Cannabis Business Blog

Under Section 162(a) of the Internal Revenue Code, a business can deduct from its gross income “all the ordinary and necessary expenses paid or incurred during the taxable year in carrying on any trade or business.” According to the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, however, this deduction is not extended to marijuana related businesses. Olive v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, No. 13-70510 (9^th Cir. July 9, 2015).

In 2012, the United States Tax Court assessed penalties and interest against Vapor Room Herbal Center, a California medical marijuana dispensary owned by Martin Olive, for its deduction of $654,071 as business expenses on its 2004 and 2005 income tax returns. Although IRC Section 162(a) allows businesses to deduct “ordinary and necessary expenses,” IRC Section 280E prohibits a business from deducting for any “trade or business [that] consists of trafficking in controlled substances … prohibited by Federal law.” Citing Section 280E, the Tax Court held that operating a medical marijuana dispensary constituted trafficking in controlled substances in violation of federal law, even though it was legal under California law.

Olive appealed the Tax Court’s decision to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. His first claim was that for a “trade or business” to “consist of trafficking in controlled substances,” the business must consist solely of trafficking in controlled substances. Olive argued that in addition to dispensing medical marijuana, the Vapor Room also offered free caregiving services such as yoga, massage therapy, discussion of illnesses, counselling on various personal, legal or political matters related to medical marijuana and education on how to consume medical marijuana responsibly. The Ninth Circuit agreed with the Tax Court that the Vapor Room’s only “trade or business” was the sale of marijuana. It noted that the test for determining if an activity is “trade or business” is whether the activity was entered into with the intent of making a profit. As the Vapor Room’s other services were offered for free, the only activity that could raise a profit was the sale of marijuana.

Olive’s second claim was that IRC Section 280E should not apply to him because it was enacted before medical marijuana dispensaries existed, therefore Congress could not have intended for medical marijuana dispensaries to fall within the category of “items not deductible.” The Ninth Circuit stated that this argument had no bearing on its analysis.

Olive’s last claim was that Section 538 of the Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act 2015, PL 113-235 prohibits the IRS from defending his appeal as it provides that federal funds may not be used to prevent states that at the time of the Act had legalized medical marijuana, from implementing their state laws authorizing the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of medical marijuana. The Ninth Circuit held that Section 538 does not apply because the IRS is not preventing California from implementing its laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession or cultivation of marijuana. Instead, the IRS is simply enforcing a tax, which does not prevent people from using, distributing, possessing or cultivating marijuana in California.

This ruling is an obvious and a troubling set-back for the marijuana business community. It is just another example of how the inconsistencies between federal and state laws can be challenging for marijuana users, growers, processors and regulators. This problem could be resolved by revising the Internal Revenue Code to provide a further exception under 280E to allow state-sanctioned marijuana enterprises. Until then, marijuana business owners should caution taking business deductions or – alternately, consider whether other business activities are entered into with the intent of making a profit for the business.

Despite some early grumbling from Congress threatening to block DC’s ballot initiative from becoming law (because of DC’s special status, DC ballot initiatives do not become law until they pass through a 30-day Congressional review period), with only a few hours to go, it appears that the review period has come and gone.

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser held a conference yesterday outlining the new DC law and how it would be enforced.  Under DC’s new law, anyone 21 years of age or older will be able to lawfully:

• • Possess two ounces or less of marijuana;

• • Use marijuana on private property;

• • Transfer one ounce or less of marijuana to another person, as long as (a) no money, goods or services are exchanged and (b) the recipient is 21 years of age or older; and

• • Cultivate within his or her primary residence up to six marijuana plants, no more than three of which are mature.

It will remain illegal in DC for anyone to:

• • Possess more than two ounces of marijuana;

• • Smoke or otherwise consume marijuana on public space or anywhere to which the public is invited; including restaurants, bars, coffee shops, and public housing;

• • Sell any amount of marijuana to another person; or

• • Operate a vehicle or boat under the influence of marijuana.

Some Members of Congress are upset about the new law and Representative Jason Chaffetz, Chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, has written to Mayor Bowser, warning her that implementation of the DC law is illegal because it would violate the federal spending bill passed at the end of last year barring federal funds from being used “to enact any law, rule, or regulation to legalize or reduce penalties associated with the possession, use or distribution” of marijuana.   Chairman Chaffetz has also launched an investigation, demanding that Mayor Bower provide his Committee with information about efforts related to DC’s enactment of the ballot initiative.

Back in November, DC voters approved a ballot initiative to legalize possession (of up to two ounces) and cultivation of recreational marijuana.  One of the many special things about DC, though, is that all ballot initiatives must be submitted to Congress for review before they can take effect.  DC thought it best to wait until the new Congress arrived in Washington at the beginning of the year.  So, on January 13^th, DC sent the ballot initiative to the Hill for the required 30 legislative days of review, which now runs until February 26.  In order to ‘disapprove’ the ballot initiative, both the House and the Senate would need to pass a ‘disapproval resolution,’ and then the President would need to sign it.  Unless that happens, the ballot initiative will become law.  There is no word yet on what will happen on the Hill leading up to the February 26^th deadline, but hearings seem likely and litigation is certainly not out of the question.  Stay tuned.

One of Winston Churchill’s most famous quotes comes from an October 1934 radio speech: “I cannot forecast to you the action of Russia. It is a riddle, wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma; but perhaps there is a key. That key is Russian national interest.”

Broadcasters face a similar dilemma in trying to forecast whether the Federal Communications Communication will prohibit stations from carrying ads for medical and recreational marijuana products. To date, the FCC has issued no rulings or policy statements on ads or underwriting announcements for marijuana. Nor has the Commission ruled on any complaints that raise the issue.

