Regulated Substances

Navigating cannabis companies through incorporation, regulation, and litigation.

Earp Cohn P.C. was one of the first law firms in Pennsylvania to organize a practice group to serve the expanding legal cannabis and marijuana industry in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Our extensive knowledge and broad-ranging legal expertise provides individuals, small start-ups, and large corporations involved in the industry with an ideal source of legal counsel, helping them to navigate the often-confusing array of federal, state and local regulation of these substances.

Our firm offers talented and nationally-recognized transactional attorneys providing advice in many important legal areas for the industry, such as regulatory matters, real estate, securities, tax, non-profit enterprise, finance, and new business start-ups, as well as veteran, trial-tested litigators in the event of litigation. Our Regulated Substances Practice offers over a century of combined legal experience, drawing on background and experience ranging from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, U.S. Department of Justice, local Prosecutor’s Office, non-profit organizations, and mega firms.

Our Regulated Substances Practice is equipped to work with a variety of clients in the legal cannabis and marijuana industry, including:

  • growers, processors, and dispensaries who need assistance applying for licenses or permits, renewing permits, appealing denials, navigating local zoning codes, conducting internal investigations, instituting product recalls, and identifying and managing risk, as well as providing necessary notices to customers and regulatory authorities;
  • educational and healthcare institutions and laboratories interested in conducting cannabis and marijuana-focused research;
  • ancillary service providers interested in pursuing opportunities in the new industry, such as financial institutions, landlords, trucking or transportation providers, security firms, marketing companies, technology firms, business accelerators, and importers and exporters;
  • health care providers, patients, and caregivers seeking advice in risk assessment, regulatory compliance, and certification procedures;
  • investors and investment firms desiring guidance on regulatory compliance, structuring private equity arrangements, and real estate investment trusts;
  • individual or company representation in potential litigation arising from member, partner or shareholder disputes, criminal investigations, investment misrepresentations, or employment disputes; and
  • governmental entities seeking counsel on drafting ordinances, regulations, or conducting investigations.

Marijuana/cannabis remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency, and as such a variety of activities including, but not limited to, growing, selling, using, and possessing marijuana/cannabis, remain subject to potential federal prosecution, even if those same activities may be legal if appropriately conducted at the state level. Any content contained herein is not intended to provide legal advice to assist with violation of any federal, state, or municipal law. Legal advice to clients is provided only after the firm has been engaged to represent a specific client.