A Superior Court judge has ruled that Treasurer Deborah Goldberg acted unlawfully when she fired Shannon O’Brien from her position as chair of the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission, ordering that O’Brien be immediately reinstated. Goldberg first suspended O’Brien in September 2023 and officially removed her a year later, citing “gross misconduct” after two outside investigations …
Category: Cannabis Legal & Courts
Updates on cannabis-related court rulings, lawsuits, attorney general actions, expungement efforts and other major legal developments.
Cannabis Rescheduling Case Transferred from Administrative Law Judge to DEA Administrator
The retirement of the DEA’s chief administrative law judge shifts the marijuana rescheduling case directly to recently sworn-in DEA Administrator Terrance Cole. Judge John Mulrooney has officially stepped down, with his retirement official as of August 1. The retirement comes just days after Cole was sworn in as the new leader of the DEA. Mulrooney …
Newly Confirmed DEA Chief Terrance Cole to Take Over Marijuana Rescheduling Case Following Judge’s Retirement
A day after the U.S. Senate confirmed Terrance Cole as the new head of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the agency’s lead administrative judge announced his retirement, effectively handing the stalled marijuana rescheduling case directly to Cole who has said it will be one of his top priorities. Judge John Mulrooney, who has overseen the …
DEA Judge Shuts Down Cannabis Manufacturing Case Without Hearing, Company Plans Legal Challenge
A long-delayed effort to grow federally legal cannabis for medical research was abruptly derailed this week when a Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) judge terminated a key hearing without allowing any testimony or cross-examination. The company behind the application, MMJ BioPharma Cultivation, is now preparing to challenge the ruling in federal court and call for the …
Massachusetts Superior Court Judge Rejects Treasurer’s Effort to Keep Cannabis Commission Firing Records Sealed
A Superior Court judge has denied an attempt by Treasurer Deborah Goldberg to keep the majority of records tied to her firing of former Cannabis Control Commission (CCC) Chair Shannon O’Brien sealed from public view. O’Brien was first suspended in September 2023 and officially removed in September 2024 following two external investigations and nearly 20 …
Federal Judge Upholds Alaska Ban on Intoxicating Hemp Products, Ruling in State’s Favor
A federal judge has upheld Alaska’s ban on the sale of intoxicating hemp products outside the state’s licensed marijuana system, ruling that the state acted within its constitutional authority. In a decision issued May 23, U.S. Magistrate Judge Kyle Reardon granted summary judgment to the state in a case brought by the Alaska Industrial Hemp …
Federal Judge Strikes Down Oregon’s Voter-Approved Cannabis Union Law
A federal judge has struck down Oregon’s voter-approved Measure 119, ruling that it violates the U.S. Constitution and federal labor law. On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon issued a permanent injunction against the enforcement of the measure, which would have required marijuana businesses to enter into labor peace agreements (LPAs) with unions as …
Judge Rejects AG Paxton’s Bid to Block Dallas’ Voter-Approved Marijuana Decriminalization Ordinance
Dallas County District Judge Dale Tillery has denied Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s request to block the enforcement of a voter-approved ordinance that decriminalizes marijuana possession in Dallas. The ruling allows the city to continue implementing the measure, which prevents police from arresting or citing individuals for possessing small amounts of marijuana and from using …
Judge Blocks Colorado Springs’ Attempt to Overturn Recreational Marijuana Vote, Calling it Uncconstitutional
A judge has ruled that Colorado Springs’ attempt to ask voters to repeal recreational marijuana sales, six months after its approval, is unconstitutional. Fourth Judicial District Court Judge Hilary Gurney sided with two residents who filed a lawsuit against the city, issuing an injunction to block the city from placing the repeal measure on the …
New York Judge Halts Warrantless Raids on Licensed Marijuana Shops, Calls Them Unconstitutional
A New York judge has ordered law enforcement and state regulators to stop conducting warrantless raids on licensed marijuana businesses, a practice that has drawn sharp criticism for treating legitimate operators as if they were illegal dealers. The ruling, issued by Judge Thomas Marcelle, addressed the actions of the New York City Sheriff’s Office and …
