Monday, February 2, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CT

This session will provide a clear, practical overview of the rapidly evolving landscape for cannabis and hemp in the United States. We will distinguish “Cannabis” (a.k.a. “Marijuana”) from “Hemp,” explain how each is treated under federal and state law, and discuss key developments in the history of cannabis and hemp regulation, including the 2013 Cole Memorandum, the potential federal rescheduling of cannabis, the 2018 Farm Bill, and the recently amended definition of “Hemp.” We will also highlight recent cases, enforcement actions, and congressional proposals that are shaping the risk environment for financial institutions. This session is designed to provide credit union staff with a common vocabulary and baseline understanding that they can use when evaluating cannabis- and hemp-related transactions.

By the end of this session, participants should be able to:

• Differentiate between marijuana and hemp and explain why the distinction matters for financial institutions.
• Describe at a high level how marijuana is treated under federal law (including historic treatment under the Cole Memorandum and the potential rescheduling of Cannabis to Schedule III) versus how states regulate medical and adult-use programs.
• Summarize how the 2018 Farm Bill affected, and how the amended definition of “Hemp” will affect, hemp cultivation, products, and related businesses.
• Recognize the types of state and federal enforcement actions that have targeted intoxicating hemp-derived products and licensed/unlicensed cannabis operators.
• Identify how current congressional legislative proposals could alter the regulatory and risk landscape for credit unions serving cannabis and hemp businesses.

Tuesday, February 3, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CT

This session focuses on the general compliance and risk considerations credit unions face when extending credit to cannabis- and hemp-related businesses. Building on the foundational cannabis/hemp concepts from the first session, we will walk through how Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Bank Secrecy Act (BSA) obligations—including Suspicious Activity Reporting (SAR) requirements—apply in this space. We will review the 2014 FinCEN Guidance to financial institutions serving cannabis-related businesses and discuss how it informs risk assessment, monitoring, and documentation for cannabis-related accounts. We will also address how the new federal definition of “Hemp” affects customer due diligence, ongoing monitoring, and credit decisions. This session is designed to help credit union staff understand what questions to ask and how to align lending practices with regulatory expectations.

• By the end of this session, participants should be able to:
• Explain how AML and BSA requirements, including SAR filing expectations, apply to lending and other services provided to cannabis- and hemp-related businesses.
• Apply key elements of the 2014 FinCEN Guidance to the evaluation and monitoring of cannabis-related customers.
• Assess how the revised federal definition of “Hemp” affects risk classification, due diligence requirements, and ongoing monitoring for hemp-related borrowers.
• Recognize red flags and risk indicators specific to cannabis and hemp lending that may warrant enhanced review, escalation, or SAR filing.

Wednesday, February 4, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CT

This session outlines the various issues in developing a cannabis lending program from a credit union BSA/AML perspective. It will delve into complex compliance issues, such as how to lend to a Tier II or Ancillary cannabis business.  We will also discuss underwriting issues in making commercial loans to the industry as well as explore how underwriting and compliance often intertwine.

Thursday, February 5, 2026 | 1:00 - 2:00 p.m. CT

This session will explore the risks and rewards of serving the cannabis industry. Attendees will learn the nuts and bolts of building a compliant cannabis banking program for their credit union. They will hear insights on reputation risk, cash management, and fee strategy. Attendees will also leave with an understanding of the latest FinCEN Guidance.