FLORES’ Post

This week's #RegulatoryWednesday brings safety to the state of California. Last year's Assembly bill 1013 finally goes into effect July 1, 2024 mandating Type 48 license holders to offer drug testing kits for sale or at no cost to patrons. The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, mentions that these bars & night clubs must also display signage in a prominent location, letting patrons know drug testing kits are available to test for common date-rape drugs, often referred to as ‘roofies.’ Cheers to California and keeping our industry safe! Learn more here: https://hubs.li/Q02BrCBv0 #Safety #California #Regulations #MoreThanPayments #FintechBevAlc #RegulatoryUpdate

It's not just a win, it's a HUGE win for the cigar industry. Judge Amit Mehta, who just last year declared regulations from the Food and Drug Administration on the cigar industry "arbitrary and capricious," has now dismissed the Deeming Rule the FDA attempted to put in place. The Deeming Rule stated that cigars can be regulated by the FDA just like cigarettes are. Of course, anyone who smokes premium cigars can tell you how insane that is. And as the host of the largest cigar and bourbon review radio program in the United States, Tony Katz can explain it better than most. Josh Habursky, Deputy Executive Director of the Premium Cigar Association and Glynn Loope, State Advocacy Director of the Premium Cigar Association, explain what this rule means for the industry, for your local cigar lounge and for any small business dealing with onerous regulations. Presented by Americans For Prosperity https://lnkd.in/gZSFJg98

Illinois is at a crossroads with the regulation of hemp-derived products like delta-8 and delta-10 THC. This blog delves into the ongoing debate over consumer safety, market integrity, and the push for comprehensive regulations amidst a fragmented legal landscape. - https://lnkd.in/eUXU6vgX

The recent onslaught of vapor registry bills in the United States is creating a lot of anxiety. Proposed registries have brought tension to public hearings and drama on social media. Unfortunately, like most current domestic issues, neither side appears to appreciate the perspective of the other. While only a handful of states have enacted product registries, many legislatures have considered and/or are considering such legislation. https://lnkd.in/dZeNGJFp

In 2023 we saw an uptick in the number of alcohol products which were found to be in breach of our Code of Practice, as well as a number of precedent setting decisions made by the Independent Complaints Panel. In particular, the number of cases upheld under Code rule 3.2(h) increased significantly, with several drinks found to have a particular appeal to under-18s. Despite this increase, all of these products were removed from the market voluntarily, demonstrating that even when alcohol producers occasionally get it wrong, quick and effective action is usually taken without the need for further regulatory intervention. Our 2023 Regulatory Report provides a yearly run down of our work as a regulator, encompassing the 18 decisions of the Independent Complaints Panel and key stats on advice, guidance, training and complaints. You can read it in full here 👇 https://lnkd.in/e2a4Ax_K

In our latest post, my Troutman Pepper colleague, Bryan Haynes, and I discuss litigation between the City of San Francisco and e-cigarette distributors over alleged violations of the City's flavored tobacco product ban and state law. #tobacco #tobaccoproducts #tobaccoindustry #litigation #regulatorycompliance #regulatoryoversight

David Clissold and I discuss the best-written court decision you'll read all year in our newest blog post on the FDA Law Blog. Check it out for all of your flavored e-cigarette related reading! #fdalawblog #ecigarettes #fda

So, the FDA came knocking on the BRĒZ HQ door... 😳 srsly. First literally, then via email, launching a full investigation triggered by an ingredient complaint from an anonymous law firm (shoutout to our mystery competitor 👀). They then proceeded to peel back EVERY layer of BRĒZ 🫥 Thankfully, our dedication to transparency, compliance, and safety meant we were fully prepared, passing every check amidst the hemp sector’s uncertainties. Here’s the kicker: THC/CBD in food? The FDA’s official stance is still a no-go, but there's no active enforcement. Since the 2018 Farm Bill, the industry has been navigating this bizarre legal limbo between Congress, the FDA, lobbyists, and many other special interest groups. The absurdity of it all? Nearly comical. Today’s meeting marked the close of their investigation, with BRĒZ emerging not just unscathed but dare I say validated in our compliance efforts. But this saga is bigger than us. There’s an entire industry caught in regulatory paralysis but alive with defiance. What now? We BRĒZ refuse to stand idle. We’re here to pioneer, to demonstrate what it means to be safe, compliant, and dedicated to unlocking the vast potential of cannabis, mushrooms, and other conscious compounds for everyone. As the industry faces maneuvers from lobbyists, lawyers, and politicians, we’re not just standing by… We’re actively building, leading by example, and advocating for safe, regulated access to transformative substances. The path to keeping access open requires collective effort. It's time to unite, drive change, and advocate for sensible, people-focused regulations that liberate this plant and others. Our ducks are in a row, our eyes on the future. Looking ahead, we commit to championing smart regulation through education, advocacy, and access—for the people, for safety, for our shared future. Our resolve to scale quickly has now been magnified. Join us as we pave the way. ✊ Grateful for my incredible partners: Avin Kline / Nick Shackelford / Travis Freedom / Skye Sherman / Preston Campbell, PhD / Corbin Martin And our incredible law firm Vicente LLP & Andrea Golan & Jared Stark 🙏

What a sh*tshow…. Like we’ve seen in Michigan, most of the industry’s issues stem from cannabis STILL being seen my those in power as either something that should still be illegal, or as nothing more than an easy cash grab for the localities and states opting in. Hyper regulation that increases prices, limits access, and makes the cost of doing business 5-10x higher than alcohol does NOT equate to a free legal market for the benefit of consumers. At some point, any and all regulation that is not expressly in line with the alcohol industry should been as a miscarriage of justice. If it’s legal, LEGALIZE IT. And New York, get your life together… Or the bodegas win, and consumers continue to lose.

The Year 1921: An Anti-Alcohol Legislation Victory by President Harding - On this day in the year 1921, United States President Warren G. Harding ratified the Willis-Campbell Act, or as it's more commonly known, the anti-beer bill, into law. The legislation was unique, as it aimed to stop physicians from prescribing beer or liquor for its supposed health benefits. This law was a response to a loophole some healthcare professionals had been exploiting to supply their patients with alcohol amid the growing temperance movement. The Willis-Campbell Act was a critical piece of a wider transition towards more stringent alcohol regulation in the United States. This legislation was an instrumental step on the journey to prohibition, a movement aimed at ceasing nationwide alcohol consumption. The movement reached its climax in 1920 with the induction of the 18th Amendment into the United States Constitution. Prohibition, the period marked by a nationwide blanket ban on the manufacturing, distribution, and sale of alcoholic beverages, endured until 1933. The passing of the anti-beer bill in 1921, led to significant changes within the alcohol regulation landscape of the United States....https://lnkd.in/gCfXcwtS