Investing in the marijuana industry is a tricky thing. In most other industries, the main things to look for in an investment is if and when you will get a return on your investment, and how much. That is true of the marijuana industry as well, but investing in the marijuana industry also involves the added element of legality. There are many, many good ideas out there in the marijuana industry, but a lot of them involve operating in a legal gray area at best.
There are a lot of details involved in the marijuana industry surrounding legality. The federal government still considers marijuana to be illegal, while some states have medical or recreational provisions (or both). Throw into the mix 280E, banking, insurance, intellectual property, and other considerations, and you have a very complicated situation. A very common e-mail that I receive is ‘I want to invest in this idea, but is it legal?’
If that is you, you should attend the World Cannabis Congress and Business Exposition in New York in June, and hear attorney Ryan Hurley’s presentation. Mr. Hurley will be speaking at the event, and the topic of his presentation is ‘How to Legally Invest in the Cannabis Business.’ You can hear Ryan discuss the legal and practical issues of investing in the marijuana industry with lessons learned from 5 years in the trenches. Federal vs. State Law, 280E, issues regarding non-profit dispensaries, important contract terms for cannabis contracts, and an overview of new markets and opportunities to invest will be discussed.
Ryan Hurley is at the forefront of the marijuana industry, having advised countless businesses in the Arizona medical marijuana industry and beyond. Below is a brief biography about Ryan Hurley, via the Rose Law Group website, of which Ryan is a member:
Ryan Hurley is a partner, chair of Rose Law Group’s Medical Marijuana practice group and head of the Renewable Energy Policy and Research Department at RLG. Ryan concentrates his practice in the areas of medical marijuana, renewable and alternative energy, water law and land use and zoning.
Mr. Hurley is a founding member of the National Cannabis Industry Association, a member of the American Solar Energy Society, has served as the Vice President of the Arizona Solar Energy Industry Association, chair of the Pinal Partnership Renewable Energy Committee, and is a regular speaker at conferences around the country on issues related to both medical marijuana and renewable energy. Ryan is also a Bitcoin enthusiast and helps keep RLG on the cutting edge of new developments in law and technology. Mr. Hurley earned his bachelor’s degree in Environmental Science, and his J.D. in 2005, from The University of Arizona.
Something that people rarely think about when starting a marijuana business is zoning. Zoning has the ability to cripple your business very fast. With so many state and local governments tackling the issue of marijuana industry rules, zoning is a very fluid situation in most states that allow marijuana businesses to exist. Learning about the issues surrounding marijuana business zoning alone is worth hearing Ryan speak, as he is a leading expert on the topic. You can find out more about the World Cannabis Congress and Business Exposition by clicking the banner below. The event will have a lot of stellar speakers, excellent networking opportunities, great vendors and exhibitors, and it will be taking place in New York, which is in the process of starting its own medical marijuana industry:
