(In-Person) Cannabis Law Conference 2023

Monday, July 17, 2023 | 9:00 am – 4:45 pm

Register for the In-Person Program

Program Co-Chairs:

Joam Alisme
Alisme Law LLC

Karl Dowden
Karl Dowden Law

Alana Hans-Cohen
Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, P.C.

  • 2023 will be a pivotal year for cannabis law in New York. Now, as a legal product, New York attorneys must become familiar with the regulation, distribution and sale of cannabis to ensure safety, especially given the addictive qualities, propensity to impair perception, judgment and other potential health effects. With recreational marijuana still illegal under federal law, as well as in many states, how will New York as a judicial, commercial and legislative leader act? This program will feature a broad range of perspectives on the evolving regulatory and ethical issues arising out of legal recreational marijuana and provide an overview of how legalized marijuana affects and intersects practice areas such as health; labor and employment; banking; tax; compliance; real property, and of course, well-being. As leaders in their respective practice areas, speakers will explore these wide range of issues and more!

    Related Resources:
    Marijuana Legalization & Regulation resource page
    Police Reform Efforts in New York State and New York City: More to Do

    Program Fee:
    $299 for Members | $399 for Nonmembers
    Small law Firm: $199 Members

  • Keynote Speaker:

    Linda M. Baldwin
    General Counsel, NYS Office of Cannabis Management

    Speakers/Panelists:

    Fatima Afia
    Rudick Law Group PLLC

    Duncan Delano
    Emerge Law Group

    David N. Feldman
    Feldman Legal Advisors PLLC

    Matthew E. Foreman
    Falcon Rappaport & Berkman LLP

    Meredith S. Heller
    Law Office of Meredith S. Heller PLLC

    Adele Hogan
    Hogan Law Associates PLLC

    Kristin L. Jordon
    Founder + CEO
    Park Jordan

    James K. Landau
    Prince Lobel Tye LLP

    Andrew Lichtman
    Jenner & Block LLP

    Blythe E. Lovinger
    Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

    James Mann
    Law Office of James B. Mann

    Jeff A. Margolis
    The Margolis Law Firm

    Coss MarteCAURD Licensee

    Aliya J. Nelson
    Greenspoon Marder LLP

    Fran Obeid
    MFO LAW, P.C.

    Amol K. Pachnanda
    Ross Katz & Pachnanda PLLC

    Erik P. Pramschufer
    Kelley Drye & Warren LLP

    Eileen Travis
    Executive Director Lawyer Assistance Program, NYC Bar

    Meditation/Chair Yoga Instructor:

    Melissa L. Greenberg 
    Ropers Majeski

  • 9:00 am – 9:10 am
    Introduction & Program Overview
    Conference Co-Chairs: Joam Alisme, Karl Dowden & Alana Hans-Cohen

    9:10 am – 9:35 am
    Regulation and Enforcement of Cannabis in New York State – Overview and Current Issues
    Keynote Speaker: Linda M. Baldwin

    9:35 am – 10:25 am
    Joint Ventures and Legal Hangovers: Tales from the Frontlines of the CAURD Licensing Process and Preparing for New York’s Future Cannabis Licensing Landscape
    Panel Leader: Kristin L. JordanPanelists: Alana Hans-Cohen, Duncan Delano & Coss Marte

    10:25 am – 10:30am
    Coffee Break

    10:30 am – 11:20 am
    The Four Corners of a Cannabis Business: Real Estate Angles of Growers, Dispensaries and Lounges
    Panel Leader: Amol K. Pachnanda
    Panelists: James K. Landau, Aliya J. Nelson & Jeff A. Margolis

    11:20 am – 11:25 am
    Coffee Break

    11:25 am – 12:15 pm
    Cannabis Considerations During the Employee Life-Cycle: Hiring Through Termination
    Panelists: Blythe Lovinger & Erik P. Pramschufer

    12:15 pm – 1:10 pm
    Networking Lunch
    (This session will include an optional meditation/chair yoga activity, conducted by Melissa L. Greenberg & sponsored by the Mindfulness and Wellbeing in Law Committee)

    1:10 pm – 2:00 pm
    Taxation of Cannabis: Entity Selection, Section 280E, Audits, and Potential Tax Reform
    Panelists: Matthew E. Foreman and Fran Obeid

    2:00 pm – 2:05 pm
    Coffee Break

    2:05 pm – 2:55 pm
    M&A, Financing, Banking and Regulatory Compliance for the Cannabis Industry
    Panelists: David N. Feldman, Adele Hogan, James Mann & Andrew Lichtman

    2:55 pm – 3:00 pm
    Coffee break

    3:00 pm – 3:50 pm
    Consequences Legalized Cannabis Can Have on a Lawyer’s Practice, Mental Health and Ethical Obligations
    Panelists: Meredith S. Heller & Eileen Travis

    3:50 pm – 3:55 pm
    Coffee Break

    3:55 pm – 4:45 pm
    How New York State Attorneys May Ethically Practice Cannabis Law Notwithstanding the Federal Status of Cannabis
    Panelists: Joam Alisme & Karl Dowden

  • New York: 7.5 Total: 3.0 Professional Practice; 3.0 Skills & 1.5 Ethics
    New Jersey: 7.5 Total: 3.0 Professional Practice; 3.0 Skills & 1.5 Ethics
    California: 7.5 Total: 3.0 Professional Practice; 3.0 Skills & 1.5 Ethics
    Pennsylvania: 6.0 Total: 5.0 General & 1.0 Ethics
    Connecticut: Available to Licensed Attorneys

  • Gold Sponsors:


    Silver Sponsors:

    Sponsoring Association Committees:
    Banking Law, N. Adele Hogan, Chair
    Compliance, Patrick T. Campbell & Adam B. Felsenthal, Co-Chairs
    Drugs & the Law, Alana Hans-Cohen
    Health Law, Heather A. Hatcher, Chair
    Labor & Employment Law, Tracey Salmon-Smith, Chair
    Mindfulness and Wellbeing in Law, Lisa Podemski, Chair
    Real Property Law, Dorothy Heyl, Chair
    Small Law Firm, Anne Wolfson, Chair
    State and Local Taxation, Michael J. Hilkin, Chair

    Conference Sponsor:
    NYC Bar Lawyer Assistance Program

    Sponsorship Opportunities are Available! Please Contact:
    Yelena Balashchenko, Manager, Business Development & Sponsorships | (212) 382-6608 | ybalashchenko@nycbar.org

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Register for the In-Person Program