proposed rules (Regulations) to govern the state’s emerging legal cannabis market. The Regulations cover the Ohio marijuana license application process and also remove and rescind certain fees.
January 31, 2024
Despite this uncertainty, one thing is clear: many cannabis brands currently operating in the space need not wait for federal rescheduling of marijuana to take advantage of protections under federal and state trademarks for cannabis trademarks.
January 24, 2024
On Wednesday, January 24, Member Heidi Urness will join a panel on "State Law Receiverships as a Bankruptcy Alternative and a Necessity for Cannabis-Related Businesses" during the American Bankruptcy Institute (ABI) Caribbean Insolvency Symposium.
January 2, 2024
On December 18, the New York Cannabis Control Board and its implementing agency, the Office of Cannabis Management, closed its first, and perhaps only, open application window for Adult-Use Cannabis Licenses.
January 16, 2024
Last week, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the full text of its letter (HHS Letter) to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), recommending marijuana rescheduling from Schedule I to Schedule III. Schedule I substances are deemed to have no currently accepted medical use (CAMU) and include drugs like heroin and MDMA. NothingMore
January 16, 2024
On January 8, 2024, the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services published its long-anticipated first proposed set of medical marijuana regulations.
January 16, 2024
Of Cousel Michael Blumenthal (Cleveland) and Member and Co-Chair of McGlinchey's Cannabis group Heidi Urness (Seattle) published an article in Food Safety Magazine focusing on the potential risks regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the cannabis industry and the need for state-level regulations.
January 2, 2024
McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce the eight attorneys who have been named Members at the firm, effective January 1, 2024. These attorneys represent four practice groups and six of the firm’s 17 offices.
December 11, 2023
Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) is co-presenting "Beyond the Hysteria – Real-Life Implications of Descheduling/Rescheduling Cannabis in the Legal Marketplace" at Washington CannaBusiness Association (WACA) Business of Cannabis: 2023 Symposium on December 11, 2023.
December 5, 2023
David Waxman: 17:56 Thanks, Daniel. Enjoyed having the opportunity to do this podcast with you. And thank everybody for listening. And stay tuned because we will be putting on more podcasts, putting on more articles, putting on more blogs as the situation changes in Ohio and elsewhere.
November 28, 2023
McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce that several members of the firm have been appointed to leadership roles within the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section.
November 19, 2023
On November 19, 2023, Member Perry Salzhauer (Seattle) joined Sean Hocking, editor at the Cannabis Law Report, for an episode of the “Karma Koala” podcast, a weekly podcast about all things law, business, and culture in cannabis, to discuss the latest developments New York City regarding licensing.
November 16, 2023
McGlinchey is pleased to announce that Perry Salzhauer, co-chair of the firm’s Cannabis Industry Group resident in Seattle, has been recognized as a 2023 Notable Leader in Cannabis by Green Market Report.
November 16, 2023
McGlinchey is pleased to announce that Heidi Urness has been named to the 4th Edition of the Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers 2023-02024 published by Cannabis Law Report & Cannabis Law Journal.
December 3, 2023
Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) will moderate a "Regulations & Licensing" panel, and Of Counsel, David Waxman (Cleveland) and Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) will join as panelists at the second National Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium in Portland, Oregon, on December 3, 2023.
November 7, 2023
On November 7, 2023, voters in Ohio approved Ohio Issue 2, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, which legalizes marijuana for recreational use in Ohio.
October 20, 2023
Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) was quoted in The Financial Brand‘s October 19, 2023 article on the latest piece of Congressional legislation related to financing cannabis. Things could go either way, says Heidi Urness, co-chair of the cannabis practice group for the law firm McGlinchey Stafford in Seattle. “I think there’s excitement over some actual bipartisanMore
October 17, 2023
The marijuana industry touted the passage of the SAFER Banking Act by the Senate Banking Committee, by a notable bipartisan majority of 14-9, on Sept. 27 and was placed on the Senate legislative calendar under general orders the following day. A Senate floor vote is now pending.
October 16, 2023
Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is one of the most misunderstood and controversial cannabinoids in the Cannabis sativa (cannabis) plant. While booming in popularity, THCA is also a high-risk cannabinoid from a legal standpoint.
