The hemp-derived CBD market is a tough one right now. From uncertainty in when and how the FDA may begin regulating products, to the downturn in the stock markets as result of the coronavirus affecting the hemp industry, the problematic interim rules concerning hemp production and increasing state regulation, CBD companies face a plethora of

Jesse Mondry
Jesse has an extensive domestic and international litigation background. He has represented clients in a wide range of industries, including construction, retail, manufacturing, real estate, and banking. His analytical mind, excellent writing skills, and steady presence allow him to find unique solutions to complicated domestic and international dispute resolution issues.
In every dispute, it is Jesse’s goal to find the best and most cost-effective solution for his clients. He has a natural ability to convey his clients’ interests to judges, juries, mediators and arbitrators, but he also puts in the time to ensure the best attainable result in any given matter.
Jesse graduated magna cum laude from the University of Minnesota Law School and held a highly competitive federal court clerkship with the Honorable Myron H. Bright of the Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals. Before that, he also served as a law clerk to Honorable Thomas J. Kalitowski in the Minnesota Court of Appeals. Prior to joining Harris Bricken, he spent seven years practicing complex commercial litigation at a large firm in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
In his spare time, Jesse likes to sail and spend time with his family.
Hemp CBD: Will Federal Courts Wait to Decide CBD Cases Until the FDA Issues Regulations?
Not long ago Hemp Industry Daily reported on a decision by U.S. District Judge Ursula Ungaro in the Southern District of Florida in which the Court stayed a putative class action lawsuit against a seller of CBD products until the FDA completes rulemaking regarding the marketing, including labelling, of hemp-derived ingestible products. The case is…
The Hemp Standard is 0.3% THC. That Should Be Changed.
We are heading into the first decade of scaled commercial hemp production in the United States since the 1920s. As a law firm that has been helping cannabis businesses succeed since 2010, we couldn’t be more excited. And for good reason: the recreational market is expanding. Hemp is legal. CBD and other cannabinoids are…
Oregon Hemp Litigation: New Cases Demonstrate the Continued Importance of Due Diligence
Although I am a litigator who loves to be in court, I often counsel clients on how to avoid litigation – even though it may mean less work for me in the future! Front and center in these discussions are: 1) the importance of due diligence prior to entering a new business relationship and 2)…
Hemp-CBD: Washington State’s Consumer Protection Act
This is the second in a three-part series explaining why companies making and sell hemp-derived CBD products ought to be concerned about state consumer protection laws. Last week we looked at Oregon and an article on California is in the works. It probably comes as no surprise that companies selling hemp-derived CBD in the State
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Hemp-CBD, Oregon and the Unlawful Trade Practices Act
This is the first in a three-part series addressing why companies making and sell hemp-derived CBD products ought to be concerned about state consumer protection laws and offering a few thoughts on how to mitigate the risk of running afoul of those laws. This week we will look at Oregon, followed by Washington, and California.…
Hemp and CBD: Submit Your Comments on USDA Interim Hemp Rules By December 30
The hemp industry is up in arms over the USDA’s interim rules establishing a domestic hemp program. As of this writing you can find some 900 comments published on regulations.gov. The din of complaints about the deleterious effect of several rules caused Senator Chuck Shumer to send a letter on December 3 to U.S. Agriculture…
Litigation Update: JustCBD Files Motion to Dismiss Class Action Lawsuit
A couple of months ago I wrote a “Hemp/CBD litigation forecast.” (See here.) One topic of that post was the rise in class actions against Hemp-CBD companies and I noted the consumer class action complaint filed against JustCBD in the Southern District of Florida, Case No. 0:19-cv-62067-RS. The gravamen of the complaint is that…
Criminal History and Hemp Licensing Under the USDA Interim Hemp Rules
On October 31, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) published its interim final rules for the production of hemp under the 2018 Farm Bill. Our firm has provided a broad overview of the rules and written about the potential impact of the testing rules on the hemp industry. Today we address disqualifying criminal history for…
Cannabis and Insurance Litigation
Recently, Jonathan Bench wrote about the importance of insurance coverage for your hemp or recreational marijuana business. His first article provided the basic anatomy of such policies and his second discussed the importance of product liability insurance. This post highlights recent litigation in which insurance is at issue, or ought to be.
Hemp insurer seeks…