Timely updates on U.S. legal, regulatory, enforcement, legislative, and business developments affecting regulated and emerging industries.
The DEA’s formal hearing on rescheduling marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III concluded on July 15, 2026 after 11 days of testimony. Chief Administrative Law Judge Derek Julius set an August 17 deadline for post-hearing briefs and closing arguments. After that, the ALJ will issue his recommendation to the DEA Administrator, who holds final decision authority.
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Cannabis
July 16, 2026 · U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (administrative record)
Cannabis and Hemp Banking
July 1, 2026 · American Bankers Association — Letter to Congress on the SAFE Banking Act
Corporate & M&A
July 10, 2026 · Delaware Supreme Court — Leo Investments Hong Kong Ltd. v. Tomales Bay Capital Anduril III, L.P., Nos. 415 & 428, 2025 (Opinion)
Cannabis and Hemp Banking
June 25, 2026 · Cannabis Business Times
Crypto & Stablecoins
June 13, 2026 · U.S. Department of the Treasury
Crypto & Stablecoins
June 3, 2026 · CoinDesk
All Updates
20 updatesSuehiko Ono and Chris Van Dyck of Cogent Law, with Keisha J. Williams of LogicalFlo, on moving cannabis businesses from compliance pressure to capital readiness through structure, governance, and financial discipline.
The Delaware Supreme Court reversed a $16 million fee award tied to litigation over a private investment in SpaceX, tightening the standards for corporate benefit and mootness-fee recoveries. The decision is expected to reshape how plaintiffs' firms price stockholder-suit settlements against Delaware companies.
The Department of Homeland Security advanced a proposed rulemaking updating EB-5 investor-visa regulations, addressing minimum investment thresholds, targeted-employment-area designation, redeployment, and integrity-measure implementation from the 2022 reforms. Comments are open through the summer.
DHS published a 358-page proposed rule implementing the EB-5 Reform and Integrity Act of 2022, including a $1.4 million standard investment tier, two-year capital rule, and a regional center sanctions regime.
In a July 1 letter to Senate and House leadership, the American Bankers Association's chief policy officer urged Congress to pass the SAFE Banking Act, arguing that a statutory safe harbor for financial institutions serving state-legal cannabis businesses would improve public safety, support law-enforcement priorities, and normalize compliance for community banks and credit unions.
Ohio’s adult-use cannabis program has generated more than $573 million in 2026 alone and nearly $4 billion since launch, according to state Division of Cannabis Control data.
The U.S. Supreme Court granted certiorari on the trademark strength inquiry in RiseandShine Corporation v. PepsiCo, potentially reshaping likelihood-of-confusion analysis.
The American Bankers Association again publicly backed the SAFE Banking Act, urging Congress to give community banks legal clarity to serve state-legal cannabis businesses.
Senators Merkley, Murkowski, Warren, and Daines reintroduced the SAFE Banking Act of 2026 to protect financial institutions serving state-legal cannabis businesses, even after federal rescheduling.
Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH) and a bipartisan House coalition filed the SAFE Banking Act of 2026 to ensure state-licensed cannabis businesses have access to federally regulated financial services.
Lawmakers coupled the SAFE Banking reintroduction with the DEA rescheduling hearing timeline, arguing legal clarity is essential for both operators and their financial partners.
Effective August 13, 2026, the USPTO is tightening its practice on petitions based on unintentional delay. The Office will require additional information explaining the delay when it exceeds one year — down from the prior two-year threshold — for any new petition filed on or after the effective date.
FinCEN and the federal banking agencies proposed a joint Customer Identification Program rule for permitted payment stablecoin issuers under Part 1033, implementing GENIUS Act mandates.
Jefferson Packing House voluntarily withdrew its constitutional challenge to Oregon’s ban on interstate cannabis commerce, citing weakened arguments in the post-rescheduling landscape.
Treasury proposed a rule implementing the GENIUS Act’s illicit finance requirements applicable to payment stablecoin issuers and related service providers.
The FTC finalized a consent order requiring Sevita to divest 128 intermediate care facilities in connection with its acquisition of BrightSpring’s community living business.
A group of House Democrats urged the IRS to issue prompt guidance clarifying the federal tax treatment of state-legal cannabis businesses following partial rescheduling.
Coverage highlights that the CLARITY Act — the House-passed crypto market-structure bill — needs Senate floor time in a shrinking legislative calendar.
Florida officials are weighing how federal Schedule III reclassification interacts with the state’s medical marijuana program, which has surpassed 929,000 active patients.
The FTC issued a proposed order requiring divestitures of ambulatory surgery centers as a condition to the Ascension Health–AmSurg transaction.
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