Advising the Cannabis Start-up

Marijuana-related businesses are now legal in several states, however, cannabis law is a little bit like the Wild West. There’s a lot of potential, but the rules can be convoluted. Protecting a business in this area involves complex nuances in corporate law, real estate, intellectual property, tax, and business strategy. Successful representation requires creativity and flexibility. Servicing them can be complicated, yet profitable, for attorneys. This presentation will equip attorneys with the crucial information necessary for advising entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry.

The presenter, Michael James, is the founder of The James Firm, a boutique practice focused on corporate law, real estate, alcoholic beverage licensing, and intellectual property for early stage and existing businesses, structuring, negotiating and closing a range of commercial and capital market deals, and advising clients on a variety of issues, including capital formation.

Learning Objectives: 

1. Understand the current state of the marijuana industry and the interplay between state and federal law
2. Gain a basic understanding business structures and the key issues in the formation process
3. Identify the unique issues related to cannabis start-ups
4. Understand the most crucial aspects of a start-up and why they fail