Cannabis, Banking and Marijuana Related Businesses (MRBs)

Date and Time: Wednesday, October 27, 2021 at 12pm
Speaker: Mr. Barak Cohen of the law offices of Perkins Coie
The Association of Asian American Bankers (AAAB) is excited to invite you to another lunchtime, this time featuring Mr. Barak Cohen of the law offices of Perkins Coie who will be speaking on the subject of Cannabis, Banking and Marijuana Related Businesses (MRBs). In spite of the fact that more and more states have legalized marijuana use, Federal law continues to make it illegal to possess, distribute or sell it. But does this mean Bank’s cannot bank MRBs? Or can a Bank lend on properties where MRBs might be a tenant? Mr. Cohen will attempt to answer these questions and identify the legal, operational and regulatory risks for banks as they pertain to this type of business and how the risks might be mitigated.
Please RSVP with Stella Kong at: skong@met.bank. Please provide your name, email and work telephone number and she will reply to you with a Zoom invitation.

About Mr. Barak Cohen

Mr. Barak Cohen

Barak Cohen is a partner at Perkins Coie and chair of its firmwide Cannabis industry group. He has significant investigation, due diligence, and compliance experience helping national and international companies involved in the cannabis industry (including marijuana, CBD (cannabidiol), CBG (cannabigerol), and hemp products and services), such as food-and-beverage companies, investment banks, financial payment processors, and dispensaries, among others. This includes providing compliance, due diligence, and investigations services relating to FDA and state labelling, advertising/marketing, and licensing, as well as other enforcement and regulatory concerns. Barak identified the growth potential in the cannabis industry at an early stage, and has become a go-to attorney for companies in the industry. Barak is vice-chair of the ABA Committee on Cannabis Law and Policy, a member of the Board of Directors for the United States Cannabis Council (USCC), a former member of the National Cannabis Industry’s Policy Council, and the editor of the American Bar Association’s treatise on cannabis law, Cannabis Law: A Primer on Federal and State Law Regarding Marijuana, Hemp, and CBD, a first-of-its-kind publication.