December 2022


Last month, tens of thousands of folks working in the cannabis industry congregated in sunny Las Vegas for MJBizCon 2022. Me and my canna-crew, comprised of the unparalleled attorneys in Burns & Levinson’s Cannabis Business and Law Advisory Group, were thrilled to share the city with other cannabis professionals and entrepreneurs. While the B&L team has been attending MJBizCon since its inception, it was my first time there. What can I say? It was a great privilege to chat with passionate professionals, learn from industry pioneers, and be in a place where cannabis is lauded for its economic and wellness value and continuing potential in our national economy. In the wake of meeting and talking with over fifty individuals from all aspects of the cannabis industry and from all corners of the country, here were my biggest takeaways. 

Working with the Same Plant but Different Laws

While the cannabis plants from state to state may share substantially the same genetics, the businesses that cultivate, manufacture, distribute, and sell those plants operate in entirely different regulatory ecosystems from state to state. As a student of the regulations, I’m well aware of the differences in cannabis-related laws from state to state. … Keep reading

Spotlight Series: Tony Repanich, President and CEO of Shield Compliance


The CannaBusiness Advisory Spotlight Series features expert perspectives from Burns & Levinson clients and contacts who are blazing new trails in the cannabis market.

This week we spotlight Tony Repanich of Shield Compliance, a compliance platform for banks and credit unions. As President and Chief Executive Officer, Tony leads operations and is the company’s principal product architect. Having served as a senior executive at a Washington State-based community bank for 25 years, Tony has in-depth knowledge of the banking industry and the regulatory and compliance requirements for high-risk industries. Today he brings that knowledge to financial institutions serving and considering serving the legal cannabis industry.

Shield Compliance was a bronze sponsor at Burns & Levinson Sixth Annual State of the Cannabis Industry Conference. Our nationally recognized conference convened experts and industry leaders to share unique strategic legal and financial perspectives on forecasted trends, regulations, M&A, investments, and more.

From your corner of the cannabis industry, what’s the single greatest challenge right now?

One of the most challenging issues facing the cannabis industry is access to banking and financial services. Not only is this a challenge to the cannabis-related business (CRB)      owners and other participants in this industry, but it … Keep reading