Skip to content
DWT logo
People Expertise Insights
About Locations Careers
Search
People
Expertise
Insights
About
Locations
Careers
Search

Cannabis

  •  

From deals to appeals, DWT offers a deep bench of attorneys who are committed to representing cannabis and cannabis-adjacent businesses with professionalism, integrity, and a deep sense of responsibility.

Overview

A Growing Opportunity
The legalization of the cannabis industry presents extraordinary new business opportunities – and new legal and regulatory challenges. From employment to land use, banking to taxation, cannabis and cannabis-adjacent issues can touch our clients’ businesses across multiple disciplines. We leverage our industry knowledge to provide full-spectrum representation to clients on state, federal, and regulatory matters.

360 Legal Service
We know that ad hoc answers aren’t enough. That’s why we’ve created a focused, multi-disciplinary, and coordinated group of lawyers to give clients sophisticated, strategic counsel that’s seamless and integrated. Our attorneys bring knowledge and experience from such diverse disciplines as: litigation and risk mitigation; labor, employment, and immigration; media and advertising; agriculture and environmental; general business; banking and financing; and real estate and land use, to provide comprehensive solutions to the issues our clients face.

We have earned a national reputation for assisting clients that operate in highly regulated sectors of the economy such as alcohol licensing and food safety, and our experience makes us uniquely well-positioned to help foster client success in the cannabis industry.

Practice Areas

Advertising and Marketing

Advised media companies carrying advertisements for cannabis and related products, including streaming audio, print (magazines and newspapers), and online entities. Reviewed sponsorship agreements for cannabis-related events and compliance with applicable law. Advised on the production and distribution of sponsored content for CBD companies and the distribution of CBD-related products as gifts/handouts at corporate events.

Banking

Advised banks on Bank Secrecy Act and Anti-Money Laundering compliance issues for cannabis-related activities.

Employment

Represented major portable vaporizer provider in a variety of employment matters, including workplace policies and a termination dispute with its former CEO.

Environmental

Advised major portable vaporizer provider on California Prop 65 labeling for its accessories. Also regularly advise clients on product, workplace, and environmental Prop 65 warnings.

Federal Criminal Law

Advised numerous clients on application of federal criminal laws to related cannabis businesses, including Canadian and U.S. state legal activities. Advised on application of federal criminal law to IPO of client’s foreign, cannabis-producing subsidiary.

Food + Beverage

Advised multiple clients on whether CBD can be used as a food ingredient and the legal risks of doing so. Represented clients in multiple mislabeling class actions for major food retailers and handled distributors and distribution / supply disputes for retailers and distributors selling CBD-containing products. Advised on whether a cannabis home delivery service operated by independent third party drivers under a trademark license qualifies as a franchise under federal and state laws.

Health Compliance

Advised nationwide restaurants on regulatory issues affecting their ability to provide CBD products to patrons.

Immigration

Advised clients on waivers of inadmissibility for permanent bans related to cannabis use and involvement in cannabis industry.

Intellectual Property/Trademark

Provided trademark registration and enforcement counseling to cannabis companies.

Litigation

Obtained partial summary judgment on behalf of a leading cannabis products company in a suit alleging breach of lease agreement. Also filed suit against Customs and Border Patrol for failing to timely produce documents related to whether individuals are being denied entry into the U.S. due to their ties to the cannabis industry. Defended more than a half dozen cannabis retailers in matters alleging unlawful text messaging in violation of federal or state law.

Mergers & Acquisitions/Financing

Represented a Canadian cannabis company in securities-related opinions in connection with their debt securities and equity financing transactions.

Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA)

Advised laboratory, logistics, and processing clients regarding compliance with federal and state regulations, and defended numerous clients in administrative hearings.

Real Estate

Represented multiple Oregon landlords with respect to the sale of their grow facilities.

Sponsorships

Advised famous brands on entering sponsorship deals with cannabis and CBD companies.

Advocates and Educators

CA cannabis
DWT is a proud Business Member of the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA). Serving on the CCIA's legislative, intellectual property, and HR/insurance committees, DWT is at the forefront of the industry’s most pressing legal and policy matters in California's rapidly changing cannabis industry.

