This CLE program provides a focused overview of the federal tax landscape confronting state-legal cannabis businesses, with particular emphasis on the continuing impact of IRC §280E. Although many jurisdictions permit regulated cannabis activity, the federal classification of cannabis continues to create significant limitations on ordinary business deductions and tax planning strategies.

The course reviews the origins and mechanics of §280E, followed by an analysis of recent developments in both litigation and federal policy, including rescheduling efforts. Attendees will examine key cases shaping the current framework, such as Canna Provisions and New Mexico Top Organics, and evaluate the arguments being advanced by taxpayers and the government. The program concludes with practical considerations for advising cannabis clients in a shifting regulatory environment, including risk management, compliance strategies, and forward-looking planning under continued legal uncertainty.