News & Insights

Cultivating a Cannabis Brand

Archer Partner Kate Sherlock was recently published in Issue 260 of NJ Cannabis Insider. In the article, “Cultivating a cannabis brand,” Kate discusses the necessary steps to cultivating and protecting a cannabis brand by walking through several alternative options to combat the inability to register cannabis trademarks at the federal level and protect their cannabis trademarks. ...read more

Drug Testing in Era of Legalized Cannabis: Do’s and Don’ts for Employers

"Drug testing in era of legalized cannabis: Do’s and Dont's for employers" By: Meghan O'Brien, Esq., ROI-NJ, April 2021 ...read more

Bill Caruso Discusses NJ CAN 2020 Campaign Efforts to Raise Awareness for NJ's Cannabis Legalization Vote this Fall

Bill Caurso, Managing Director of Archer Public Affairs, discussed with Cannabis Business Times, the campaign fight to raise awareness for the adult-use cannabis ballot question, in their recent article, "NJ CAN 2020 Enlists Help of New Jersey Governor in Campaign’s Efforts to Support State’s Cannabis Referendum". ...read more

New Jersey Passes New Law Regulating Employers' Ability to Test for Marijuana in the Workplace

When New Jersey voters ratified an amendment to the state's constitution permitting the recreational use of marijuana last fall, employment attorneys and legal scholars shared concern over the potential impact on employers seeking to maintain a drug-free workplace. What remained was for the State Legislature and the Governor to pass a law that actually laid out the permissible use of recreational marijuana. This week, Governor Murphy signed into law the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory, Enforcement Assistance, and Marketplace Modernization Act ("NJCREAMMA"). Although this law addresses many aspects of the now legalized practice of cannabis use in New Jersey for recreational reasons, the law also addresses some employer concerns over recreational marijuana use. However, for employers, other obstacles remain, along with areas of uncertainty. ...read more

CBD Industry Buzzing: USPTO Gives the Green Light to (Some) CBD Trademarks

New Jersey Department of Health Calls for Six New Medical Marijuana Dispensaries

On July 16, 2018, the New Jersey Department of Health, Division of Medicinal Marijuana issued a Request for Applications seeking up to six (6) new applicants to operate medicinal marijuana dispensaries, resulting in two new dispensaries in each of the existing regions (north, central and south). ...read more

New Intoxicating Hemp Restrictions Bill Passes NJ Senate Committee

The New Jersey Senate Committee advanced S-4509, sponsored by Senate Majority Leader Teresa Ruiz and Senate President Nick Scutari, establishing rules for intoxicating hemp products distinct from cannabis. The bill integrates these products into the adult-use cannabis market, bans online and vending machine sales, requires lab testing, and sets new excise taxes and licensing. ...read more

NJ Senate Committee Passes Bill to Go After Underground Legacy Operators, Reform CRC Rules

The NJ Senate Judiciary Committee has advanced S 4847, a bill aimed at targeting unlicensed cannabis operators and reforming the Cannabis Regulatory Commission (CRC). The bill gives the New Jersey State Police authority to crack down on illegal cannabis businesses, a move supported by Senator Paul Sarlo (D-36-Bergen). ...read more

NJ Assembly Committee Considers Bill Shifting Intoxicating Hemp Regulation to Department of Agriculture

A recent informational hearing held by the NJ Assembly Agriculture Committee focused on Bill A 5058, which proposes transferring the regulation of intoxicating hemp products from the NJ Cannabis Regulatory Commission (NJCRC) to the Department of Agriculture. The bill, introduced by Assembly Committee Chair William Spearman and Assemblyman Robert Karabinchak, aims to create a regulated hemp market, including hemp-derived beverages, while also addressing concerns from the liquor industry about how these products should be regulated. ...read more

Archer Attorneys to Attend a Free Expungement Event on January 16, 2023

The recent TAPinto Camden article, "Criminal Record? Expungement Event May Help You Erase Conviction," is centered around a free expungement event that will take place on January 16, 2023 at Camden County College's Camden City Campus. Dozens of attorneys will volunteer their time to review cases and send expungement requests to the courts, hoping to clear the criminal records of those who are attending the event and elligable. The article goes on to acknowledge, "(the) event will be heavily attended by lawyers from the Voorhees-based Archer & Greiner law firm." ...read more

Bill Caruso Interviewed for MJBIZ Daily Article "New Jersey’s recreational cannabis program has smooth launch despite supply worries”

Bill Caruso, Partner and Chair of Archer’s Cannabis Practice Group, was interviewed for an MJBIZ Daily news article "New Jersey’s recreational cannabis program has smooth launch despite supply worries" By Jeff Smith on April 26, 2022. In the article, Caruso noted that the first day “went off basically without a hitch, with patient priorities being paramount.” Bill goes on to discuss equity businesses, community participation and final thoughts on the state’s recreational marijuana program. ...read more

Bill Caruso Interviewed on Bronx News12 in a Segment “Marijuana Matters”

Bill Caruso, Partner and Chair of Archer’s Cannabis Practice Group, was interviewed on News12; The Bronx on April 20th, 2022 in a segment "Marijuana Matters" to discuss potential profession conflicts regarding the recent opening of legal marijuana dispensaries to sell marijuana for recreational purposes in New Jersey. “And until Congress acts and the federal government begins to wade into this measure, there are going to be some uncertainties in the law,” says Bill Caruso, "it is best for potential marijuana customers to know the rules for where they work." ...read more

Mid-Atlantic Review

Chair of Archer’s Cannabis Group, Bill Caruso, will be presenting the program “Mid-Atlantic Review” at the 2025 New Jersey Cannabis Convention. The Mid-Atlantic is the country's hottest cannabis market with a balanced approach to market maturity, opportunity based in solid fundamentals like competitive real estate and population radiuses, and new adult use markets still emerging completely in PA and VA. Bill, along with a panel of industry experts will address how the Mid-Atlantic region is navigating the cannabis market. Panelists will discuss the emerging Pennsylvania and Virginia adult use markets, how Delaware is handling their entry into the market and a look ahead to more licensing rounds for entrepreneurs in Maryland. ...read more

The Second Act of Cannabis Event

Attorneys Bill Caruso and Douglas Diaz will be serving as panelists during the NJBIA half-day cannabis industry conference “The Second Act of Cannabis in the Garden State.” Conference attendees will explore real impacts to New Jersey businesses operating in the recreational cannabis marketplace. The event will focus on employer human resources challenges any business can face, including liabilities and risks, and will discuss how the cannabis industry may evolve under a new federal administration. During the conference, Bill, who is chair of Archer’s Cannabis Group, will serve as moderator for the  program “Cannabis Market Trends Impacting New Jersey Businesses.” Douglas, a member of Archer’s Labor & Employment Group, will be a panelist for the program “Balancing the Highs - Employee Policies and Workplace Practices in a Cannabis-Legal World.” ...read more

Regulatory Updates at the Federal and State Levels

Bill Caruso, who chairs Archer’s Cannabis group, will be presenting the program “Regulatory Updates at the Federal and State Levels” at MJ Unpacked, a 3-day cannabis-industry conference. Join Bill and other experts as they break down the impacts cannabis operators, owners and investors are facing under legislative and compliance developments. Discover the latest in key policy shifts, how state-level regulations are adapting to market demands and the ongoing regulatory challenges surrounding intoxicating hemp-derived products. ...read more