Cannabis Law

As both medical and recreational cannabis has expanded throughout the United States, New Jersey is geared to fully legalize cannabis (under state law) in the near future. Businesses and entrepreneurs interested in this emerging market need competent legal counsel to assist them in navigating through complex regulatory and legal issues at the state level, while being mindful that cannabis is illegal at the federal level.

Our firm has been involved in New Jersey’s legalization process for years, including working with New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform to draft an early version of the legislation that was introduced by Senator Scutari. Our attorneys have years of involvement in the cannabis legalization movement, including service on the Board of Directors of NORML and the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey, the Board of Advisors of the Drug Policy Formation; the American Bar Association Drug Policy Committee; and the Drug Law Reform Committee of the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Our attorneys are able to assist New Jersey companies and entrepreneurs who seek to enter into the emerging cannabis industry. We can help you in every step of forming and operating your business, including: 

• Corporate Formation and Financing
• Licensing and Permitting for growers, processors and distributors
• Government Compliance
• Real Estate, Land Use and Zoning
• Business Litigation
• Products Liability
• Labor & Employment
• Intellectual Property
• Bankruptcy

Representative Matters:

• Pashman Stein Walder Hayden worked with New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform and ACLU-NJ to draft the pending litigation that was introduced by Senator Scutari in 2017. Senator Scutari’s bill was re-introduced in January 2018 as S830 and is pending.
• Sacramento Nonprofit Collective v. Holder, 552 Fed. Appx. 680, 682 (9th Cir. 2014) (challenging federal ban on medical marijuana on behalf of medical marijuana dispensaries)
• State ex rel. Sajo v. Paulus, 688 P.2d 367 (Or. 1984) (concerning whether the state followed proper procedures when they did not place the Oregon Marijuana Initiative on the voting ballot)

Disclaimer: Please be advised that possessing, using, distributing and/or selling marijuana is a federal crime, regardless of whether it is legal in any state. Your compliance with state law does not equate to compliance with federal law. No legal advice that we provide is intended to provide you any guidance or assistance in violating federal law.