Before March Madness, there's a February Finale.
The North Carolina Bar Association's signature CLE program spans five days with 30 hours of programming covering topics from e-discovery, privacy and data security, e-sports, and more.
Ward and Smith attorneys Tyler Russell and Allen Trask will bookend the forum with three separate, but related, sessions on hemp. Here's a summary of what you can expect from their program:
An Introduction to the Hemp Industry; Federal and State Legislative History
Dive into the industry and its various players to better understand why hemp has such significant commercial value, including an overview of cultivation methods, the cannabinoid extraction process and the various retail products available on the market. Explore how hemp came to the legal marketplace, beginning with the Agricultural Act of 2014 and culminating with the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2018. Focus on how the State of North Carolina reacted to these federal laws and implemented its own statutes and pilot program, and also consider the recent debates in the North Carolina General Assembly.
The Current and Future Regulatory Landscape
Hemp is an agricultural commodity that is set to be regulated in a significant way at both the federal and state levels. Detail the current regulatory framework for hemp production and how the current state regulations for items such as cultivation and seed distribution fit in with the function of the market, considering that much remains to be determined in the hemp space. Among other things, hear a discussion on potential changes to existing law that have gained momentum, possible additions and improvements to the cultivation regulations, and the likely (but far-off) regulatory developments for back-end products such as food, beverages and dietary supplements at the federal and state levels. Also, explore how we may see the market evolve to incorporate new angles.
Legal Issues Facing the Industry
In this session, learn about the numerous legal issues facing hemp-industry participants, including financing and banking services and transactions, regulatory compliance, contract concerns, land and facility leases, bona fide farm designations, shipping and freight, and many more. Also, address the ethics of practicing in this arena and the fulfillment of our professional obligations to clients.
Tyler and Allen's session starts at 1:25 p.m. on Friday, February 28 at North Carolina Bar Center in Cary. Reserve your spot today!
