Cannabis

We have one of the most active and successful cannabis law groups in Canada. Our specialized cannabis team is composed of lawyers with expertise in business law, labour and employment law and information technology law. We have deep expertise in the core areas of law impacted by the legalization of recreational cannabis. We understand not only the process of legislation, but the commercial, professional and political dynamics at play. We are focused on providing services and expertise designed to enhance outcomes for our cannabis clients through a multitude of issues, including licences, financing, the legislative process, lobbying, real estate, mergers and acquisitions, labelling and marketing, distribution systems, antitrust, environmental concerns, fraud and cyber risk prevention, class actions, labour law and workplace health and safety, information technology and intellectual property.

The key to delivering an industrial project on time and on budget is to identify issues and challenges at the outset. Our team can assist you in a number of areas, including:

• Compliance with the existing and contemplated rules on product packaging and labelling for medical and recreational cannabis and derivative products;
• Providing a detailed, thorough analysis of the current regulations on medical cannabis. We are also actively monitoring the evolution of the legislative and regulatory frameworks that are emerging in each Canadian province;
• Support during every step in the process, starting with due diligence for the acquisition or leasing of property to drafting and negotiating the offer to purchase, the deed of sale or the commercial lease;
• Assessing environmental risks and impacts. For example, the choice of heating devices, air filters, water circulation and treatment systems may affect the type of authorization required and could delay implementation of your project. Furthermore, note that several regulations under Quebec’s Environment Quality Act are currently being reviewed by the government and the regulatory landscape will continue to change throughout 2018;
• Providing advice to public companies on regulatory obligations related to securities and governance. Langlois’ lawyers has acted for several private companies in connection with their equity and debt financing by private placement;
• Strategic planning, relations with local and regional authorities, governmental relations and corporate governance.

Additionally, our labour and employment cannabis law group can provide guidance on the legal repercussions of legalized recreational cannabis on an organization’s human resources management. For example, certain employees who are returning to work on a progressive basis after a period of disability leave, may continue to consume medically prescribed cannabis, perhaps even during working hours. Moreover, recreational cannabis will present a host of different challenges for human resources management. In light of this momentous pending legislative change, the Langlois’ lawyers Labour and Employment Law team has spared no time in readying itself so that it can provide you with advice and counsel on how to set up comprehensive mechanisms for ensuring the health and safety of employees in the workplace and facilitating human resource management after the proposed legislation has been adopted.