Illinois Social Equity Cannabis Program: Marijuana Licensing 101  By: Alex Ion                                                                                                                                         Attorney, Cannabis & Healthcare Consultant                      Published on October 22, 2019  Illinois has allotted 20% of the total point structure for the license application of recreational cannabis businesses to social equity applicants. More specifically, out of the total 250 points, 50 points are designated for applicants that qualify as “social equity applicants.” This relatively large allocation is perhaps the most progressive social equity program of the 11 states that currently have a recreational cannabis licensing program, but this program’s implementation has been problematic. Under the Cannabis Regulation and Tax Act of Illinois (410 ILCS 705), to qualify as a Social Equity Applicant an Illinois resident must meet one of the following criteria: “an applicant with at...

Does SAFE Act Really Provide Safety to Marijuana Industry?  By: Ted Kirsch & Alex Ion                                                                                                                Attorneys & Regulatory Consultants Ion Law                Published on September 26, 2019  Formally known as the “Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act of 2019,” the SAFE Act passed in the House last night on bipartisan grounds with a 321-103 vote. The Act seeks to ensure a “safe harbor” among other protections for depository institutions that want to engage with state-licensed cannabis companies and their service providers. The original impetus, which the Act was predicated on, was to take cash out of the cannabis industry. The industry facilitating the sales of cannabis has grown exponentially as the medical and recreational use of cannabis becomes more widely tolerated in many states. The amount of money in the industry has also increased in lockstep with the expansion of legal cannabis throughout the...

Alex Ion Represents Francesca Farago Star of Netflix Hit Series Too Hot to Handle  By: Ion Law                                                                                                                                       Entertainment Law Attorneys                                               Published on August 6, 2020 Alex Ion of Ion Law is proud to represent the biggest breakout star of the Netflix hit series Too Hot to Handle,  social media influencer, and successful entrepreneur, Francesca Farago. As an avid YouTuber, Alex Ion has a first-hand understanding of the unique challenges facing content creators and media personalities. Alex also possesses the legal acumen to help guide you through all important business decisions and negotiations. He is a litigator that will not shy away from a legal fight if it becomes necessary. Alex brings his transactional and litigation...

Alex Ion Represents Star of Netflix Hit Francesca Farago  By: Ion Law                                                                                                                                       Entertainment Law Attorneys                                               Published on May 20, 2020 Alex Ion of Ion Law is proud to represent one of the biggest stars of the Netflix hit series Tiger King, Dillon Passage, the husband of Joe Maldonado-Passage famously known by his stage name "Joe Exotic." As an avid YouTuber, Alex Ion has a first-hand understanding of the unique challenges facing content creators and media personalities. Alex also possesses the legal acumen to help guide you through all important business decisions and negotiations. He is a litigator that will not shy away from a legal fight if it becomes necessary. Alex brings his transactional and...

Illinois Recreational Cannabis Dispensary License 101  By: Alex Ion                                                                                                                                         Attorney, Cannabis & Healthcare Consultant                       Published on October 10, 2019 The amendment to Illinois Senate Bill 7 will legalize recreational adult use cannabis in Illinois. These legal developments present a unique opportunity for entrepreneurs and established companies in the legal cannabis space, but they also present many challenges. The first, and perhaps greatest, hurdle business owners in the space will face is obtaining state licensure. The IDFPR’s (Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation) application for dispensing organizations was released last week. It delineates the steps one must take in order to compel the department into granting a dispensary license to buy and sell cannabis in the State of Illinois. Importantly, the dispensary license application cost is $5,000...

Illinois Recreational Marijuana Legal by 2020: What You Need to Know  By: Alex Ion                                                                                                                                         Attorney, Cannabis & Healthcare Consultant                       Published on October 15, 2019 The amendment to Illinois Senate Bill 7 will legalize recreational adult use cannabis in Illinois. Starting on January 1, 2020, adults over 21 in Illinois will be able to legally purchase cannabis for recreational use from licensed dispensaries across the state. This means that qualifying Illinois residents will be able to hold up to 30 grams of cannabis flower; 5 grams of cannabis concentrate; and 500 milligrams of THC contained in a cannabis-infused product, on their person, without running afoul of any state laws. People visiting Illinois will also be able to purchase and carry cannabis and cannabis-related products, at exactly half...

Ninth Circuit Refuses to Address Legality of Interstate Transport of Hemp  By: Alex Ion                                                                                                                                         Attorney, Cannabis & Healthcare Consultant                 Published on November 23, 2019  In the ongoing case of Big Sky Scientific LLC v. Jan Bennetts et al, the Idaho State Police seized over 6,000 pounds of industrial hemp (cannabis plant containing .3% THC or less) that was being transported through Idaho from Oregon to Colorado and charged the driver of the truck with felony drug trafficking. Idaho police also filed a civil complaint in state court against the hemp processor. The Idaho civil case was stayed pending the resolution of criminal proceedings. In turn, the hemp processor, Big Sky Scientific LLC, filed a motion for a preliminary injunction in federal court demanding that Idaho State Police turn over the...

Religious Liberty in Jeopardy: Supreme Court Denies Seventh-Day Adventist's Religious Bias Claim Against Walgreens  By: Alex Ion                                                                                                                                         Employment Law Attorney                                                    Published on February 24, 2020 Today the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear the appeal of an ex-Walgreens employee who was fired for refusing to work on Saturdays due to his religious beliefs. The Florida man bringing the claims of religious discrimination against Walgreens is a member of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. As the name implies, Seventh-day Adventists are a Protestant Christian denomination that observes Saturday as the Sabbath. Since it was filed in 2011, this case has been closely monitored by legal scholars, religious leaders, and Washington politicians. Many...

Ted Kirsch Joins Ion Law Cannabis Law Practice  By: Ion Law                                                                                                                                         Published on October 7, 2019 Ion Law is pleased to announce the addition of Ted Kirsch, an experienced attorney and consultant in the cannabis industry, joining the firm’s cannabis law practice. Ted’s legal experience further enhances Ion Law’s cannabis law practice. Throughout his career, Ted has facilitated and advised companies, both large and small, in the cannabis industry through mergers and acquisitions. Ted has worked directly with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to create a legal survey of the Multijurisdictional Disclosure System (MJDS), as a means of providing guidance to Canadian clients desiring access to the U.S. public equities markets. Ted leverages his regulatory background to advise individuals and Multi-State Operators (MSOs) on how to create license applications for a wide range of...

The Weinstein Effect: Understanding Sexual Harassment Claims  By: Alex Ion                                                                                                                                         Attorney, Healthcare Consultant                                              Published on March 25, 2018  In the wake of the October 2017 publications by The New York Times and The New Yorker reporting more than a dozen allegations of sexual harassment, sexual assault and rape, against now disgraced Hollywood juggernaut film producer Harvey Weinstein, an unprecedented wave of allegations have been mounted against many influencers in the film industry, news media, and political arena. This list includes the likes of former House of Cards actor, Kevin Spacey, former co-host of NBC’s Today show, Matt Lauer, former comedian turned Democratic United States senator, Al Franken, acclaimed documentary filmmaker Morgan Spurlok, and recent Golden Globe Awards winner James Franco. The ripple effects of...