May 17, 2023
Watch this Vicente LLP session where members of our New York team dive into the significant changes from the first draft of New York's cannabis regulations, how the new regulations will impact capital raises and M&A, and more!
By Michelle Bodian, Elliot Choi, Brandon Kurtzman, Charles Alovisetti
May 11, 2023
On May 11, 2023, New York’s Cannabis Control Board voted to approve the revised adult-use cannabis regulations. The Office of Cannabis Management (OCM) has indicated adult-use cannabis applications will open up in the fall, meaning these revised regulations will function as our roadmap. This article outlines key changes in the revised regulations.
May 11, 2023
With ketamine being the only approved psychedelic drug for medical use, ketamine clinics offer a unique opportunity for investors and entrepreneurs looking to enter the expanding market of innovative mental health therapies. In this article, we will explore the reasons behind the growing demand for ketamine clinics and the unique regulatory considerations involved in transactions involving these businesses.
By Charles Alovisetti
May 8, 2023
New York's Cannabis Control Board meets this week and a revised set of draft regulations, reflecting comments from the initial period, is expected to be released before the meeting. Attend our webinar on May 17 for a deep dive into the revised regulations.
Apr 12, 2023
The Cannabis & Hemp Research Initiative at Stockton University is hosting its 3rd Annual Cannabis Curriculum Convening on April 27-28. Register for this virtual session to hear Vicente partner Charles Alovisetti discuss cannabis law.
Apr 10, 2023
Attend the NORML Denver Legal Seminar from June 7-9 to hear Vicente partners Charles Alovisetti, Sahar Ayinehsazian, Shawn Hauser, and Brian Vicente discuss the latest cannabis industry legal and business insights.
By Charles Alovisetti
Mar 22, 2023
A new industry is emerging in the United States, and entrepreneurs in the psychedelics space must make critical decisions at the onset of new ventures regarding how to set up and structure their new businesses. Luckily, we have access to another industry with a complex legal framework and a patchwork of different state laws: cannabis. And after forming hundreds of cannabis companies with clients over the past decade, Vicente LLP has lessons to be shared.
Mar 15, 2023
Cannabis businesses facing insolvency can't access federal bankruptcy courts, but they do have restructuring options. One of those options is an out-of-court workout between lenders and borrowers. Watch this Vicente LLP session to learn the practical issues around out-of-court workouts and cannabis companies.
Mar 9, 2023
Watch this session to learn how cannabis regulations impact M&A transactions and financings in Connecticut, New Jersey, and New York.
Feb 16, 2023
Cannabis companies facing insolvency must use state receiverships or out-of-court workouts to restructure an insolvent business. But what does that mean, and what is the right choice for your business? Watch our live session on the practical issues around the receivership of cannabis companies.
Dec 27, 2022
In a CLE on January 12, 2023, Charles Alovisetti will offer advice on the legal and practical issues borrowers and lenders need to consider when documenting and funding a loan transaction secured by cannabis-related real estate
Nov 23, 2022
We're proud to announce that eight VS attorneys were included in Boston Magazine's 2022 'Top Lawyers' list! Congratulations to Brandon Kurtzman, Phil Silverman, Charles Alovisetti, David Ullian, Adam Fine, Jeremy Shaw, Meg Nash, and Michelle Bodian!
Oct 5, 2022
VS partners Charles Alovisetti and FL Gorman will discuss debtor-creditor rights pertaining to cannabis at NYSBA’s virtual CRE program on October 6
By Charles Alovisetti, Elliot Y. Choi, and Sahar Ayinehsazian
Sep 29, 2022
Charles Alovisetti, Elliot Y. Choi, and Sahar Ayinehsazian write for the Bloomberg Law, reflecting on the challenges and journey of raising private capital in the cannabis industry
Aug 24, 2022
Register for this free Rootwurks webinar to hear from Charles Alovisetti about why raising capital can be so tricky for cannabis businesses.
Aug 24, 2022
Vicente Sederberg LLP will sponsor and speak at the Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference AND—the firm is nominated for Best Cannabis Law Firm at the Benzinga Cannabis Awards.
Aug 17, 2022
Charles Alovisetti will be attending Empire State of Law: Hosted by LVLUP Legal in NYC for a panel titled, "Legalize It: Cannabis & Regulations" in NYC!
Jul 6, 2022
VS is excited to announce that the prestigious international legal directory Chambers & Partners awarded VS with the 'Cannabis Law Firm of the Year' award once again, extended VS a Band 1 ranking for the fourth straight year, and recognized five VS attorneys as top cannabis lawyers.
