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Seattle

Seattle

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2101 4th Avenue Suite 2050
Seattle, Washington 98121

Seattle

Seattle is the largest city in the Pacific Northwest and plays an important role as a technology hub and port. Opened in 2022, McGlinchey’s Seattle office houses attorneys who represent clients in a variety of contexts. With a particular focus on cannabis law, our legal team provides a comprehensive suite of regulatory and operational guidance, financial and intellectual property advice, and dispute resolution all across the Evergreen State and around the country.

Beyond the cannabis space, our Seattle team advises clients in a diverse array of commercial litigation, appeals, employment, and other areas of corporate and operational concerns.

Insights

News Release

McGlinchey Earns Dual National Best Workplace Recognitions

March 7, 2025

McGlinchey has been recognized among the 2025 U.S. News Best Companies to Work For: Law Firms. The firm was also was ranked #2 of 27 “large employers” in the inaugural America’s Best Workplaces list in 2025 by Best Companies Group.

Alert

Five Things Celebrity Athletes and Musicians Should Consider When Entering into Cannabis Branding Agreements

November 12, 2024

What do Megan Rapinoe, Kevin Durant, Shawn Kemp, Calvin Johnson, Willie Nelson, Wiz Kalifa, Margo Price, and Sublime all have in common? They all have created their own boutique cannabis brands. As cannabis has become more popular, celebrity athletes and musicians have taken notice and jumped into the game. This is true for both forms of cannabis, including marijuana and hemp. As celebrities increasingly enter this space, it is important that they are informed of both the risks and opportunities.

News Release

McGlinchey Wins Top Law Firm at PBC Conference, Attorneys Named Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers

October 3, 2024

McGlinchey is pleased to announce its recognition as “Top Law Firm” by the PBC Conference 2024, a leading event that brings together the cannabis banking ecosystem with a focus on payments, banking, and compliance. This honor underscores the firm’s ability to integrate its deep experience in financial services with its growing leadership in the cannabis industry.

Alert

The End of Zero-Tolerance Drug Policies

September 25, 2024

Zero-tolerance drug policies in the workplace are an endangered species. Traditional drug laws and policies as they relate to the workplace are being upended, and employers are increasingly struggling to grapple with the patchwork of state drug-testing laws – that oftentimes conflict with federal law – as well as the proliferation of legal THC-containing products derived from hemp.

Alert

Impacts of Cannabis Rescheduling on Bankruptcy

August 7, 2024

Despite the excitement of many over rescheduling cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III, the move does not make cannabis “legal” unless it is produced, sold, and used within the tightly regulated parameters of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA). Many medical and adult-use cannabis stores and products that currently exist in approximately four-fifths of the United States are not in compliance with the CSA. These businesses violate federal law now, and they will still be violating federal law if and when cannabis is rescheduled; rescheduling does not make the conduct federally legal.

News Release

McGlinchey Ranked for Legal Diversity by Vault, American Lawyer

July 2, 2024

McGlinchey was named among many AmLaw 100 and 200 firms among Vault’s 2025 rankings for Diversity in Law Firms, based on input from the firm’s Associates. McGlinchey also ranked in two categories in The American Lawyer’s 2024 Diversity Scorecards: Women in Law and the LGBTQ+ Scorecard.

Green Leaf Brief Blog

Podcast: Securing Retail Space for Your Cannabis Business (Episode 1 of 2)

June 13, 2024

Obtaining retail space for any small business is a big move. This is especially true for a cannabis business for two principal reasons. First, cannabis businesses are highly regulated at the state and local level. Second, cannabis generally remains illegal at the federal level. A standard retail space lease is just not going to suffice. So, the question is, what does a cannabis business need to do and watch for when obtaining a retail space?

Published Article

Marijuana Reclassification Impacts Bank Servicing of Businesses

May 29, 2024

The Department of Justice’s move to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug, on which it began formal proceedings on May 16, won’t legalize state-level adult use and medical marijuana unless it’s produced, sold, and used within the regulations of the Controlled Substances Act. Banks and other financial institutions may have questions on how these changes could affect their ability to service cannabis businesses.

Green Leaf Brief Blog

Rescheduling Marijuana FAQs: Cannabis-Related Investments

May 24, 2024

In light of the rescheduling marijuana news, industry insiders anticipate a significant increase in cannabis-related investments and acquisition activity. While this anticipated increase in activity is exciting, it is no secret that those who have already invested capital into the cannabis industry have learned some hard lessons over the last decade.

Alert

Rescheduling Marijuana FAQs: How Do I Submit Comments on DEA’s Proposed Rules?