Here is the dilemma: Broadcasters are federal government licensees. While some states have legalized the sale of marijuana products, there still is a concern that advertising for an activity that remains a felony under federal law might present problems if a license renewal application is challenged or a complaint is filed with the FCC.

As a form of “commercial speech,” ads are protected by the First Amendment if the speech is related to a “lawful activity.” However, it is not clear whether the FCC will apply federal or state law and the answer to the question may depend on where the broadcast is heard. The argument that the advertising of marijuana is permissible is strongest if the ad is broadcast only in a state where marijuana is legal. But what if the broadcast is received in a state which has not legalized marijuana?  Or what if the broadcast program is streamed so that it can be received in all 50 states, many of which have not legalized marijuana?

The key to the FCC’s decision in determining whether to renew the license of a broadcast station is whether, in light of the station's past performance, renewal will serve the public interest, convenience and necessity - - - an extremely elusive standard.  To date, there is no FCC rule or policy prohibiting the broadcast of advertising by state-licensed marijuana businesses in an area where state and local laws permit such advertising.  Broadcasters, however, remain concerned that the Commission will not countenance the airing of broadcast ads for the use of a substance prohibited by federal law.  For example, the Colorado Broadcasters Association advises its members not to take any marijuana advertising. In the words of Justin Sasso, CBA’s President: "We boil it down to a very simple point. Broadcasters are federally licensed. Under federal law, marijuana is treated like every other controlled substance.”

On the other hand, DOJ has advised its own federal prosecutors to focus their limited enforcement investigative and prosecutorial resources on certain priorities such as preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors and cracking down on organized crime.  Moreover, in the most-recent federal budget bill, Congress has explicitly prohibited DOJ from using funds to interfere with any state’s implementation of medical marijuana laws.

Also, there is FCC precedent for the proposition that a federal prohibition on an activity should not apply to the licensee of a broadcast station who is acting consistent with state law. A case in point is Section 1304 of the U.S. Criminal Code which prohibits the broadcast of the “advertisement of any lottery or any information concerning a lottery”; violations are punished by imprisonment of up to one year or a $1,000.00 fine, or both.  Despite this federal prohibition, the FCC has allowed the advertising of lotteries by broadcasters licensed to serve communities in states where the lottery is permissible pursuant to state laws, so long as the lottery is conducted by the state itself, or by a non-profit or governmental organization.

Another case that sheds some light in this area is Greater New Orleans Broadcasting, Assn., Inc. v. United States, 527 U.S. 173 (1979), where the Supreme Court held that the FCC could not enforce its ban on advertisements for private casino gambling that are broadcast in states where such gambling is legal, even if the signal of the station reaches into a state where casino gambling is illegal.

Similar to Winston Churchill’s assessment of Russia’s foreign policy, we are unable to forecast the action of the FCC. It remains a mystery.  The key is how the FCC will interpret the public interest standard set forth in the Communications Act of  1934. The dilemma for broadcasters is that the FCC has provided no guidance on whether the airing of ads for marijuana products serves or disserves the public interest.

Nebraska and Oklahoma sued Colorado today, arguing that Colorado’s legalization of marijuana has undermined decisions by Nebraska and Oklahoma to ban marijuana in their states and that it places stress on their criminal justice systems.  Nebraska and Oklahoma also argue that Colorado does not have authority under the Supremacy Clause of the U.S. Constitution to legalize marijuana because it conflicts with the federal Controlled Substances Act, under which marijuana is illegal.

In the very same federal spending bill that Congress is using to block DC’s recreational marijuana ballot initiative, Congress is treating medical marijuana very differently.  In fact, once signed by the President, the new spending law will prohibit the Department of Justice — including DOJ's Drug Enforcement Administration — from using federal funds to interfere with states' implementation of their own medical marijuana laws.

Here’s the full text:  Sec. 538. None of the funds made available in this Act to the Department of Justice may be used, with respect to the States of Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, and Wisconsin, to prevent such States from implementing their own State laws that authorize the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of medical marijuana.

In a memo made public yesterday, the United States Department of Justice revealed that US Attorneys around the country have been instructed to treat any Indian Nation choosing to legalize marijuana consistent with the priorities DOJ previously outlined for all states in the August 2013 Cole Memorandum.  By treating Indian Country the same as states, the DOJ is recognizing the inherent right of tribes to make their own decision whether to participate in the marijuana industry.  The Cole Memorandum indicated that DOJ would focus its resources on the following eight law enforcement priorities:

• Preventing the distribution of marijuana to minors;

• Preventing revenue from the sale of marijuana from going to criminal enterprises, gangs, and cartels;

• Preventing the diversion of marijuana from states where it is legal under state law in some form to other states;

• Preventing state-authorized marijuana activity from being used as a cover or pretext for the trafficking of other illegal drugs or other illegal activity;

• Preventing violence and the use of firearms in the cultivation and distribution of marijuana;

• Preventing drugged driving and the exacerbation of other adverse public health consequences associated with marijuana use;

• Preventing the growing of marijuana on public lands and the attendant public safety and environmental dangers posed by marijuana production on public lands; and

• Preventing marijuana possession or use on federal property.

For Tribes Considering Whether to Enter the Marijuana Industry

The decision to enter into the marijuana industry should not be taken lightly.  There are a number of policy issues to be evaluated, such as the impact on the tribal court system, Indian Child Welfare programs and employment.  Compliance with other federal grants for housing, foster care funding and 638 contracts also needs to be considered.  Robust regulatory systems must be implemented and enforced.  Tribes should also consider entering into MOU’s with the Department of Justice and the U.S. Attorney Office.

As in any other emerging area of law and industry, these first steps are the most important and should be carefully evaluated before taking action.

This post was originally published on Garvey Schubert Barer's Smoke Signals Indian Law Blog by Lael Echo Hawk.