Legal and Regulatory Matters
Regulatory Overview
In accordance with Staff Notice 51-352 Issuers with U.S. Marijuana-Related Activities (the “Staff Notice”), below is a discussion of the federal and state-level U.S. regulatory regimes in those jurisdictions where the Company is currently involved through its subsidiaries. The Company or its subsidiaries are, recently were or are expected to be directly engaged in the manufacture, possession, use, sale or distribution of cannabis in the states of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio. The Company is in compliance with the applicable state regulatory framework and licensing requirements for each of the states of Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio.
The Company also has ancillary involvement in the marijuana industry through the products and services it provides to customers in the following states and U.S. territories: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and West Virginia. The Company is not aware of any non-compliance by its customers with any applicable licensing requirements or regulatory framework enacted by each of these respective states.
In accordance with the Staff Notice, the Company will evaluate, monitor and reassess this disclosure, and any related risks, on an ongoing basis and the same will be supplemented and amended to investors in public filings, including in the event of government policy changes or the introduction of new or amended guidance, laws or regulations regarding marijuana regulation. Any non-compliance, citations or notices of violation which may have an impact on the Company’s licenses, business activities or operations will be promptly disclosed by the Company.
Regulation of Cannabis in the U.S. Federally
The U.S. federal government regulates drugs through the CSA (21 U.S.C. § 811). Pursuant to the CSA, cannabis is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance. A Schedule I controlled substance is defined as a substance that has no currently accepted medical use in the U.S., lacks safety for use under medical supervision and has a high potential for abuse. The U.S. Department of Justice (“DOJ”) defines Schedule I drugs, substances or chemicals as “drugs with no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse.”
The FDA has not approved cannabis as a safe and effective drug for any use.
Canada has federal legislation which uniformly governs the cultivation, processing, distribution, sale and possession of both medical and recreational cannabis under the Cannabis Act, as well as various provincial and territorial regulatory frameworks that further govern the distribution, sale and consumption of recreational cannabis within the applicable province or territory. In contrast, cannabis is only permissively regulated at the state level in the U.S.
State laws in the U.S. regulating cannabis are in direct conflict with the CSA, which prohibits cannabis use and possession. Although certain states and territories of the U.S. authorize medical and/or recreational cannabis cultivation, manufacturing, production, distribution and sales by licensed or registered entities, under U.S. federal law, the cultivation, manufacture, distribution, possession, use, and transfer of cannabis and any related drug paraphernalia, unless specifically exempt, is illegal and any such acts are criminal acts under the CSA. Although the Company’s activities are compliant with applicable U.S. state law, strict compliance with state laws with respect to cannabis may neither absolve the Company of liability under U.S. federal law, nor may it provide a defense to any federal proceeding which may be brought against the Company.
The risk of federal enforcement and other risks associated with the Company’s business are described in Item 1A. “Risk Factors” of the Form 10.
Legal Advice in Accordance with the Staff Notice
Legal advice has been obtained by the Company regarding applicable U.S. federal and state law.