Resources for Current Events: 2019 - Marijuana

Legal Guide to the Business of Marijuana is a unique resource for lawyers who represent clients in what has been called the fastest growing industry in the United States.

The majority of states have enacted laws legalizing medical marijuana -- with more than a handful of states to date allowing for recreational use -- but marijuana remains illegal under the Federal Controlled Substances Act, giving rise to constitutional challenges to these state laws under the doctrine of preemption.

As a result, marijuana enterprises must operate in a legal and regulatory environment of uncertainty, and lawyers representing these enterprises must tread carefully when advising clients.

Written by James T. O'Reilly, a lawyer and public health specialist, the book offers critical guidance to help lawyers effectively represent their clients while steering clear of seen and as yet unseen perils implicit in the continued federal-state conflict.

The guide provides discussion and analysis of: the complex and varying state regulation of medical and non-medical marijuana, the various aspects of establishing and managing a marijuana enterprise, including the growing, licensing, labeling, transporting, and distribution of marijuana and related products; the implications of preemption on employment, taxes, and banking.

For lawyers new to representing marijuana clients, the author provides an understanding of the definitions of marijuana and other cannabis products, as well as a review of the policy and political issues that have led to the controversy and uncertainty of the current environment.

Marijuana use is extremely prevalent in today's society, and factions have long debated whether it is helpful, harmful, or both.

With the legalization of marijuana in some states, this debate is more heated than ever, making it crucial to give young adults as much information as possible.

This volume presents readers with both sides of the issue, encouraging them to think critically about whether or not marijuana should be legalized nationally.

Detailed sidebars and full-color photographs explore the history and effects of marijuana use, and a list of websites is provided for further research.