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The Cannabis Industry Takes Another Step Towards Mainstream

11/12/18

By: David Molinari
In 1996, the People of the State of California first passed an initiative to legalize medicinal cannabis. The legislature toyed with drafting the statutory framework regulating the medical cannabis industry. Finally, in 2014 the first “legal” medicinal dispensaries began to open throughout the state. The economic impact of medicinal cannabis was so significant that four years later recreational cannabis was overwhelmingly voted into existence. The cannabis industry has elbowed its way to the table claiming a seat alongside tech industry, manufacturing industry and agricultural industry. One tell-tale sign that the cannabis industry has taken steps toward mainstream, its “inventory” is an insurable commodity under a commercial property and general liability insurance policy.
Green Earth Wellness Center operated a retail medical marijuana business and an adjacent growing facility. Atain Specialty Insurance Company issued Green Earth a commercial property and general liability insurance policy. A wildfire broke out and advanced toward Green Earth’s business. Although the fire did not destroy the business, smoke and ash from the fire overwhelmed Green Earth’s ventilation system; causing damage to Green Earth’s marijuana plants. Green Earth made a claim under the policy for loss of its inventory due to the smoke and ash which Atain denied.
Separately, thieves entered Green Earth’s growing facility and stole some of the marijuana plants. Again, Green Earth made a claim under its policy and again Atain denied the claim. Green Earth eventually commenced an action for breach of contract and bad faith. Atain filed a Motion for Summary Judgment raising, among other issues, that in light of federal law and federal public policy, it was illegal for Atain to pay damages to marijuana plants and products. Atain argued that the application of an exclusionary provision in the policy for contraband or property in the course of an illegal transportation or trade requires that coverage be denied; even if the policy would otherwise have provided coverage.
The Court noted that the policy itself did not define the term “contraband.” The Court acknowledged application of federal law, particularly 21 U.S.C. 841(a)(1) that makes possession of marijuana for distribution a federal crime. However, the Court took note that such a federal prohibition has become more “nuanced” as an increasing number of states have enacted regulations for medicinal and recreational cannabis. Enforcement of the Controlled Substance Act in states that have enacted statutes regulating use and distribution is at times ambivalent and erratic. Other than pointing to the federal criminal statutes, Atain offered no evidence that the application of existing federal public policy would result in criminal enforcement against Green Earth. Atain also failed to assert Green Earth’s operations were in violation of state law.
In rejecting Atain’s public policy and illegality defense to coverage for inventory damage, the Court turned to the parties’ intention regarding coverage of Green Earth’s marijuana. The evidence suggested that the parties mutually intended to include coverage for the marijuana plants constituting Green Earth’s inventory. Atain drafted the medicinal marijuana dispensary supplemental application form that asked several questions about inventory: Such as, how much inventory is displayed to customers, how much inventory is kept on the premise during non-business hours and whether the inventory is stored in a locked safe. Before entering the policy, Atain knew Green Earth was operating a cannabis business. Atain knew or should have known at the time of the policy inception that federal law (at least nominally) prohibited such a business; but Atain nevertheless elected to issue the policy and collect premiums.  Atain never sought to disclaim coverage for Green Earth’s inventory before the claims were made. By issuing the policy and taking premiums, it was clear that the carrier would not raise the contraband exclusion to marijuana inventory.
The Court assumed Atain had legal counsel and obtained opinions and assurances from its own legal counsel before embarking on the business of insuring marijuana operations. The Court viewed the case as a breach of contract action. Atain, through its policy, made contractual promises and then breached them refusing to entertain Atain’s argument that the Court must declare the policy unenforceable as against public policy. It was irrelevant under the Court’s analysis that possession and sale of marijuana was a federal crime or that marijuana should under a public policy argument be determined an uninsurable commodity.
The lesson for insurers: the cannabis industry is an expanding multi-billion-dollar industry where entrepreneurs will spend money on insurance premiums to protect its investment and inventory. A carrier entering a policy knowing the insured’s business is cannabis very well may be obligated to cover claims or face the risk of damages for breaching the policy.
If you have any questions or would like more information, please contact David Molinari at dmolinari@fmglaw.com.