Jun 28, 2022
Watch this session to learn how debt financing can be a funding source for your cannabis business.
By Charlie Alovisetti, Genevieve Meehan, Josh Kappel
May 27, 2022
Do commercial opportunities for entrepreneurs exist in psychedelics? We explore the current limited legal pathways and potential opportunities via proposed legislation and ballot initiatives in this article.
By Charlie Alovisetti, Navid Brewster
May 10, 2022
Raising money for a company is challenging. It can be even more challenging if you haven’t been through the process before and don’t know what decisions you need to make. This article lays out 10 key considerations to think about when setting up your financing.
May 10, 2022
We look forward to seeing our colleagues, clients, and friends in person May 18-20, 2022 at MJ Unpacked in New York City!
Mar 1, 2022
The Business of Cannabis: New York Sessions event will focus on the critically important topic of connecting social equity licensees to capital.
Jan 11, 2022
Watch this session for a look back at 2021 tri-state cannabis developments and a look forward to expectations for 2022.
Dec 13, 2021
Update on psychedelics-related legislation and rulemaking, regulatory changes, and other noteworthy psychedelics news and events.
By Charles Alovisetti, Joshua Kappel, Andrea Golan
Dec 2, 2021
As we wait for federal legalization and/or state-regulated psilocybin markets to emerge, what can a motivated entrepreneur interested in mycelium pursue?
Oct 19, 2021
Watch this recorded session for an update on recent changes in the Colorado market from members of our Colorado regulatory, corporate, and hemp teams and special guest Christopher Stefan of Cannabis Capital Advisors.
Oct 11, 2021
The spread of legalization means a growing practice area for law firms. Two VS Columbia Law alumni were interviewed in this article.
Oct 5, 2021
We look forward to seeing our colleagues, clients, and friends at MJBizCon in Las Vegas, October 19-22!
Jul 2, 2021
VS partner Charles Alovisetti discussed cannabis policy and his book, The Cannabis Business, in this episode of In the Weeds with Jimmy Young podcast.
Jul 1, 2021
The CLE, titled "Financing Cannabis-Related Real Estate: Structuring Options, Enforcement Issues, Regulatory Hurdles" will analyze legal and practical issues borrowers and lenders need to consider when documenting and funding a loan transaction secured by cannabis-related real estate.
Jun 8, 2021
The prestigious international legal directory awarded VS with the 2021 'Cannabis Law - Law Firm of the Year' award, once again extended VS a Band 1 ranking, and recognized two more VS attorneys as top cannabis lawyers.
By Charles Alovisetti, Cassia Furman
Apr 23, 2021
To many in the cannabis industry, REIT is not a common acronym. Yet, as cannabis businesses seek ways to raise funds, REITs are coming up in more and more conversations.
Apr 9, 2021
Watch this presentation for a look into the new law, how it will be implemented, and the opportunities it will create for businesses and individuals.
Apr 7, 2021
Jordan Wellington and Andrew Livingston discuss legal marijuana finance, equity, and investment with VS's Corporate Department Chair, Charles Alovisetti.
Apr 5, 2021
VS partner Charles Alovisetti recently talked about his book 'The Cannabis Business' with host Bethany Moore on NCIA's cannabis industry podcast
By Charles Alovisetti, Jennifer Cabrera
Mar 25, 2021
Using New Jersey as an example, here are eight important considerations companies should make when expanding into new cannabis markets.
By Charles Alovisetti
Mar 19, 2021
VS partner Charles Alovisetti outlines six regulatory considerations cannabis investors and operators should keep in mind when thinking about court-supervised transfers of control of a cannabis business in this article published by Marijuana Venture.
By Charles Alovisetti and Ilya Ross
Feb 19, 2021
With wary investors and a minimal number of FDIC-insured bank lenders in the space, cannabis entrepreneurs are running out of options to raise capital. SPACs create a unique opportunity to fill the current vacuum of capital in the cannabis industry.
By Charles Alovisetti
Jan 25, 2021
Like anything in the cannabis industry, getting a debt deal done requires navigating unique regulatory challenges. Here are seven regulatory considerations that cannabis borrowers and lenders should keep in mind when pursuing a debt transaction.
By Charles Alovisetti and Sahar Ayinehsazian
Jan 25, 2021
As cannabis businesses become more mainstream, banks are shedding their fears about the risks of lending to this growing industry.
By Charles Alovisetti, Sally Kent Peebles
Jan 15, 2021
As more law firms are fielding client questions about cannabis industry transactions, it can be challenging for corporate counsel to identify when they need cannabis regulatory counsel.