September 28, 2023
In late August, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it would recommend moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. In this episode, corporate cannabis attorney Daniel Shortt moderates a discussion with tax attorney Douglas Charnas and financial services regulatory attorney Aaron Kouhoupt about what impactsMore
September 7, 2023
Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) was quoted in "The Feds Consider Making Marijuana Less Regulated," in Essence from his article "From Schedule I to Schedule III: Potential Shift in Marijuana’s Legal Status" where he discusses the possible classification change of cannabis from a Schedule I to Schedule III classification.
September 18, 2023
According to a report from the Congressional Research Service (the Report), the DEA is likely to follow the Department of HHS and the FDA's recommendation to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.
September 12, 2023
A difficult lesson was learned after marijuana was discovered in a suitcase at the airport: The government does not have to prove cannabis is marijuana to convict you of trafficking in marijuana.
September 6, 2023
Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) was quoted in "Rescheduling Cannabis Probably Won't Change as Much as You Think," in Cultivated about the proposed classification change of cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III.
August 31, 2023
Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) was quoted in "Marijuana Classification Change Would Alter Tax Collections" in The Bond Buyer.
August 31, 2023
Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) was interviewed in "Lawmakers Get Blunt About Pot Reforms They've Rolled Out" by Law360.
September 21, 2023
Complementary to compliance, due diligence is an extremely important part of cannabis banking. Beneficial ownership and layered legal entity structures are two hot topics; what else should an FI look for when onboarding a CRB? What about ongoing due diligence after a CRB is onboarded? On Thursday, September 21, 2023, Co-Chair of McGlinchey’s Cannabis industry group, Heidi Urness (Seattle), will join a panel, "CRB Due Diligence for Banking Executives," during the PBC Conference in Washington, DC.
August 30, 2023
Major news broke on August 30, 2023, as the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced that it would recommend moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III, as first reported by Riley Griffin for Bloomberg.
August 25, 2023
McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce that Heidi Urness and Daniel Shortt, attorneys in the firm’s Seattle office, have been named to the Super Lawyers 2023 Washington Rising Stars List.
August 22, 2023
Member Perry Salzhauer (Seattle) was quoted in an article, "Psychedelics Are Reaching New Highs in Acceptance, and Businesses Want In," in Inc.
August 15, 2023
On August 8, 2023, Ohio voters defeated a proposed amendment to the state’s Constitution that would have required at least 60%
August 11, 2023
Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) was quoted in an article titled "Cannabis Flower 101: Everything You Need to Know" for the Cannabis Regulator Blog.
August 10, 2023
McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce that the firm has been ranked nationally among many AmLaw 100 and 200 firms in three categories on Vault’s 2024 Best Law Firms for Diversity rankings.
August 4, 2023
With the ever-expanding legalization of medical and adult-use cannabis across the United States an ever-expanding problem is coming to the forefront: cash transportation.
July 25, 2023
Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I substance in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA); this scheduling means the federal government concluded marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in any setting. In a prior post, we analyzed how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), along with the Department of Justice, can opt for descheduling or rescheduling marijuana under the CSA.
July 21, 2023
A hard lesson was learned after cannabis was discovered in a suitcase at the airport: the government does not have to prove cannabis is marijuana to convict you of trafficking in marijuana. A new case recently clarified that the legal burden shifts and requires the accused to produce evidence that the cannabis is not marijuana.More
July 19, 2023
New laws and regulations are likely to be implemented in both New Jersey and New York in the very near future, which will greatly affect parties' abilities to work with marijuana businesses.
July 25, 2023
Join us to hear McGlinchey attorneys discuss innovations in the payments environment and developing payments applications. Aaron Kouhoupt, David Tallman, Rachael Aspery, and Heidi Urness will explore issues ranging from error resolution responsibilities, money movement and challenges entering the payment networks, as well as cannabis business challenges. date & time Tuesday, July 25, 202311 amMore
June 30, 2023
This is the third installment in our three-part series: “Exploring Issues in Cannabis and Bankruptcy.” In this final episode, we'll explore what the two recent decisions in Blumsack and Hacienda mean for creditors in the cannabis industry and also what rights are available to lenders and marijuana financiers in the bankruptcy context.
June 28, 2023
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made chemicals used in various industries, such as food packaging, cosmetics, and household products. More than 10,000 chemical substances can be classified as PFAS in the United States. However, despite their broad use, several studies have identified potential health risks associated with these chemicals.
June 22, 2023
On Thursday, June 22, 2023, Heidi Urness (Seattle) will present "Marketing Mistakes That Can Be Canna-strophic" during the 2023 Cannabis Marketing Summit in Denver, Colorado.
