Cannaspire Launches Expert Services for Cannabis Industry's New Legal and Scientific Era

PHOENIXVILLE, PA – January 13, 2026 – International consulting firm Cannaspire has announced the launch of new expert witness and laboratory consulting services, a strategic move timed to coincide with the seismic shift of cannabis from a Schedule I to a Schedule III substance under federal law. The expansion addresses a critical and rapidly growing need for scientific, regulatory, and litigation support as the industry braces for unprecedented levels of scrutiny.

The announcement positions Cannaspire to support a wide range of stakeholders—from attorneys and insurers to laboratories and academic institutions—as they navigate the complexities of a newly recognized medical cannabis market. The firm’s new offerings are designed to provide clarity and credibility at what its leadership calls a “critical inflection point for cannabis and hemp.”

A New Era of Regulation and Litigation

The anticipated federal rescheduling of cannabis marks the most significant policy change in the industry's modern history. Moving from Schedule I—a category for drugs with “no currently accepted medical use and a high potential for abuse”—to Schedule III recognizes cannabis as having medical value. While celebrated by many, this transition ushers in a complex new reality defined by heightened regulatory oversight, expanded legal liability, and an urgent demand for scientific rigor.

As cannabis steps into a more mainstream, federally acknowledged space, stakeholders from cultivators to retailers face a transformed risk landscape. The change is expected to trigger increased oversight from federal agencies like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which could impose pharmaceutical-grade standards on everything from product testing to marketing claims. This new layer of federal scrutiny, added to the existing patchwork of state regulations, creates a formidable compliance challenge.

This evolving environment is also projected to fuel a surge in litigation. Product liability lawsuits, insurance disputes, and regulatory enforcement actions are expected to become more frequent and complex. In this climate, the ability to defend business practices, product quality, and compliance measures in a court of law is no longer optional—it is essential for survival.

Cannaspire's new Expert Witness Services are designed to navigate this legal minefield. The firm now offers litigation support and testimony on a wide range of issues, including the critical differentiation between federally legal hemp and marijuana based on Delta-9 THC and total THC thresholds. Other services include the forensic review of Certificates of Analysis (COAs), evaluation of laboratory sampling protocols and analytical methods, and assessment of seed-to-sale tracking systems like Metrc. This specialized expertise is crucial for attorneys, insurers, and businesses facing legal challenges where scientific and regulatory nuances can determine the outcome.

“As cannabis regulation, litigation, and scientific scrutiny continue to intensify, the industry requires expert analysis that is both technically sound and defensible,” stated Tracey Kauffman, Founder and Chairman of Cannaspire, in the announcement.

Unlocking the Lab: Federal Funding and the Future of Research

Perhaps one of the most transformative consequences of rescheduling is the potential to unlock federal funding for cannabis research. For decades, the Schedule I status of cannabis created insurmountable barriers for academic and scientific institutions. Universities receiving federal funds were prohibited from conducting most cannabis research, stifling scientific inquiry and limiting the understanding of the plant's properties and potential benefits.

The move to Schedule III is poised to dismantle these barriers, allowing colleges and universities to pursue federal grants from prestigious bodies like the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) for cannabis and hemp research. This development could ignite a renaissance in cannabis science, accelerating innovation and providing the evidence-based data the industry has long needed. The NIH has already signaled its intent to support this shift, having launched a Resource Center for Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research (R3CR) in 2025 to empower scientists and standardize research methodologies.

Anticipating this influx of academic interest, Cannaspire has also launched its THC & Hemp Testing Laboratory Consulting services. This offering provides end-to-end support for institutions looking to build or expand their research capabilities.

“With cannabis moving to Schedule III, colleges and universities can now pursue federal funding for cannabis and hemp research and testing laboratories,” said Warren Harasz, Chief Compliance Officer at Cannaspire. “Cannaspire supports institutions from grant writing through full laboratory buildout, accreditation, and compliance—ensuring labs are audit-ready and defensible from day one.”

The firm's consulting services cover the entire lifecycle of a laboratory project, from initial business planning and financial modeling to laboratory design, equipment sourcing, and validation. Crucially, Cannaspire will guide institutions through the rigorous process of achieving ISO/IEC 17025 accreditation—the international standard for testing and calibration laboratories—which is essential for producing legally and scientifically defensible data.

The Imperative for Scientific Defensibility

Underpinning both the legal and research shifts is a single, overarching theme: scientific defensibility. In a maturing market subject to federal oversight and legal challenges, every aspect of a cannabis operation—from the genetics of a seed to the potency listed on a final product's label—must be backed by sound, verifiable data. The days of inconsistent testing and ambiguous COAs are numbered.

This demand for robust science is precisely what Cannaspire’s expanded services aim to address. The firm's expert witnesses can dissect complex scientific evidence, challenge flawed laboratory results, and provide clear testimony on everything from chain of custody protocols to the validity of analytical methods. This level of scrutiny is becoming standard in legal disputes, where the authenticity and accuracy of a COA can be the linchpin of a case.

Simultaneously, the laboratory consulting division is designed to build this defensibility into the foundation of testing facilities. By assisting with the implementation of comprehensive quality systems, selecting appropriate Laboratory Information Management Systems (LIMS), and ensuring compliance with international standards, Cannaspire helps create labs whose results can withstand the intense scrutiny of regulators, auditors, and opposing counsel. This proactive approach helps mitigate risk and ensures that whether for commercial sale or academic research, the data generated is reliable, repeatable, and robust.

As an established international consulting firm with deep roots in cannabis licensing, operations, and compliance, Cannaspire is leveraging its existing expertise to meet this new market demand. Led by experienced professionals like Kauffman, who brings a background in cybersecurity and business development, and Harasz, a PhD with over 15 years of cannabis cultivation and compliance experience, the firm is positioning itself as an essential partner for stakeholders navigating this critical inflection point for the entire cannabis and hemp ecosystem. The launch of these services signals a broader industry maturation, where specialized expertise is no longer a luxury but a fundamental component of success.