Cannabis Law Archives

Trademark Protection for Plant Varieties: What Cultivators and Nurseries Need to Know

Trademarks are among the most valuable assets of any business, including those in the plant cultivation industry. For nurseries, farms, and other plant-growing businesses, a trademark can offer significant legal and commercial advantages by distinguishing their offerings in a competitive marketplace. What Is a Trademark? A trademark can be any word, phrase, symbol, design, or combination thereof that identifies the

Josh Zetlin June 30, 2025

Plant Variety Protection: Securing Intellectual Property Rights for New Plant Varieties

Plant breeders, including nurseries, cultivators, and agricultural developers, regularly create new plant varieties that can carry substantial commercial value. Protecting these innovations as intellectual property is essential for maximizing their potential. The Plant Variety Protection Act (PVPA) (7 U.S.C. §§ 2321 et seq.) provides legal rights to breeders of new plant varieties. Administered by the Plant Variety Protection Office (PVPO),

Josh Zetlin June 23, 2025

Understanding Cal-OSHA Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP)Requirements for California Cannabis Businesses

Introduction Most commercial cannabis businesses in the state of California spend a significant amount of time ensuring they are compliant with the regulations promulgated by the California Department of Cannabis Control (the “DCC” and “DCC Regulations”). However, there are a number of non DCC rules and regulations that all commercial cannabis businesses must also comply with that often get overlooked.

Rogoway Law Group February 23, 2023

NEW 2023 California DCC Regulations for Cannabis Retailers: A Compliance Snapshot

Background: Assembly Bill 195 & DCC Emergency Regulations New track and trace requirements have hit the books for commercial cannabis retailers engaged in sales via delivery. As you may remember, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a slew of cannabis-related legislation into law in June of 2022, including Assembly Bill 195. On December 7, 2022, in response to the Governor’s passage

Rogoway Law Group January 26, 2023

The California Department of Cannabis Control’s Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant Program and How Local Jurisdictions Can Prepare for the Release of Grant Program Applications

The DCC’s Cannabis Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant Program

The Cannabis Local Jurisdiction Retail Access Grant Program aims to provide consumers with better access to regulated, tested cannabis product by supporting the expansion of California’s legal cannabis marketplace, thereby reducing the need for consumers to turn to the illicit market.

Rogoway Law Group September 22, 2022

Cannabis Appellation of Origin (CAO) vs. American Viticultural Area (AVA) vs. European Appellations

The CDFA is preparing to launch its Cannabis Appellations of Origin Program. How will a Cannabis Appellation of Origin (CAO) compare to an American Viticultural Area (AVA) or French Appellations d’origine Controlee (AOC)?

Josh Zetlin September 12, 2022

Understanding the Legal Basis for California’s Cannabis Appellations of Origin Program

As the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Office of Environmental Farming & Innovation (collectively referred to herein as the “CDFA”) prepares to launch its Cannabis Appellations of Origin Program (the “Cannabis Appellations Program” or the “Program” or “CAP”), stakeholders and industry participants unfamiliar with appellations of origin may be asking themselves why the Cannabis Appellations Program exists in the

Rogoway Law Group September 8, 2022

For reference and as noted on the CDFA’s Cannabis Appellations Program website, an appellation of origin is “a protected designation that identifies the geographical origin of a product and usually includes a production requirement.”

California’s Cannabis Appellations Program – August 2022 Update

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (“CDFA”) announced that it intends to start accepting petitions for cannabis appellations of origin sometime during the remaining months of 2022. For reference and as noted on the CDFA’s Cannabis Appellations Program website, an appellation of origin is “a protected designation that identifies the geographical origin of a product and usually includes a

Rogoway Law Group September 5, 2022

The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) Submitted to the U.S. Senate.

Along with decriminalizing cannabis moving forward, CAOA would mandate the expungement of existing low-level federal cannabis convictions and address restorative justice measures for the communities most impacted by the failed “war on drugs”.

Rogoway Law Group July 25, 2022

Assembly Bill 2691 Will Allow for Temporary Cannabis Event Cultivator Retail Licenses

City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation Launches Job Board Site

With the summer season well underway, licensed commercial cannabis businesses in the State of California continue to grapple with the restrictive regulations and taxation issues that have quelled the fervor that once surrounded the industry. While many industry participants are scaling back for the Fall 2022 harvest, others are actively hiring new employees in preparation for what they hope will

Rogoway Law Group July 9, 2022

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