Lawfully Good

The federal hemp deadline is getting closer and businesses need to be preparing now. Under current law, major changes to the federal definition of hemp are set to take effect November 11, with a possible delay to December 11 if the House approves the Senate’s continuing resolution. So what does that actually mean for hemp businesses trying to stay in the market?

In this episode, I break down what we know, what remains uncertain, and the practical steps business owners should be thinking through now if they want to keep moving forward. If you’re in the hemp industry, this is one to watch.

This episode was recorded on August 26, 2026.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

HB 328 was a very close call for one of the most vibrant hemp markets in the country. North Carolina's hemp industry was almost shut down. But, businesses, farmers, consumers, and advocates got informed, got organized, went to Raleigh, and made their voices heard.

This round, it made a difference. The bill was tabled. But I don’t think the takeaway should be, “Great, crisis over.”

We need to talk about what happened. What worked. How close this came. And why anyone whose livelihood depends on this industry needs to understand the legislative process.

Consider this our post-mortem.

Protecting a strong, responsible hemp industry means more than paying attention when there’s an emergency. It means showing up, staying informed, and being part of the conversation. And I have some things to tell you, some behind the scenes details of hemp bills in NC. Let's dive into these details.

Check out CBHD News: https://cbhd.news/

This episode was recorded on August 26, 2026.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

Kratom has mostly stayed in the background while hemp has dominated the regulatory headlines. That may be changing.

The DEA has scheduled three compounds commonly found in kratom, and Florida has now responded with its own four-compound rule. Which raises a much bigger question: what happens to kratom as a whole from here?

Are we looking at the beginning of a broader regulatory shift? And could more states follow?

I’m breaking down what’s happening, what these changes could mean for the kratom industry, and what I’ll be watching for next.

This episode was recorded on August 26, 2026.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

One of the biggest needs in the Hemp and Cannabis Industry is an understanding of regulation changes at the federal, state, and even local levels. It's basically a full time job keeping track of all the changes... so my gift to the industry? I round up the biggest changes in the hemp industry since my last episode. 

⚖️ Federal News and the Continuing Resolution (CR)
⭐ Virginia
⭐ South Carolina
⭐ Texas
⭐ Tennessee

Need a monthly FULL 50 STATE review, specific to your product line? Davis Legal offers monthly retainer clients a robust, custom view as to where you can and cannot sell. Contact us to learn more about this service; must be currently distributing in 10+ states across the US.

This episode was recorded on August 26, 2026.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

Are your prompts protected? Tons of people are using AI for legal advice. Plenty of attorneys are using it too — to draft documents, summaries, and more. 

At some point, courts were going to have to deal with the role of AI in legal matters. A recent federal case, United States v. Heppner, offers an early glimpse into how courts may view AI communications and what that could mean for attorneys, businesses, and anyone relying on AI for legal guidance. 

TL;DR -- don't just start chatting with AI tools like ChatGPT or Claude about your case before you talk to your attorney because that "conversation" may not be private. Let me tell you why.

This episode was recorded on July 21, 2026.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

The North Carolina Supreme Court has reaffirmed that the odor of marijuana, combined with additional circumstances ("odor+"), can still establish probable cause for a vehicle search—even after hemp legalization. If you manufacture, sell, transport, or consume hemp products, this decision matters. Attorney Morgan Davis explains what the Court decided, how it affects marijuana and hemp cases, and what businesses and consumers in North Carolina should know about probable cause and vehicle searches.

In this episode, Morgan will cover these three NC cases: 

• State v. Parker 
• State v. Rowdy 
• State v. Dobson

Although hemp and marijuana are botanically indistinguishable by sight and smell, the North Carolina Supreme Court concluded that odor remains part of the probable cause analysis. What does that mean for you? Let's break it down.

This episode was recorded on July 21, 2026.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

We have a big ol' patchwork quilt of laws across the United States regarding Hemp and cannabis. It's hard to keep up with which states allow you to sell your Hemp products. Here are some of the biggest updates across the US from the last ~30 days, especially focused on:

⚖️ Federal News
⭐ Texas
⭐ Ohio
⭐ North Carolina
⭐ Tennessee
⭐ Missouri
🌿 Plus, an HHC Update
Need a monthly FULL 50 STATE review, specific to your product line? Davis Legal offers monthly retainer clients a robust, custom view as to where you can and cannot sell. Contact us to learn more about this service; must be currently distributing in 10+ states across the US.

This episode was recorded on July 21, 2026.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

The DEA is scheduling 7 hydroxy and MGM. If you're a Kratom producer, this episode is for you.
The DEA has announced its intent to temporarily place 7-hydroxymitragynine (7-OH) and three related substances—mitragynine pseudoindoxyl (MP), MGM-15, and MGM-16—into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. The proposal targets synthetic or enhanced 7-OH products and related compounds, while stating that botanical kratom products below the specified 7-OH threshold are not the focus of this temporary action.
At the state and federal level, a big convergence is happening. I'll discuss what is coming out of the DEA and address the latest from FLORIDA on the topic. 

This episode was recorded on July 21, 2026.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

Will state hemp programs survive if the federal government severely restricts hemp?

This is one of the most common questions I'm hearing from hemp operators, retailers, manufacturers, and consumers right now.

The first thing we need to clarify is this:

Despite what many headlines suggest, the federal government is not currently "banning hemp." What is being proposed would dramatically narrow the legal pathways available to the hemp industry at the federal level. That's a big deal—but it's not the same thing.

The bigger question is what happens next.

If federal law changes, do state hemp programs disappear overnight?
Do state licenses become worthless?
Do businesses have to shut their doors immediately?

The short answer is: probably not.

And we know this because we've already run this experiment for more than 50 years with marijuana.

In this episode, Attorney Morgan Davis breaks down:

Federal prohibition vs. federal preemption
Why state hemp programs may continue to exist even if federal law changes
What marijuana can teach us about the future of hemp
The relationship between state law and the Controlled Substances Act
What hemp operators should be watching right now

The distinction between federal prohibition and federal preemption may end up being one of the most important legal concepts for the hemp industry over the next several years.

Let's break it down.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.

Did you know that millions of Baby Boomer-owned businesses are expected to change hands over the next decade?

This phenomenon is often called the Silver Tsunami—a massive wave of business owners reaching retirement age and looking for someone to take over the companies they've spent a lifetime building.

The challenge? Many of their children or family members don't want the business.

That means thousands of profitable HVAC companies, accounting firms, landscaping companies, law firms, manufacturing businesses, and other Main Street businesses are looking for buyers.

For entrepreneurs, this may be one of the greatest wealth-building opportunities of our generation.

In this episode, Attorney Morgan Davis discusses:

What the Silver Tsunami is
Why so many Baby Boomer-owned businesses are for sale
How buying an existing business differs from starting one from scratch
Common legal and operational mistakes buyers make
What due diligence should look like before you sign anything
How to protect yourself during a business acquisition

Forget Wall Street.

Let's talk about buying a Main Street business.

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THIS CONTENT IS MEANT TO ASSIST IN A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF THE CURRENT LAW AND PRACTICE RELATING TO THE TOPICS DISCUSSED. IT IS NOT TO BE REGARDED AS LEGAL ADVICE. COMPANIES OR INDIVIDUALS WITH PARTICULAR QUESTIONS SHOULD SEEK THE ADVICE OF COUNSEL.