Here Are the Top Cannabis Lawyers in All 50 U.S. States

Marijuana is legal recreationally in over one-third of states. It is legal medicinally over two-thirds of states. However, it remains illegal in several locations and is also prohibited by the federal government.

As a result of this ‘green rush’ in legalization, the legal field has added a new specialty: The ‘marijuana attorney.’ Even so, larger law firms are proving resistant to the change, with many refusing to provide services to prospective clients. This is because cannabis remains a Schedule I drug as per the Controlled Substances Act of 1970.

Hundreds of thousands of people are arrested and charged with a crime relating to cannabis each year. Depending on the state and the nature of the charge, defendants could face jail time or at least a conviction that goes on their permanent record. They need legal assistance to help them get the best possible outcome.

In this article, we will provide you with the names of prominent and reliable marijuana attorneys in the following fields of practice:

• Possession
• Cultivation
• Medical Marijuana
• Dispensaries

First, let’s help you narrow your search.

What to Look for in a Marijuana Lawyer

Whisper it quietly, but the legal field is rife with people more interested in taking your cash than helping you win. Marijuana law is constantly changing. Only someone who has taken it on as an area of specialization is likely to fulfill your needs. A typical law firm is unlikely to represent your best interests.

Relationships with regulators are almost as important as knowledge of the regulations.

In an ideal world, you will find someone with knowledge of the inner workings of state and local governments, along with marijuana laws in your state. In the world of cannabis law, relationships with regulators are almost as important as knowledge of the regulations. Therefore, you need to find someone with connections.

If you have a little knowledge of cannabis law, quiz the prospective attorney. If they are unable to build upon what you just said, steer clear. How can they defend you if they know only as much, or even less than you do about marijuana law? It would also help if you found someone with a good base in criminal and/or business law.

Marijuana Possession Lawyers

As there are still numerous states where it is illegal to consume marijuana medicinally, getting caught in possession can carry a severe punishment. In Alabama, for example, first-time personal use is a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison. Possession in the Second Degree is classified as a Class C felony, which is punishable with up to 10 years in prison!

In Texas, possession of fewer than two ounces could land you in jail for 180 days. Texas law is also very strict on concentrates. Possession of under one gram is a felony if convicted, with a punishment of up to two years in prison.

In Arkansas, you are allowed a certain amount of cannabis with a Medical Marijuana (MMJ) Card. However, if you are caught in possession of under four ounces, you could get up to a year in prison. Second-time offenders could spend up to six years in prison.

As a result, you need to find a reputable marijuana attorney specializing in helping clients arrested on possession charges. Riley & Wells in Virginia is one example.

Cultivation Lawyers

The stakes are much higher if you’re arrested on a cultivation charge. Not every state that has legalized marijuana allows you to grow it at home. In Louisiana, for example, medical marijuana is legal, but we can’t say the same for cultivation. The state’s penalties for growing marijuana are the same as for selling. For example, a first-time offender could receive fines of up to $50,000 along with anywhere from 5 to 30 years in prison!

In Texas, cultivation is punished based on the aggregate weight of the plants found. It is an offense where the sentence is along the lines of what you would receive for possession. Let’s say you grow five plants, and they produce an average of 18 ounces each. Your total of 90 ounces is over the five-pound limit, where the penalty goes from 2 years in prison to 10 years!

In Louisiana, look for Dylan T. Heard of Mueller, Merritt & Heard, or Robert Stephen Toale. MJ Business Attorneys is another important weed law firm as it is licensed in 15 U.S. states at the time of writing.

Medicinal Marijuana Lawyers

This is unquestionably one of the trickiest specializations because of the ever-changing laws. In the states where medicinal marijuana is legal, there are limits to how much you can grow and possess. Most states also have a specific list of qualifying conditions. In Arkansas, for example; the following medical conditions could result in you legally acquiring an MMJ card:

• Cancer
• Glaucoma
• Hepatitis C
• Crohn’s disease
• PTSD
• Severe arthritis
• Fibromyalgia

Unfortunately, there are countless cases where patients are wrongfully charged for offenses relating to medical marijuana. This includes possession, cultivation, consumption, driving under the influence, privacy issues, property rights, and civil forfeiture. If your medical marijuana rights are violated, you need to contact a law firm such as McAllister Garfield, P.C. It has offices in California and Colorado, among other locations.

The issue of primary caregiver is also a complicated one. In Colorado, for example, Amendment 20 authorized caregivers to provide medical marijuana to patients with qualifying medical conditions. As caregivers are strictly regulated on a local and state level, they are often incorrectly targeted by law enforcement.

If you are in this position, you need to contact a licensed marijuana attorney as they will provide you with a detailed consultation on all aspects of legal compliance.

Price Benowitz LLP (operating in Washington D.C., Maryland, New York, and Virginia) is another MMJ attorney worth considering.

Marijuana Lawyers for Sellers & Dispensaries

The stiffest penalties are reserved for those convicted of illegally selling or trafficking marijuana. In Texas, for example, the sale of more than five pounds will result in a prison sentence ranging from 2 to 20 years. The sale of more than 50 pounds could effectively result in a life sentence of 99 years, with a mandatory minimum prison sentence of five years.

Dispensaries have to obtain licenses, set up proper business structures, and connect with local and state officials.

