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New Court Rulings on Marijuana-Related Paraphernalia: Understanding the Impact on Importers

The marijuana industry is rapidly growing, with more and more states legalizing its use for medical and/or recreational purposes. With this growth, there is an increase in the importation of products such as grinders, storage containers, rolling paper, pipes, and vape pens, both for business and personal use. More businesses are asking why there is an issue importing such items when they only intend to sell and distribute within the many states where marijuana is legal for medical or recreational use and have established regulations for marijuana-related products. It is still essential to remember, while many states have legalized marijuana for medical or recreational use, marijuana remains illegal under federal law. 

This blog will address recent Court of International Trade (CIT) cases on this very topic and will be a part 2 to our previous blog covering U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seizures of drug paraphernalia.  

CBP Authority 

CBP has the power to seize “drug paraphernalia” products.  This does not only cover importations of products for commercial use, but also items for personal use with individuals traveling internationally seeking entry into the United States.  CBP’s website section: Know Before You Go – Prohibited and Restricted Items encourages individuals to contact CBP prior to traveling and make sure that prohibited or restricted items, such as drug paraphernalia, are not brought into the country, as they are not only subject to seizure pursuant to 19 […]

By |2023-03-10T12:04:07-05:00March 10, 2023|E-Cigarette, Export, Import, Seizures, Tobacco, U.S. Court of International Trade, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)|Comments Off on New Court Rulings on Marijuana-Related Paraphernalia: Understanding the Impact on Importers
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Don’t be a Target, Learn Best Practices to Mitigate FDA Enforcement

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is in full enforcement mode issuing 260 warning letters in 2021 alone! Now is the time to ensure your products are in compliance with the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) prior to importation. Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and others engaged in the production or sale of over the counter (OTC) drugs or cosmetic products must be aware of FDA’s various enforcement mechanisms, and more importantly,  how to avoid and/or mitigate such actions.  FDA’s most common enforcement activities include notices of FDA action, warning letters, seizures, voluntary recalls, injunctions, and criminal prosecution.

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By |2021-07-22T11:27:59-04:00May 27, 2021|Cosmetics, E-Cigarette, Food, FSMA, Gluten Free, Import, Import Alert, International Trade, Medical Devices, Pre-compliance, Reasonable Care, Tobacco, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)|Comments Off on Don’t be a Target, Learn Best Practices to Mitigate FDA Enforcement
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HELP! CBP Seized My Tobacco Products as Drug Paraphernalia, What Now? / ¡AYUDA! CBP INCAUTO MIS PRODUCTOS DE TABACO COMO PARAFERNALIA DE DROGAS, ¿AHORA QUÉ HAGO?

Our office has increasingly received requests for guidance on importation of marijuana paraphernalia products to the U.S. where twenty-six (26) states have legalized the use of marijuana for medical purposes and/or personal consumption such as California, Massachusetts, Maine and Nevada. The purpose of this article is to dispel the confusion as to why paraphernalia products (grinders, storage containers, rolling paper, pipes, vape pens, etc.) are continuously being seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), even when such products may be used by tobacco smokers. It is important to address the realities between federal and state laws regulating drug paraphernalia products so importers can avoid CBP’s enforcement of U.S. Laws.

Why Does CBP Stop Drug Paraphernalia?

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By |2021-11-09T13:50:03-05:00May 30, 2017|Best Practices, Customs Broker, E-Cigarette, Import, Import Alert, International Travel, Seizures, Tobacco, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)|Comments Off on HELP! CBP Seized My Tobacco Products as Drug Paraphernalia, What Now? / ¡AYUDA! CBP INCAUTO MIS PRODUCTOS DE TABACO COMO PARAFERNALIA DE DROGAS, ¿AHORA QUÉ HAGO?
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The End of Vape Shops, Hookah Shops, & E-Cigs? FDA’s New “Deeming” Laws

On April 24, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration(FDA) announced that it was officially “deeming” e-cigs, e-hookah, vape pens, and other tobacco products subject to the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). This article covered the proposed regulation at the time. On May 10, 2016 the FDA published the final rule on the new deeming law.

What Are Tobacco Products and What’s Being Regulated?

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By |2021-11-09T14:31:57-05:00May 26, 2016|Best Practices, E-Cigarette, Import, Seizures, Tobacco, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)|1 Comment
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White House’s OMB Intervenes to Weaken FDA’s Proposed Regulation of E-Cigs

On April 24, 2014, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) issued a proposed regulation which would subject the currently unregulated e-cigarette industry to FDA regulation under the authority of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act). The proposed rule put e-cigarettes with a list of products FDA “deemed” tobacco products, and as such, subject to the FD&C Act. OMB intervened to weaken FDA’s original proposal.

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By |2021-11-09T15:01:39-05:00July 1, 2014|E-Cigarette, Import, Tobacco, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)|Comments Off on White House’s OMB Intervenes to Weaken FDA’s Proposed Regulation of E-Cigs
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