Cannabis: A Synopsis of Employment, Environmental, and Litigation Challenges Facing the Cannabis Industry (On-Demand)

General Credits:
Original Date Of Course:

$199.00

Course Description

Marijuana remains a prohibited Schedule I narcotic under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, notwithstanding widespread legality at the state level and removal of industrial hemp from the CSA. The dichotomy of Federal prohibition and concurrent state legalization has continued to create headwinds for the industry on multiple fronts. This program will discuss these challenges, with particular emphasis on employment, environmental, and regulatory issues, and will also discuss litigation and risk minimization.

Syllabus

  1. Employment: Conflict between federal and state employment laws regarding cannabis and “best practices” for employers to address cannabis issues in the workplace, including sensible drug testing practices
  2. Environmental: Broad based discussion of cannabis-related environmental concerns, including water rights, liability for cleanup under CERCLA, energy and sustainability, odor and air violations, and state regulatory compliance
  3. Litigation risks: Emerging risks to the cannabis industry, including product liability claims, Civil RICO and nuisance, intellectual property claims, and class actions
  4. Hemp Regulatory: Issues facing the “legal” hemp industry, including FDA rules on CBD use in food products and supplements, crop and product testing requirements, regulated labs, and state hemp regimes

Credit Details

Course Type

Course Instructor

Christopher D. Strunk, Esq., Sarah N. Turner, Esq.

Original Date Of Course

General Credits

2

Christopher D. Strunk, Esq.
Christopher D. Strunk, Esq.
Christopher D. Strunk, Esq. is a litigation partner with 26 years of experience representing clients in disputes, with particular expertise in environmental law and toxic tort claims. Since 2014, he has specialized in the industrial hemp and cannabis sector, assisting companies with state environmental compliance, risk management, and product liability defense, while serving on programming committees for the American Bar Association and Defense Research Institute.
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Sarah N. Turner, Esq.
Sarah N. Turner, Esq.
Sarah N. Turner, Esq. is an active partner in the Employment/Labor and ERISA practice groups and a national leader of the firm's Cannabis, Hemp & CBD practice group, serving as Co-Managing Partner of the Seattle office. She represents employers and clients in Washington and Oregon across employment litigation, workplace counseling, administrative proceedings, and cannabis-related matters, with experience spanning wrongful discharge, discrimination, wage and hour disputes, benefits law, and regulatory compliance.
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