May 17, 2024

The Proposed Rule will be published on May 21, 2024. Once that occurs, the notice and comment period will open. Interested parties, including those currently involved in the cannabis industry as well as the many industries which cannabis rescheduling will affect, should start considering now whether they wish to submit a comment and request a hearing at which to speak and present a comment.

Green Leaf Brief Blog

Ohio’s Recreational Cannabis: Almost Ready to Roll

May 14, 2024

Ohio’s Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR) approved eleven rules previously submitted by the Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) for administrative rule review. Under Ohio law, JCARR is the final committee that must approve the proposed rules.

In the Media

DEA Moves to Reclassify Marijuana

April 30, 2024

Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) was interviewed on Seattle's Fox 13 on April 30, 2024, about marijuana's reclassification from Schedule I to Schedule III.

Alert

EPA’s Long Arm Reach: PFAS TSCA Rule

April 2, 2024

On October 11, 2023, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued a final rule to require reporting under Section 8(a)(7) of the Toxic Substances Control Act for Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances.

Published Article

Support for Marijuana Rescheduling Grows

April 1, 2024

Support for marijuana rescheduling has been pouring in as the Biden administration considers moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act (CSA).

Green Leaf Brief Blog

What is the Timeline for Rescheduling Marijuana?

March 21, 2024

It is not yet known when the DEA will announce its recommendation or what the agency will recommend. Below, we explore the DEA’s options and potential timelines, as well as what will happen once the DEA does make a determination as to how marijuana will be scheduled going forward.

Green Leaf Brief Blog

Hemp Industry 2024: State and Federal Changes

February 21, 2024

Participants in the federally legal hemp industry are already required to navigate a complex web of federal and state law. However, in light of changes that have occurred and will continue to occur throughout 2024, hemp businesses must be prepared to pivot on a moment’s notice throughout the coming months.

News Release

Ferachi to Serve Second Term as McGlinchey’s Managing Member

February 7, 2024

McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce that as of January 1, 2024, Michael Ferachi has been elected to serve a second three-year term as the firm’s Managing Member. “I am proud of the progress the firm made during my first term, ranging from growing our employee headcount and geographic footprint to expanding our practice areas,More

Green Leaf Brief Blog

Ohio Marijuana License Application Process Outlined by Regulations

February 7, 2024

On January 29, 2024, the Ohio Division of Cannabis Control (DCC) released the first package of proposed rules (Regulations) to govern the state’s emerging legal cannabis market. The Regulations cover the Ohio marijuana license application process and also remove and rescind certain fees.

Cannabis Alert

2024 Cannabis Trademarks and Branding

January 31, 2024

Despite this uncertainty, one thing is clear: many cannabis brands currently operating in the space need not wait for federal rescheduling of marijuana to take advantage of protections under federal and state trademarks for cannabis trademarks.

Alert

DEA is Going to Have a Hard Time Fighting Marijuana Rescheduling

January 16, 2024

The major importance of the HHS Letter is its impact on limiting the DEA’s next moves on marijuana. Although nothing is certain, it seems very likely that the DEA will move forward with the rulemaking process to reschedule marijuana.

Published Article

PFAS Issues in the Cannabis Industry

January 16, 2024

Of Cousel Michael Blumenthal (Cleveland) and Member and Co-Chair of McGlinchey's Cannabis group Heidi Urness (Seattle) published an article in Food Safety Magazine focusing on the potential risks regarding per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in the cannabis industry and the need for state-level regulations.

News Release

McGlinchey Stafford Names Eight New Members in 2024

January 2, 2024

McGlinchey Stafford is pleased to announce the eight attorneys who have been named Members at the firm, effective January 1, 2024. These attorneys represent four practice groups and six of the firm’s 17 offices.

Cannabis Alert

Podcast: Ohio Marijuana: Voters Legalize Adult-Use Cannabis

December 5, 2023

Ohio legalized adult-use cannabis on November 7th, 2023, but the future of the market is uncertain, and things are changing quickly. In this episode, we'll cover why we should expect the unexpected on the road to legalization of adult-use marijuana in Ohio.

Presentation

Regulations & Licensing

December 3, 2023

Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) will moderate a "Regulations & Licensing" panel, and Of Counsel, David Waxman (Cleveland) and Associate Daniel Shortt (Seattle) will join as panelists at the second National Interdisciplinary Cannabis Symposium in Portland, Oregon, on December 3, 2023.

