Cannabis Law

Marijuana and Hemp Legal Services We Offer

The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas, PLLC represents individuals, small businesses, and large corporations with legal issues related to marijuana and hemp-derived products such as edibles and tinctures. This includes products containing CBD, D9 THC, D8 THC, and other cannabinoids. We are able to offer a wide range of services because we have a strong legal team of cannabis business lawyers who are experienced in handling these topics.

We can help you manage cannabis legal issues including:

Why You Should Choose The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas, PLLC

The cannabis business lawyers at The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas, PLLC represent businesses and individuals at every level of the cannabis industry – from growth through consumption. We have comprehensive, hands-on cannabis-related experience that we use to advise clients in Arkansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Maryland, Oklahoma, Oregon, Tennessee, and Virginia. Because we have a broad range of knowledge about the cannabis industry throughout the United States, we can quickly grasp and execute upon the legal needs that support our clients’ growth strategies in the complex industry that is cannabis.

We Stay Up to Date on Relevant Laws

The cannabis industry is constantly changing. Medical and adult-use recreational marijuana is now legal in many states. Although each of the 50 states has specific regulations, hemp-derived products are legal in all states thanks to the Farm Bill of 2018. We work hard to stay up to date on all cannabis business regulations and criminal laws. We use that knowledge to protect your interests and help you grow.

We Can Handle All Aspects of Your Work

The attorneys at The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas, PLLC can handle every stage of your case. After we assess your situation, we create a team to provide you with the best legal advice possible to help you decide how to approach challenges. Once you decide on the path that’s right for you, our cannabis business attorneys, litigators, and defense attorneys provide you with the resources you need.

What You Need to Know About the Industry

Legal issues involving marijuana and hemp are complex. The decisions we make for clients are often reliant upon technical terms used in the industry and the way in which the government treats these materials.

What Is Cannabis?

Cannabis is a plant genus that includes both marijuana and hemp. Both hemp and marijuana plants contain chemical compounds called cannabinoids. The Cannabis plant has over 113 cannabinoids. Even though marijuana and hemp are derived from the same plant, there is a drastic difference in the products because of the legal difference and permitted plant potency.

Cannabis businesses are highly regulated. They must go through an in-depth approval process in order to obtain licenses to grow, distribute, transport, and sell cannabis products. Consumers purchase cannabis from dispensaries, which also have strict legal requirements regarding where and how they can operate. Because of the complexity, cannabis businesses should always work closely with a legal advisor.

What Is Marijuana?

“Marijuana” is a term commonly used for one type of cannabis. The substance is more frequently referred to as marijuana in criminal cases. Some other street names for marijuana include pot, weed, hash, dope, gunja, joint, chronic, 420, and dabs.

Marijuana may be smoked, eaten, or vaporized, as it comes in a variety of forms. The subjective effects of marijuana depend on the form consumed and the individual person. The most common form of marijuana is the dried leaves and flowers (buds) that may be smoked in a joint or bong. However, marijuana is also consumed as hashish (dried plant resin often mixed with tobacco), hash oil (high potency liquid), and concentrates (extracts with a high THC content often used in dabs and edibles).

Marijuana is a Schedule I drug according to the federal government. This drug and its derivatives continue to be federally illegal. However, many states have legalized or decriminalized its possession and use – medically and recreationally. It is possible to get a federal criminal marijuana charge in a state where the drug is legal. Even in states where the plant has been legalized, there are many laws that must be followed regarding amount that can be grown and possessed.

What Is Hemp?

Hemp, often called “industrial hemp,” is a botanical class of the cannabis sativa plant grown for industrial, or personal use. Hemp is defined as any part of the cannabis sativa plant with no more than 0.3% of THC. It is used to make a wide range of products, including consumable products, textiles, biofuels, and wellness supplements.

Hemp and its derivatives are legal throughout the United States pursuant to the 2018 Farm Bill. Its production is overseen by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), which issues guidance to implement programs necessary to create a consistent regulatory framework around the production of hemp. Since hemp statutes were enacted, small businesses have grown, developed, and are thriving in this industry.

While hemp is legal to grow, farmers must obtain approval of production plans and a license from the USDA or through a state-approved program. Hemp farmers must also comply with guidelines for sampling and testing procedures. They must properly dispose of plants that do not meet necessary requirements compliant with their licensing. An experienced hemp business lawyer can help with the involved process of starting and growing in this industry.

What Is CBD?

CBD (cannabidiol) is a chemical found in cannabis. It does not contain the psychoactive ingredient tetrahydrocannabinol (THC). It is typically sold as an oil, but it may also be produced in other forms including tinctures, topicals, vaporized liquid, and capsules.

Hemp-derived CBD is legalized federally and in all states. CBD derived from cannabis is still considered a Schedule I substance and is illegal under federal laws.

Legal Advice for Cannabis Businesses

The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas, PLLC is dedicated to providing the best representation for cannabis businesses at all levels of the industry. We can help with business formation, state licensing, regulatory compliance, real estate issues, transactional agreements, tax and banking issues, and more.

It’s important for cultivators, growers, processors, dispensaries, and transporters to develop a business that complies with government regulations. Failure to meet necessary requirements can result in rejections of applications to begin and continue operations.

Marijuana Criminal Defense Representation – We Aggressively Protect Our Clients’ Rights

Not only do criminal defendants who face marijuana charges have rights that need to be protected, but cannabis businesses need a legal professional to look out for their best interests. When you are contracting with other entities and engaging with the government, you need a cannabis attorney in your back pocket for frequent consultation to help you avoid missteps and achieve your goals.

Our marijuana criminal defense lawyers at The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas, PLLC know how to use the law to protect our clients. If you or a loved one has been charged with a marijuana-related criminal offense, then you should immediately contact a lawyer who can guide you through your case.

Prosecutors often try to make examples of drug users, even when the substance is as common as marijuana. You don’t have to accept the harshest penalties. There are many defenses to marijuana charges. An experienced lawyer can help you develop a defense strategy to target the prosecution’s accusations.

When you hire The Law Group of Northwest Arkansas, PLLC, we will gather evidence in support of your case and determine how to move forward effectively. Our goal is to keep your criminal record clean and help you stay out of jail.