Webinar Replay: Internal Revenue Code 280E And Tax Efficiency

The first half of 2026 was an important year for the Massachusetts adult-use and medical cannabis industry, with significant developments on multiple fronts.

Cannabis rescheduling has fundamentally altered the regulatory landscape for California operators, creating hidden risks in contracts drafted before April 2026. Supply agreements, licensing deals, and investment documents built around Schedule I assumptions may now contain critical gaps regarding DEA registration requirements, medical versus adult-use distinctions, and tax treatment under I.R.C. 280E.

Federal hemp regulations face potential delays as the Senate votes to extend the ban deadline, while new bipartisan legislation proposes treating hemp beverages like alcohol. Meanwhile, Rhode Island reopens its cannabis retail licensing process and New York authorizes microbusinesses to sell at farmers' markets.

On April 23, 2026, the DEA rescheduled certain marijuana products from Schedule I to Schedule III, creating new compliance obligations for California cannabis operators. This shift primarily affects state-licensed medical cannabis programs and introduces critical decisions around DEA registration, license restructuring, and IRC Section 280E tax implications that operators must navigate strategically.

Harris Sliwoski attorney Jason Adelstone joins industry experts for a live webinar examining the current state of federal cannabis rescheduling following the DEA administrative hearing process. The panel will analyze recent regulatory developments and discuss what cannabis businesses should monitor as the legal landscape continues to shift.

Virginia Governor Spanberger faces backlash for vetoing retail cannabis legislation, citing concerns about rushed implementation and market saturation. Meanwhile, federal developments include a dismissed hemp lawsuit...

Federal appeals courts are divided on whether states can legally favor in-state residents in their cannabis licensing programs, with some circuits applying the Dormant Commerce Clause while others exempt cannabis due to its federal illegality. The Supreme Court's recent decision to decline hearing this constitutional question leaves cannabis operators facing different rules depending on their geographic location, creating uncertainty for interstate expansion.

Welcome back to The Week in Weed, your Friday look at what’s happening in the world of legalized marijuana. This week, the DEA released the rescheduling hearing transcript, which runs to over 2,500 pages.

The House has passed a short-term funding bill postponing the federal ban on hemp-derived THC products from November 12th to December 11th. With comprehensive legislation unlikely before the new deadline and competing interests from cannabis sellers, alcohol producers, and state regulators creating policy gridlock, the future of intoxicating hemp products remains uncertain as midterm elections approach.

The Minnesota cannabis program is online and rolling out slowly. Too slowly, in this writer’s humble opinion. That said, a handful of tribal dispensaries have been operating since 2023, and adult use sales...