Benesch Investing in the Transportation & Logistics Industry Conference – Thought Leader Wrap-Up

DOJ’s April 2026 order immediately moved FDA-approved and state-licensed medical cannabis to Schedule III, removing harsh tax penalties for medical operators, while leaving adult-use cannabis under stricter Schedule I controls pending further administrative review.

In March we reported on the U.S. Sentencing Commission’s proposed amendments to the Federal Sentencing Guidelines (the “Guidelines”). On April 16, 2026, the bipartisan United States Sentencing Commission (the “Commission”) voted unanimously to adopt that package of amendments, without modification.

On April 21st, 2026, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld the National Labor Relations Board’s (“NLRB”) decision in Cemex Construction Materials Pacific, LLC., reinforcing a significant shift in federal labor law governing union recognition and employer conduct during organizing campaigns.

The new LEAD Model, launching in 2027, is CMS’s next-generation value-based care framework for kidney care, integrating CKD and ESRD patients into standard ACOs with a 10-year benchmark period, new payment options and greater flexibility for nephrology-led organizations.