Our Insights

SEE ALL
cannabis leaves Link to /insights/2022/05/foreign-national-us-entry-cannabis-industry
05.10.22
Advisories
Cannabis
FOIA Suit Uncovers True CBP Policy Regarding Immigration Admissibility of Individuals Connected to Legal Foreign Cannabis Industry Read More Link to /insights/2022/05/foreign-national-us-entry-cannabis-industry
cannabis plants Link to /blogs/employment-labor-and-benefits/2021/10/cannabis-work-laws-new-york
10.14.21
Blog Post
Counseling
New York State Department of Labor Issues Guidance Concerning Employee Cannabis Use Read More Link to /blogs/employment-labor-and-benefits/2021/10/cannabis-work-laws-new-york
coastal highway road Link to /insights/2020/12/california-cannabis-billboard-ban
12.16.20
Advisories
Cannabis
California Court Bans Cannabis Billboard Advertising on All Highways That Cross State Line Read More Link to /insights/2020/12/california-cannabis-billboard-ban
Farm Bill for Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Link to https://www.law360.com/california/articles/1289544/attys-should-stop-using-2-common-cannabis-industry-terms
07.13.20
Publications
Cannabis
Co-author, "Attys Should Stop Using 2 Common Cannabis Industry Terms," Expert Analysis, Law360 Read More External Link to https://www.law360.com/california/articles/1289544/attys-should-stop-using-2-common-cannabis-industry-terms
Aerial view of cannabis farm Link to /insights/2020/06/doj-cannabis-antitrust-merger-investigations
06.24.20
Advisories
Cannabis
Antitrust Division Prosecutor Testifies That DOJ Targeted Cannabis Related Mergers for Scrutiny Read More Link to /insights/2020/06/doj-cannabis-antitrust-merger-investigations
FDA Cannabis hearing Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1283693/davis-wright-nets-partial-win-over-cbp-cannabis-docs
06.17.20
News
Cannabis
"Davis Wright Nets Partial Win Over CBP Cannabis Docs," Law360 Read More External Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1283693/davis-wright-nets-partial-win-over-cbp-cannabis-docs
Cannabis delivery in CA Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1253536/cbp-denies-withholding-records-in-cannabis-entry-ban-suit
03.16.20
News
Cannabis
"CBP Denies Withholding Records In Cannabis Entry Ban Suit," Law360 Read More External Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1253536/cbp-denies-withholding-records-in-cannabis-entry-ban-suit
USDA Hemp Production Listening Session Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1251094/federal-ruling-shows-tolerance-of-state-legalized-cannabis
03.09.20
Publications
Cannabis
"Federal Ruling Shows Tolerance Of State-Legalized Cannabis," Expert Analysis, Law360 Read More External Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1251094/federal-ruling-shows-tolerance-of-state-legalized-cannabis
Hemp-Derived CBD Link to /-/media/files/publications/2020/02/022720colbyhightech-cannabis-technology-and-conten.pdf?rev=38ed637f37b84611a90c49ed7aa066d9
02.27.20
Presentations
Cannabis
"HIGH-Tech: Cannabis, Technology, and Content," DOWNLOAD, Davis Wright Tremaine, Los Angeles Read More Link to /-/media/files/publications/2020/02/022720colbyhightech-cannabis-technology-and-conten.pdf?rev=38ed637f37b84611a90c49ed7aa066d9
Advertising laws for CBD and cannabis marketers Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1225352/3-cannabis-policy-trends-to-watch-in-2020?te_pk=2b4fe54c-384a-428f-a9fe-b7c927d4eb13&utm_source=user-alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tracked-entity-alert
01.01.20
News
Cannabis
Quoted in "3 Cannabis Policy Trends To Watch In 2020," Law360 Read More External Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1225352/3-cannabis-policy-trends-to-watch-in-2020?te_pk=2b4fe54c-384a-428f-a9fe-b7c927d4eb13&utm_source=user-alerts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=tracked-entity-alert
Cannabis plants in a greenhouse Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1226132
12.06.19
News
Cannabis
"Judge Sends Pot Co. Ownership Dispute To Wash. State Court," Law360 Read More External Link to https://www.law360.com/articles/1226132

Shaping the Industry

The goal of Women in Cannabis is to elevate, amplify, and establish women as leaders in the cannabis industry.
Clear Filter
Searching...
Your search returned no results. Please try another search or remove search criteria.

Our Team

Clear Filter
Searching...
Your search returned no results. Please try another search or remove search criteria.

Contact us

We’re here to help. Email us with any questions or comments and we’ll get you connected to the right person.

Cannabis: Contact us

CAUTION - Before you proceed, please note: By clicking "submit" you agree that our review of the information contained in your e-mail and any attachments will not create an attorney-client relationship, and will not prevent any lawyer in our firm from representing a party in any matter where that information is relevant, even if you submitted the information in good faith to retain us. You also agree and understand that we may not respond to your inquiry.
Contact Us Form
*
*
Invalid Email
*
* = required field
DWT logo
©1996-2022 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
NAVIGATE
Home People Expertise Insights
About Locations Careers Events Blogs
STAY CONNECTED

Subscribe to stay informed.

Subscribe
Employees
DWT Collaborate
EEO
Affiliations
Legal notices
Privacy policy
©1996-2022 Davis Wright Tremaine LLP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Close
Close

CAUTION - Before you proceed, please note: By clicking “accept” you agree that our review of the information contained in your e-mail and any attachments will not create an attorney-client relationship, and will not prevent any lawyer in our firm from representing a party in any matter where that information is relevant, even if you submitted the information in good faith to retain us.