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Celebrate 4/20 With Some Dank CLEs

By Casey C. Sullivan, Esq. on April 19, 2016 | Last updated on March 21, 2019

Among marijuana enthusiasts, April 20th is one of the most important holidays of the year -- a day to celebrate "420," or the semi-mythical code for marijuana. But marijuana isn't just for dirty hippies and shiftless college students these days. With the spread of legalization and decriminalization, weed is becoming big business and weed law is becoming a significant practice area.

So, what better way to celebrate 420 this 4/20 than by catching up to the latest weed-related legal developments with some dank CLEs?

CLEs That Won't Harsh Your Mellow

If you're looking for marijuana-related legal education, West LegalEdcenter has you covered. (Disclosure: West LegalEdcenter is a FindLaw sister company.) With more than 6,000 CLE programs and 12,000 hours of content, West LegalEdcenter has pretty much everything you could need, including advice on drug law.

We've collected some of our favorite 420-friendly CLEs for you below. Sadly, we can't link directly to West LegalEdcenter's individual offerings, but a simple search for the CLE title should get you there without a problem.

1. Risky Business: Ethically Representing a Medical Marijuana Business

Twenty-three states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana. Washington, Colorado, Oregon, Alaska, and D.C. have also fully legalized recreational cannabis. Yet, marijuana remains illegal under federal law. That presents a tricky situation for lawyers, whose ethical responsibilities prohibit them from counseling a client to break the law. This webinar looks at how different states have dealt with the ethical issues raised by lawyers representing marijuana businesses.

Another area complicated by the state-federal split on marijuana is insurance. As landlords, equipment suppliers, and marijuana businesses look to insure their industry, underwriters are struggling to properly evaluate the risks and opportunities presented by the blooming weed industry. This CLE looks at the conflict between state and federal policies, state insurance requirements, and the enforceability of insurance contracts on the weed industry, along with other weed and insurance related legal issues.

3. Sex, Drugs, and Guns: Castagnera's Update on the Hot Employment Law Issues of 2016

What happens when marijuana legalization collides with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act? That act requires covered employers to make ongoing, good faith efforts to maintain a drug-free workplace. These and other employment issues are addressed in this CLE, hosted by Dr. Jim Castagnera.

4. Lending to Marijuana Businesses

The legal marijuana industry might be primed for massive growth, but it faces major hurdles when accessing financial services. In this CLE, experts explore how the Controlled Substances Act affects access to banking, the credit risks faced by banks who lend to marijuana businesses, FinCEN guidance, and more.

And if these four aren't the stickiest ickiest CLEs for you, well, there are thousands more to check out as well.

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