Legal Insights

Trademark Opposition for Cannabis and Beverage Businesses
Josh Zetlin

Trademark Opposition Proceedings for Cannabis and Beverage Businesses

Trademarks represent important corporate assets of all consumer-facing companies, especially those in highly regulated industries, like the cannabis or beverage industries.  The intellectual property comprising a company’s brand sets a business apart from its competitors and can even help overcome the stigma traditionally associated with many highly regulated industries. An important aspect of creating, owning and utilizing these important intellectual

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Petaluma’s Commercial Cannabis Ordinance

Background of Petaluma’s Commercial Cannabis Ordinance On December 18, 2017, Petaluma’s City Council adopted a cannabis ordinance that addresses commercial cannabis permit eligibility, commercial cannabis permit applications, renewals, transfers, denials and revocations, and commercial cannabis business operating requirements, among other items. On February 26, 2018, Petaluma’s Economic Development Manager recommended that the City Council adopt an Ordinance that amends the

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“Surge Strategy” on Hold: LA Considers Ending the “Whack-a-Mole” Game Against Marijuana Dispensaries

On April 17, the Los Angeles County Counsel presented to the Board of Supervisors a report addressing the dozens of illegal dispensaries in unincorporated Los Angeles County. The report relayed the Medical Marijuana Dispensary Enforcement Team’s (“MMDET”) recommended approach: a “surge strategy” aiming to close all such dispensaries. On April 19, however, the Board of Supervisors opted not to fund

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Measure A Passed- Get Ready for Permitting

Sonoma County voters overwhelmingly approved Measure A, which authorizes up to a 10% tax on gross receipts for all segments of the commercial cannabis industry. While the actual imposed rate remains to be determined, the passage of this measure means the County no longer has any reason to delay issuing permits to operators. We have received confirmation that permits will

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Congress on Cannabis: What Might 2017 Hold?

To date, two key factors guiding federal cannabis enforcement have been the Department of Justice’s “Cole Memo” (Cole memo) and the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment. While the appointment of Jeff Sessions to head the Department was not an encouraging sign, there is still federal interest in cannabis reform, especially among the group of lawmakers again proposing the “Respect State Marijuana Laws Act.” COLE MEMO The Cole

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