Despite cannabis legalization going around the country, cannabis lovers are still at risk of being indicted by federal and state cannabis laws for multiple cannabis offenses. For example, consuming cannabis in a federal space is enough grounds to be prosecuted for using recreational cannabis in a form with only medical cannabis legislation.
As you can see, there are many cannabis-related offenses a person could directly or indirectly partake of. This article aims to bring you up to speed on the top 15 influential cannabis attorneys you need to have on speed dial. The truth is, you can never predict when you'll need it, at least not with the way rules and regulations are constantly being modified. Europe has a new list of cannabis attorneys to check out as legalization continues across the pond.
Note: The following names are not arranged in any order.
Andrew Sacks
Law Firm: Sacks Weston Diamond LLC, Pennsylvania
Alma mater: Dickinson School of Law
Field: Personal litigation and Medical cannabis law
Sacks is a renowned lobbyist and speaker at the continuing legal education (CLE). The Pennsylvania-based medical marijuana and hemp lawyer won the 2018 committee of the year award through his service as co-chair of the Pennsylvania and Philadelphia Bar's medical cannabis and hemp law committees.
Michael Chernins
Law Firm: Chernis Law Group PC, California
Alma mater: Fordham University Law School
Field: Regulatory law, civil litigation, criminal defense, and corporate law
Chernins is a successful defense attorney, evidenced by his numerous case dismissals and charge reductions. He has also demonstrated many clients' compliance using the SB420 collective defense statute. Chernin's most famous case victories include the dismissal of Los Angeles district attorney charges against the Berkeley manufacturer in 2016, as well as the non-filing and return of cannabis goods seized in a Riverside manufacturing lab raid in 2014.
Seth Goldberg
Law Firm: Duane Morris LLP, Pennsylvania
Alma mater: Temple University Beasley School of Law
Field: Complex, commercial litigation
Goldberg is respected for his defense role in the Woodstock Ventures LC et al. V. Woodstock Roots, a trademark infringement case to determine the legal owner of the name "Woodstock." Goldberg's other notable achievements include being recognized as a Riding Star in Pennsylvania's Business litigation space in 2011 and 2008.
Robert Hoban
Firm: Hoban Law Group, Colorado
Alma mater: University of Wyoming College of Law
Field: Corporate law, Commercial Litigation, Industrial hemp, and FDA compliance
Heather L. Burke
Law Firm: Greenspoon Marder LLP, California
Alma mater: California Western School of Law
Field: Criminal and Civil litigation, Appeals, and Administrative law
With "Attorney of the Year '' awards from the Nevada County Cannabis cup and NORML's John Mark Flowers Scholar, Burke has more than proven her worth to medical cannabis defense.
Lauren Rudick
Law Firm: Hiller PC, New York
Alma mater: New York Law School
Field: Commercial litigation, Land-Use, and Zoning laws
Known as New York Metro Rising Star for 2015 and 2016, Rudick is part of an intensive effort to prove that the Federal Controlled Substances Act is unconstitutional and should be amended. This disciplined woman also offers pro bono legal services to a few cannabis-related NGOS, including Drug Policy Alliance and compassionate care New York.
Jason Horst
Firm: Horst Legal Counsel, California
Alma mater: University of San Francisco School of Law
Field: Real estates Partnership, Insurance, Commercial Litigation
Michael Cindrich
Law Firm: Law Offices of Michael E. Cindrich APC, California
Alma mater: University of San Diego School of Law
Field: Civil and Criminal defense
Cindrich, a lifetime member of the national NORML committee, is a regional speaker for San Diego's Law Enforcement Action Partnership (LEAP), a group of active and retired law enforcement personnel who support cannabis reforms.
Mathew Hinder
Law Firm: Greenspoon Marder LLP, Florida
Alma mater: Nova Southeastern University Shepherd Broad College of Law
Field: Litigation, Business Law, Regulatory and Compliance
Hinder is a co-founder and managing partner for s nonprofit agency that advocates for safe cannabis regulation. He also speaks frequently at industry events, including The Annual Cannabis Law and Business Conference & Expo.
Ariel Clark
Law Firm: Clark Neubert LLP, California
Alma mater: the University of California, Berkeley School of Law
Field: Business litigation, Business Law, licensing, and regulatory compliance.
Aaron Pelley
Firm: Cultiva Law PLLC, Washington
Alma mater: Willamette University College of Law
Field: Litigation, Business Law
Super lawyer Pelley has long been an advocate for cannabis reforms. He helped build the foundation for legal defense in medical cannabis laws. He is also a frequent speaker at cannabis conferences and legal education expos.
Rachel K Gillette
Firm: Greenspoon Marder LLP, Colorado
Alma mater: Quinnipiac University School of Law
Field: business and civil litigation, 280E tax issues
Gillette is a board member of Colorado NORML after serving as executive director. She is also an active founding member of Women Grow and a director on the board of the National Cannabis Bar Association m
Omar Figueroa
Firm: Omar Figueroa, California
Alma matter: Stanford Law School
Field: Compliance, Criminal defense, Administrative law, and Intellectual property.
Figueroa is a lifetime founding member of the National Cannabis Bar Association. He also belongs to NORML's distinguished counsel circle and the NORML legal committee. He is the first author to compile and publish California's cannabis laws in the book Cannabis Codes of California.
Metai Manzuri
Firm: Manzuri Law, California
Alma mater: University of California Hastings College of the Law
Field: Criminal defense, Compliance and Licensing, Business Law, and Corporate transactions.
Manzuri is the author of the comprehensive guide to California cannabis laws on Legal Weed. Her years of service as a general counsel to the trade association for Cultivators alliance had a huge impact on the approval of Los Angeles' Proposition M. Manzuri has worked on several federal cases, including the USA v. Ed Rosenthal, USA v. Steele Smith.
Rod Kight
Firm: Kight On Cannabis, North Carolina
Alma mater: University of South Carolina School of Law
Field: General litigation
Kight has an active cannabis law blog, Kight on Cannabis, and In 2015, Kight released his book, Cannabis Business Law: What you need to know. Some of his notable blog contents have been cited by other publications and by the Cannabis Law Journal and Report.
Bottom Line
The legal cannabis industry is burgeoning. There are dozens of attorneys vested in the cannabis sector. Regardless of your budget, be assured that you'd find at least one affordable yet effective litigating lawyer to get you out of your hitch.
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