Cannabis Alert

Ohio Legalizes Adult-Use Marijuana

November 7, 2023

On November 7, 2023, voters in Ohio approved Ohio Issue 2, the Marijuana Legalization Initiative, which legalizes marijuana for recreational use in Ohio.

In the Media

What’s Most Exciting About the New Pot Banking Bill

October 20, 2023

Member Heidi Urness (Seattle) was quoted in The Financial Brand‘s October 19, 2023 article on the latest piece of Congressional legislation related to financing cannabis. Things could go either way, says Heidi Urness, co-chair of the cannabis practice group for the law firm McGlinchey Stafford in Seattle. “I think there’s excitement over some actual bipartisanMore

Cannabis Alert

SAFER Act: Marijuana May Soon Become a Bigger Deal

October 17, 2023

The marijuana industry touted the passage of the SAFER Banking Act by the Senate Banking Committee, by a notable bipartisan majority of 14-9, on Sept. 27 and was placed on the Senate legislative calendar under general orders the following day. A Senate floor vote is now pending.

Cannabis Alert

Is THCA Legal? The State Line is the Bottom Line

October 16, 2023

Tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) is one of the most misunderstood and controversial cannabinoids in the Cannabis sativa (cannabis) plant. While booming in popularity, THCA is also a high-risk cannabinoid from a legal standpoint.

Cannabis Alert

Podcast: Tax and Banking Implications of Rescheduling Marijuana

September 28, 2023

In late August, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced that it would recommend moving marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III of the Controlled Substances Act. In this episode, corporate cannabis attorney Daniel Shortt moderates a discussion with tax attorney Douglas Charnas and financial services regulatory attorney Aaron Kouhoupt about what impactsMore

Alert

DEA Likely to Reschedule Marijuana Based on Congressional Report

September 18, 2023

According to a report from the Congressional Research Service (the Report), the DEA is likely to follow the Department of HHS and the FDA's recommendation to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act.

Presentation

CRB Due Diligence for Banking Executives

September 21, 2023

Complementary to compliance, due diligence is an extremely important part of cannabis banking. Beneficial ownership and layered legal entity structures are two hot topics; what else should an FI look for when onboarding a CRB? What about ongoing due diligence after a CRB is onboarded? On Thursday, September 21, 2023, Co-Chair of McGlinchey’s Cannabis industry group, Heidi Urness (Seattle), will join a panel, "CRB Due Diligence for Banking Executives," during the PBC Conference in Washington, DC.

Alert

Rescheduling Marijuana: Understanding the Legal Impacts

July 25, 2023

Marijuana is currently listed as a Schedule I substance in the Controlled Substances Act (CSA); this scheduling means the federal government concluded marijuana has no currently accepted medical use in any setting. In a prior post, we analyzed how the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), along with the Department of Justice, can opt for descheduling or rescheduling marijuana under the CSA.

Alert

Hemp in Your Suitcase Can Get You Convicted of Trafficking in Marijuana

July 21, 2023

A hard lesson was learned after cannabis was discovered in a suitcase at the airport: the government does not have to prove cannabis is marijuana to convict you of trafficking in marijuana. A new case recently clarified that the legal burden shifts and requires the accused to produce evidence that the cannabis is not marijuana.More

Event

Deep Dive into Payments: Emerging Issues in Payments Webinar

July 25, 2023

Join us to hear McGlinchey attorneys discuss innovations in the payments environment and developing payments applications. Aaron Kouhoupt, David Tallman, Rachael Aspery, and Heidi Urness will explore issues ranging from error resolution responsibilities, money movement and challenges entering the payment networks, as well as cannabis business challenges. date & time Tuesday, July 25, 202311 amMore

Podcasts

Podcast: Cannabis and Bankruptcy, Ep. 3: Considerations for Lenders

June 30, 2023

This is the third installment in our three-part series: “Exploring Issues in Cannabis and Bankruptcy.” In this final episode, we'll explore what the two recent decisions in Blumsack and Hacienda mean for creditors in the cannabis industry and also what rights are available to lenders and marijuana financiers in the bankruptcy context.

Alert

Contamination, PFAS, and the Cannabis Industry

June 28, 2023

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a class of man-made chemicals used in various industries, such as food packaging, cosmetics, and household products. More than 10,000 chemical substances can be classified as PFAS in the United States. However, despite their broad use, several studies have identified potential health risks associated with these chemicals.

Presentation

Marketing Mistakes That Can Be Canna-strophic

June 22, 2023

On Thursday, June 22, 2023, Heidi Urness (Seattle) will present "Marketing Mistakes That Can Be Canna-strophic" during the 2023 Cannabis Marketing Summit in Denver, Colorado.

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