June 16, 2023
The federal government aims to finish its review of marijuana’s current legal status by the end of 2023, based on remarks from the head of the U.S. Department of Health of Human Services, Secretary Xavier Becerra.
June 7, 2023
Federally legal CBD products may, under some circumstances, cause consumers to fail drug tests. An employer’s right to terminate employee-consumers on that basis is not prohibited by federal law, including the Americans with Disabilities Act.
June 2, 2023
It is no secret that cannabis businesses and owners remain largely barred from taking advantage of federal bankruptcy protections, leaving distressed marijuana businesses with limited restructuring options. Most often, distressed marijuana businesses and businesses serving the marijuana industry (collectively, MRBs) must instead rely on state law, including state-specific cannabis receivership statutes.
June 1, 2023
McGlinchey is pleased to announce that 23 attorneys and nine practice areas have been recognized in the 2023 edition of the Chambers USA Guide. This year’s rankings include six newly ranked attorneys (two with nationwide rankings, one in Washington, DC, and three in Louisiana) and one newly ranked practice group.
May 24, 2023
For financial institutions who engage in marijuana-related banking services, the primary compliance challenge remains the disconnect between federal and state law.
May 16, 2023
The use of medical marijuana, which has been permitted for decades in some states, is not protected under the Americans with Disabilities Act. As a result, even in states which legally permit its use, employers are free to terminate employees who use medical marijuana without fear of violating federal discrimination laws.
May 16, 2023
McGlinchey is pleased to announce that three nationally recognized attorneys who specialize in complex litigation, transactional, and regulatory matters across the spectrum of cannabis businesses have joined McGlinchey in Seattle and Albany.
May 4, 2023
Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) will present "Risk Mitigation Strategies for Ancillary Cannabis Businesses" at CannaLaw Sumit on May 4, 2023.
May 3, 2023
Heidi Urness, David Waxman, and Chase Stoecker will present "A Blunt Discussion of the Emerging Legal Issues Facing the Cannabis Industry Today" at the Michigan CannaTech Expo on May 3, 2023.
April 20, 2023
McGlinchey is pleased to announce the launch of the Green Leaf Brief, the home of articles and insights from attorneys in McGlinchey’s Cannabis Industry Group.
April 20, 2023
McGlinchey Stafford attorney Heidi Urness is one of 12 attorneys selected for the 2023 Cannabis Editorial Board by Law360. Resident in Seattle, Heidi serves as Chair of the firm’s national Cannabis practice.
April 4, 2023
One area where uncertainty abounds in the insurance field is in connection with the marijuana, or cannabis, industry. The increasing number of states legalizing marijuana for both recreational and medical use raises critical questions regarding if and how insurance coverage should be made available with respect to auto or other general property and casualty insurance claims involving damages or injuries that occur when a person is under the influence of marijuana.
April 11, 2023
It's no secret that pockets of the cannabis industry are experiencing financial distress, and this is generating fear and concern for marijuana licensees and their lenders as well. This is the first installment in a three-part series exploring issues in Cannabis and Bankruptcy.
April 4, 2023
With an increasing number of states passing laws to protect employees who utilize marijuana off-duty, employers throughout the country are presently tasked with redesigning their marijuana-related policies and practices to avoid the risk of suffering discrimination, retaliation, and other claims for wrongfully taking adverse action against an employee for their marijuana legal use.
March 27, 2023
Today, nearly four-fifths of the United States have regulated medical marijuana markets. Nearly half of the United States, consisting of twenty-one states along with Washington, D.C. and Guam, have acted to legalize recreational adult-use marijuana. However, the possession, distribution, and sale of marijuana remains illegal under federal law, which means any contact with money that can be traced back to state-legal marijuana operations could still be considered money laundering and expose a bank to significant legal, operational, and regulatory risk.
March 25, 2023
On March 25, 2023, Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) joined Sean Hocking, editor at the Cannabis Law Report, for an episode of the “Karma Koala” podcast, a weekly podcast about all things law, business, and culture in cannabis, to discuss the latest in employment issues and cannabis. Click here to listen to the full episode.
March 17, 2023
Recently an individual employed by Trulieve Inc., who was responsible for grinding and handling cannabis at Trulieve’s cultivation site in Massachusetts, died due to asthma-related complications following exposure to “occupational quantities of whole and ground cannabis,” according to an Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) hazard letter issued in June 2022. Under a settlement agreement with OSHA, Trulieve agreed to study the potential hazards of ground marijuana dust.