On March 27, 2019, Cadwalader presented a
webinar on recent anti-money laundering ("AML")
developments affecting cannabis businesses, broker-dealers,
blockchain transactions and draft legislation.
The panel featured
Jodi L. Avergun (Chair of Cadwalader's White Collar Group),
Todd Blanche (Partner in Cadwalader's White Collar Group),
Joseph
Moreno (Partner in Cadwalader's White Collar Group) and
Christian Larson (Associate in Cadwalader's White Collar
Group).
Ms. Avergun explained that the Controlled Substances Act makes
the "manufacture, distribution and possession" of
cannabis with the intent to distribute a felony under federal law.
However, she added, over 30 states now allow the prescribing and
dispensing of cannabis for medical use and eight states permit the
recreational use of cannabis. According to Ms. Avergun, the SAFE Banking Act, if enacted into law, would
give comfort to more financial institutions that they would not
face enforcement action