Banking & Financing in the Cannabis Industry

This course, taught by David Feldman, a partner at Duane Morris in New York City, provides an overview of financing for cannabis-related businesses and the unique banking issues they face. He begins with a brief overview of cannabis regulation, the interplay between state and federal law, and industry perceptions about what changes may come about under the new administration and Attorney General Sessions.

The program then focuses on the unique issues in raising capital for these companies, including the differences between businesses that “touch the plant” and those that do not, and reviews the challenges faced by public companies in the space. Mr. Feldman also addresses banking regulatory issues, including the Bank Secrecy Act, guidance on the issue from The Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) of the US Treasury Department, and how banks are reacting to that guidance.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the current statutory and regulatory landscape
2. Explore the challenges of financing and banking in a rapidly growing but complex industry
3. Identify best practices in advising cannabis clients on finance and banking questions