Welcome back to Higher Law, our weekly briefing on all things cannabis. I'm Cheryl Miller, reporting for Law.com from Sacramento. Have a happy St. Patrick's Day, however you celebrate.

This week we're looking at:

  • Two congressional views on the future of cannabis legalization.
  • Fraud charges related to a Puerto Rico cannabis venture
  • A new cannabis practice co-chair at Greenberg Glusker.
  • Pending cannabis legislation in Minnesota.

Thanks as always for reading. Got a story idea or feedback? You can send it all to me at [email protected]. You can also call me at 916.448.2935. Follow me on Twitter: @capitalaccounts

Representative Earl Blumenauer, a Democrat from Oregon, speaks during a House Ways and Means Committee hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Friday, March 10, 2023. Photo: Al Drago/Bloomberg

Lawmakers Offer Mixed Prognosis for Federal Cannabis Legislation

Two members of Congress last weekend offered their predictions on the future of cannabis legalization, and it was a little surprising to hear which one of them was more hopeful about that happening any time soon.

Rep. Earl Blumenauer, an Oregon Democrat and a long-time champion of legalization, told a SXSW audience "I'm more optimistic than I was eight months ago" even though his party just lost its majority in the House of Representatives.