By Charles Alovisetti, Corey Cox, Justin Johnson, Andrew Livingston, Jessica Scardina, Jordan Wellington, Catie Wightman
Jan 11, 2021
Vicente Sederberg is monitoring the potential impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) on cannabis businesses, service providers, and consumers in Colorado.
By Vicente Sederberg LLP
Dec 18, 2020
Vicente Sederberg attorneys wrote the book on cannabis law — and now you can own it! This comprehensive primer on all things cannabis law is a must-have for anyone seeking to understand the major practical legal issues facing the marijuana and hemp industries.
By Vicente Sederberg LLP
Dec 1, 2020
For our 10th anniversary, we take a look back at VS's history of leadership in cannabis law, the marijuana and hemp industries, and drug policy reform.
Nov 19, 2020
Watch this session for an informed look at the opportunities and other realities of operating in the cannabis industry post-election.
Nov 11, 2020
Josh Kappel and Charlie Alovisetti give a post-election update for investors in this CanopyBoulder Investor Hub event.
By Charles Alovisetti, Sahar Ayinehsazian, Andrea Golan
Nov 5, 2020
The coronavirus and efforts to contain it have led to changes in the regulatory landscape and consumer behavior that are likely to shape the cannabis industry moving forward. In spite of COVID-19, or perhaps because of it, the cannabis industry is thriving, and will continue to do so as long as demand remains strong and operators adhere to the rules and regulations designed to keep consumers and employees safe.
By Charles Alovisetti, Tucker Wentz
Oct 30, 2020
Montana is voting on two related adult-use ballot initiatives in the general election, one constitutional and one statutory
By Charles Alovisetti and Kimura Mercer
Oct 30, 2020
South Dakota has two cannabis ballot measures this fall: one legalizing medical marijuana and one legalizing adult-use marijuana.
By Charles Alovisetti, Michelle Bodian, Elliot Choi
Oct 19, 2020
A brief history of cannabis regulation (including hemp) in the Commonwealth.
By Charles Alovisetti, Elliot Choi, Sahar Ayinehsazian
Sep 18, 2020
Raising private capital continues to be a challenge for the nascent cannabis industry, but there are proactive steps companies can take to maximize the chance of a successful raise.
Aug 28, 2020
Watch this session to understand the latest trends, regulatory approval process, and common diligence issues in cannabis-related M&A transactions.
Aug 13, 2020
This session explores the complexity of mergers and acquisitions and how to optimize taxes to free cash flow for your cannabis business.
Aug 11, 2020
Watch this session with VS's corporate team to help maximize the chances of private capital raising success for your cannabis business or start-up.
By Charles Alovisetti, Elliot Choi, Ben Leonard, Jeremy Shaw
Aug 6, 2020
Conducting a closing is one of the more stressful tasks for junior and even senior attorneys. When a deal is ready to close, most of the principals and businesspeople are finished with their work, but lawyers are not out of the woods yet.
By Charles Alovisetti
Jul 29, 2020
The National Venture Capital Association (NVCA) provides free model documents for venture capital financings, but are they useful in the cannabis industry?
By Charles Alovisetti
Jun 24, 2020
Forming a Delaware corporation is a good idea for some cannabis startups, but often results in a hefty Delaware franchise tax bill. In this article, we explain why you might actually owe less.
By Charles Alovisetti, Elliot Choi, Sahar Ayinehsazian, Corey Cox
May 5, 2020
The continuing growth of the cannabis and hemp industries has given rise to the need for specifically tailored due diligence.
Apr 30, 2020
It's no surprise that cannabis companies face inequitable treatment when it comes to taxes. But did you know there are ways to minimize their impact?
Apr 23, 2020
The prestigious international legal directory once again gave VS a Nationwide Band 1 ranking, and this time around it also individually ranked three of the firm's partners.
By Charles Alovisetti, Phil Silverman, Jason Adelstone
Apr 17, 2020
Bankruptcy law provides advantages for financially distressed companies to restructure debt while continuing to operate. Without access to U.S. Bankruptcy Code protections, marijuana companies must turn to out-of-court restructurings and state law insolvency proceedings.
By Charles Alovisetti, Brandon Kurtzman
Apr 16, 2020
Since COVID-19 has limited patient ability to get in-person consultations and examinations with health care providers, how does one go about obtaining a medical marijuana patient certification?
Apr 7, 2020
Watch the replay of this discussion on federal financial assistance and lending available for hemp and CBD businesses in light of the coronavirus pandemic.
