The New York State Bar Association (NYSBA) has created a Cannabis Law Section for attorneys seeking guidance within the emerging market and practice area.
The NYSBA cited the prior decision to convert the Committee on Cannabis Law to a section during a virtual meeting of the organization’s House of Delegates, which represents the association’s governing body.
“Converting the committee into a section will expand the resources of the committee to better respond to the rapidly emerging area of law, and thereby increasing the influence of the section and the value of membership in the association,” Section Chair Lynelle K. Bosworth said.
The revision translates to an increased number of members participating in the section’s work while allocating additional resources to expand initiatives.
Cannabis is not legal in all 50 states nor on the federal level, the NYSBA noted, adding the situation results in a patchwork of laws and presents a wide range of challenges for attorneys and their clients.
Additionally, the NYSBA maintains the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act’s recent enactment legalized adult-use cannabis, expanded New York’s medical cannabis and cannabinoid hemp programs, and triggered a variety of criminal law reforms.
The NYSBA indicated its Cannabis Institute has been touted by the legal industry, noting it educates attorneys, policymakers, and members of the public on the implications and impact of new laws while also focusing on equity, labor law, and social justice.