This CLE program examines the evolving legal treatment of cannabis in the United States, tracing its path from widespread historical use to decades of federal prohibition under the Controlled Substances Act of 1970. That legislation classified cannabis as a Schedule I substance—asserting no accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse, and severe restrictions on scientific research.

Despite this federal framework, state-level reform has steadily reshaped the legal landscape. Beginning with California’s medical marijuana initiative in 1996 and accelerating with the legalization of adult-use cannabis in states such as Colorado and Washington in 2013, cannabis regulation has developed largely in tension with federal law.

The course will also address recent and significant federal developments, including executive action directing the Department of Justice to reclassify cannabis under Schedule III and major statutory changes enacted through the Big Beautiful Bill Act that redefine hemp and expand the legality of hemp-derived products. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of how these developments affect compliance, enforcement, and the future direction of cannabis law.