Cannabis Litigation

Cultivators, manufacturers, and retailers in the emerging Massachusetts cannabis industry face complex licensing and permitting requirements, as well as a wide range of regulations.  Aside from government oversight, companies in the industry also encounter disputes over contracts, complex lease agreements, land use, and employment matters among other business disputes.

Todd & Weld litigators effectively advocate for cannabis industry clients in combatting obstacles created by municipal officials and working with government regulators.  We assist marijuana establishments navigate the licensing process, and negotiate on their behalf favorable Host Community Agreements in the municipalities in which they seek to do business.  At times, litigation is necessary to enforce our clients' legal rights under the Massachusetts law legalizing the recreational and medicinal uses of marijuana.  Cannabis industry companies also confront land use, contractual, and other disputes with entities and individuals in the private sector, and our team of trial lawyers applies its considerable litigation experience and skills in assisting clients to successfully resolve these matters.

Cannabis industry matters we've handled for our clients include:

• Negotiating on behalf of a cannabis manufacturer a fair Host Community Agreement with a municipality that had been demanding terms outside the bounds of Massachusetts statutory law

• Contesting in Massachusetts Land Court a challenge to a special permit granted by a municipality's planning board to a cannabis cultivator
  

• Negotiating a settlement on behalf of a medical marijuana dispensary with a contractor related to the dispensary's tenant improvement project

• Representing a client in a regulatory compliance matter involving the use of pesticides

• Negotiating a lawsuit settlement protecting a client's interests as a shareholder as part of a sale of the company and conversion to a publicly traded company

• Assisting a client in pursuing a marijuana retail license under the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission's Economic Empowerment Priority Application process