Even in states where it is legal for licensed dispensaries to sell marijuana, these businesses face a complicated legal framework. They have to obtain licenses, set up proper business structures, and connect with local and state officials. Attorneys such as Ariel Clark of Clark Neubert LLP in California and Wing Parisi in Sacramento can help dispensaries navigate the complexities of marijuana law.

Final Thoughts on Marijuana Attorneys

Before we provide you with a list of marijuana lawyers in every state, we would like to highlight the importance of educating yourself in cannabis law. Whether you are consuming it recreationally or medicinally or growing it at home, you must learn more about your state laws before you get into trouble.

There is a variety of online courses worth considering if you wish to expand your knowledge. These include:

• The Physiology of Cannabis at UC Davis
• The Marijuana Law, Policy, and Reform Seminar at The Ohio State University
• Representing the Marijuana Client at The University of Denver.

Without further ado, here are some marijuana attorneys to consider according to the state where you live.

List of Marijuana Lawyers by State

Alabama

Kate Furek

Adele Underwood

Robin C. Wolfe

Alaska

Joseph Raymond Skrha

Denali Law Group

Jana Wetzin

Arizona

Thomas W Dean

Jason D Lamm

Jamal F Allen

Arkansas

John Wesley Hall Jr.

Natalie Hyman

W. Whitfield Hyman

California

Rod S. Berman

Lauren Kelly Johnson

Aaron A. Pelley

Colorado

Clifton Black

Sarah Schielke Esq.

Ann Toney

Connecticut

Elia Gregory Cerritelli

John Francis O’Brien

Nicholas Paindiris

Delaware

Tom Donovan

Offit Kurman

Michael W. Modica

Florida

Matthew Ginder

Michael C Minardi

Dustin Robinson

Georgia

David S. Ballard

Stacey Goad

Patrick Kunes

Hawaii

James DiPasquale

William Harrison

Geraldo Scatena

Idaho

JW Bond

Law Office of Mitchell R. Aguilar

Nicolas Vernon Vieth

Illinois

Merrill K. Davis

Brian Morgan

William Wolf

Indiana

Julie Chambers

Bradley Keffer

Paul Stanko

Iowa

Aaron Hamrock

Keith Rigg

Dean A. Stowers

Kansas

John Dedon

Robert C. Gigstad

Brian Leininger

Kentucky

Patrick S McClure

Nathan Miller – Suhre & Associates

Aleah Schutze – Steptoe & Johnson

 Louisiana

Christopher Carbine

Daryl Gold

Jonathan Wasielewski

Maine

Michelle DelMar Esq.

Regan A. Sweeney

Timothy Zerillo

 Maryland

Devin Shamir Luqman

Morgan E. Leigh

Michael S. Rothman

Massachusetts

Marvin Cable

Abe Cohn

Patrick Donavan

Michigan

Michael J. Boyle

Lisa Dwyer

Frances Murphy

Minnesota

Kirk Matthew Anderson

Thomas C Gallagher

Catherine Trevino

Mississippi

Vic Carmody Jr.

Kevin Wayne Frye

Kevin Stewart

Missouri

Brendan Block

Joani Harshman

James P. Feely Jr.

Montana

Briana E. Kottke

Carl Jensen Jr.

Cammi Woodward – Woodward Law Firm

Nebraska

John Stevens Berry Sr.

Eric R. Chandler

Marnie Jensen

Nevada

Derek J. Connor

Nicholas M. Woolridge

William J. Routsis

New Hampshire

Paul Garrity

Mark Osborne

Joseph R. Russell

New Jersey

Adam Blaier

Frank T. Luciano

Anthony N. Palumbo Esq.

New Mexico

Carlos Martinez

David C Serna

McKenzie St. Denis

New York

Daniel A. Johnston

George Hildebrandt

Christopher J. Milne

North Carolina

Dylan Greenwood

Wiley Nickel

Ryan M. Stowe

North Dakota

Scott Patrick Brand

Adam Justinger

James Martens

Ohio

Joel Allen Holt

David A. Ingram

Brian Joslyn

Oklahoma

Donald E. Gies III

Logan Michael Jones

Jeff Trevillion Jr.

Oregon

Damien Donnelly-Cole

Michael R. Hughes

Craig W. Russell

Pennsylvania

Joseph Dominick Caraciolo

Andrew Sacks

Michael J. Skinner

Rhode Island

Lisa Holley

Stefanie Murphy

Francis Patriarca

South Carolina

John W. Molony

Steve Wayne Sumner

Freddy Woods

South Dakota

Patrick Duffy

Ellery Grey

Eric M. Schlimgen

Tennessee

Joseph W. Fuson

George Frank Lannom

Cayley Turrin

Texas

Rick Cofer

Brian Corrigan

Kimberley Griffin Tucker

Utah

Amy N. Fowler

Mark Moffat

Jerry Salcido

Vermont

Timothy Bryon Fair

Andrew Subin

Paul S. Volk

Virginia

Abraham Del Rio III

Michael A. Robinson

Taite Westendorf

Washington

Linda Medeiros Callahan

Megan M. Dunn

Ammon John Ford

West Virginia

Gregory J. Campbell

Morgan Hayes

Harley Wagner

Wisconsin

Sydne French

Teuta Jonuzi

Kirk B. Obear

Wyoming

Dion James Custis

Linda Elizabeth Devine

Sarah Jacobs-Manwarren

Washington D.C.

Alexandro Gianes Cardozo

Brian J. Malkin

Joseph A. Scrofano Esq.