By Charles Alovisetti
Dec 18, 2025
President Trump has directed the Attorney General to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. In addition to marking a historic shift for the industry, this change would eliminate the punitive effects of IRS Section 280E. Allowing businesses to deduct ordinary expenses and significantly lowering effective tax rates opens the door to restructuring, new investment, and a healthier deal cycle.
By Charles Alovisetti, Jack Crain
Aug 7, 2025
As the cannabis industry matures, more operators are exploring alternative ownership structures that support both long-term growth and successful exits. One powerful yet underutilized option is the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP). In this article, we discuss how cannabis companies can use ESOPs to create tax-efficient exit strategies, reduce the impact of Section 280E, and build long-term value through employee ownership. We also outline the structure, tax benefits, regulatory considerations, and practical execution of ESOP transactions in the cannabis space.
Oct 17, 2024
Watch this Vicente session to learn about how rescheduling may impact 280E and tax planning! Vicente attorneys, along with special guest tax attorneys from HBK CPAs and Jones & Keller, provide an update on the rescheduling process, including the timeline to a final rule and potential obstacles, along with a deep dive into 280E and tax strategies.
May 3, 2024
Watch this special briefing featuring Vicente LLP leaders who have been deeply immersed in the federal scheduling issue, along with Mitzi Keating, a CPA and partner at Citrin Cooperman.
Sep 18, 2023
Join the Vicente LLP team in Minneapolis for another can’t-miss hemp and cannabis legal and business seminar on October 19, 2023. The event will feature Vicente LLP hemp and cannabis business attorneys Michelle Bodian, Travis Copenhaver, Jeremy Shaw and Jason Tarasek, along with special guests Sen. Lindsey Port and cannabis accountant Angela L’Esperance of Ms. Jane Accounting.
May 24, 2023
Watch Vicente's director of economics and research, Andrew Livingston, partner Adam Fine, and cannabis industry CPA/CFE Mitzi Keating discuss the latest Massachusetts market trends and opportunities in this on-demand webinar.