Mar 27, 2020
Watch the replay of this timely discussion on coronavirus (COVID-19) regulatory updates affecting the cannabis industry.
Mar 9, 2020
You received your Michigan cannabis license. Now what? Join VS and Cannabis Legal Group on March 25 to learn about how to take your business to the next level with private financing.
Mar 4, 2020
Colorado Law Executive Education and CU Leeds School of Business are offering a free webinar on April 21 and a "Cannabis Entrepreneurship Short Course" on June 15, 2020.
Feb 13, 2020
Don't miss the sessions featuring Brian Vicente, Charles Alovisetti, Ilya Ross, Jennifer Cabrera, Casey Leaver and Meg Nash. Also, be sure to meet up with VS during the event and at our pre-conference networking party!
Jan 22, 2020
VS attorneys Charles Alovisetti and Sahar Ayinehsazian sat down in Business of Cannabis's Canada's Scene Booth at MJBizCon 2019 to discuss the state of the cannabis industry.
By Charles Alovisetti, Partner
Nov 18, 2019
With a historic cannabis legislation vote approaching, let’s take a look at the current status of federal law regarding cannabis, other pieces of cannabis-related legislation that have been introduced, and what the MORE Act contains.
By Charles Alovisetti, Jessica Scardina, Ben Leonard, Carl Werner, and Justin Johnson
Nov 18, 2019
HB-1090 is live and Colorado's cannabis industry is officially open to publicly-traded companies and out-of-state investors. Find out what we've learned so far about this brand-new system.
By Elliot Choi, Counsel; Michelle Bodian, Senior Associate Attorney; Charles Alovisetti, Partner
Nov 15, 2019
Will USDA-issued hemp cultivation licenses be transferrable? Let's dive into the USDA interim final rule to find out.
By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner and Caitlin Wightman, Law Clerk
Nov 8, 2019
The fourth post in our “Budding Companies: Forming Cannabis Startups” series, where we explore different issues involved in the formation of new marijuana and hemp companies. In this post, we focus on jurisdiction choice.
By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner
Oct 7, 2019
In addition to federal securities laws, each state and territory has its own securities laws, often referred to as blue sky laws. Cannabis company compliance with these rules may be more important due to heightened regulatory scrutiny.
By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner; Phil Silverman, Counsel; Jason Adelstone, Law Clerk
Sep 27, 2019
One of the many issues arising out of the tension between state and federal law in the cannabis industry is whether cannabis companies can access the protections of federal bankruptcy law.
Sep 20, 2019
The event at New York Law School will feature many of the nation’s leading academics, politicians, and attorneys, including seven attorneys from VS.
By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner
Sep 19, 2019
Despite news headlines saying that hemp is federally legal, many hemp-derived food products and supplements currently sold in the US are in violation of federal law. But some hemp food products can actually be sold in complete compliance with US Federal law. How so?
Sep 11, 2019
Vicente Sederberg attorneys will present a one-hour web-based CLE, "Due Diligence in Cannabis Industry Transactions," for Practising Law Institute on October 3, 2019.
By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner
Sep 9, 2019
The third post in our “Budding Companies: Forming Cannabis Startups” series, where we explore different issues involved in the formation of new marijuana and hemp companies. In this post, we will focus on governance, exits, and investors.
By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner
Sep 6, 2019
The second post in our “Budding Companies: Forming Cannabis Startups” series, where we explore different issues involved in the formation of new marijuana and hemp companies. In this post, we will focus on taxation, audits, investments and other administrative headaches.
By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner
Sep 6, 2019
The first post in our “Budding Companies: Forming Cannabis Startups” series, where we explore different issues involved in the formation of new marijuana and hemp companies. In this post we will focus on entity choice and taxation.
By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner; Jessica Scardina, Senior Associate Attorney; and Ben Leonard, Associate Attorney
Aug 26, 2019
New guidance from the Colorado MED clarifies that companies and investors can begin taking advantage of HB 1090’s more flexible regulatory structure immediately.
By Charles Alovisetti, Partner; Jennifer Cabrera, Counsel; and Sahar Ayinehsazian, Associate Attorney
Aug 2, 2019
Here's a look into New Jersey Assembly Bill 20, which, once implemented, will greatly expand patients’ access to medical cannabis.
By Charles S. Alovisetti, Partner and Sahar Ayinehsazian, Associate Attorney
Jul 16, 2019
An update on Colorado HB19-1090 "Measures to Allow Greater Investment Flexibility" and takeaways from the first legislation implementation working group.