Industry Contacts
Related Practices
When Illinois implemented its Compassionate Use of Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, medical cannabis industry members turned to SmithAmundsen as their voice during the rulemaking process, and later for advice in the highly-competitive application process. Since then, as Illinois and other states have legalized adult and recreational use of cannabis, SmithAmundsen has emerged as the leading full-service firm in the Midwest counseling the cannabis industry. Our attorneys understand the difference between CBD and THC. They understand the significance of hemp production and what it means for businesses anticipating the legalization of cannabis. Most importantly, they understand the regulatory challenges cannabis business owners face.
The cannabis industry faces all the legal challenges more traditional industries face, as well as unique challenges posed by the complex regulatory schemes states have adopted and the conflicts between federal and state laws. SmithAmundsen’s cannabis attorneys work closely with attorneys from its other practice groups to provide the type of collaborative and sophisticated legal services this industry needs, and that were previously difficult for industry members to find.
SmithAmundsen offers the following services to the cannabis industry, as well as businesses that wish to work with the cannabis industry:
- Corporate Services
- Business Formation, including Corporate Organization, Operating Agreements, Financing Agreements, Investment Agreements, and Succession Planning
- Applications and Licenses
- Regulatory Compliance
- Outside General Counsel Services
- Banking
- Contract Drafting, Review, and Negotiation
- Securities
- Commercial Lending
- Data Privacy and Security
- Insolvency and Restructuring
- Risk Management and Insurance
- Business Sales and Purchases
- Mergers & Acquisitions
- Tax
- Venture Capital & Private Equity
- Intellectual Property, including Copyrights, Trademarks, Patents, and Licensing Agreements
- Labor and Employment, including Human Resources Advising and Legal Compliance
- Real Estate Transactions and Zoning
- Health Care
- Laboratory Testing
- Litigation Services
- Business and Contract Dispute Resolution
- Commercial Litigation, Mediation, and Arbitration
- Regulatory Enforcement Proceedings
- Insurance Litigation
- Personal Injury Litigation
- Product Liability Litigation
- Labor and Employment Litigation
- Intellectual Property Enforcement and Litigation
- Insolvency, Restructuring, and Bankruptcy
- Tax Disputes
SmithAmundsen’s cannabis attorneys have dedicated themselves to educating the cannabis industry and other industries on important legal issues arising out of the legalization of cannabis. We hosted a crucial “Meet the Regulators” when Illinois’ medical cannabis program began, and also hosted a series of webinars addressing the particular difficulties otherwise routine legal problems pose to the cannabis industry. We have also been called upon to speak at a wide variety of venues, including:
- Marijuana Investor Summit
- Illinois Cannabis Bar Association
- National Business Institute
- Defense Research Institute
- Chicago Bar Association
- Chicago Cannabis Conference
- My Compassion Cannabis Conference
- Chicago Healthcare Risk Management Society
- Professional Liability Underwriting Society
- Association of Lloyd’s Brokers
- Illinois State University’s Katie School of Insurance & Financial Services
- Chartered Property Casualty Underwriters Institute
Our attorneys have been featured by media outlets across the country on cannabis legal issues and have and written articles appearing in Marijuana Business Daily and Marijuana Investor News. We are members of the National and Illinois Cannabis Industry Associations, Illinois Women in Cannabis, and the Illinois Cannabis Bar Association, and serve on the My Compassion Legal Advisory Board.
News & Press Releases
- Grown In, The Cannabis Industry Newsletter, May 21, 2020
- Grown In, The Cannabis Industry Newsletter, May 21, 2020
- Darren Grady is Quoted in Law360's Article -- 3 Ways Attys Are Preparing For Illinois Cannabis SalesLaw360, December 20, 2019
- Crain's Chicago Business, November 1, 2019
- September 2019
- ASweatLife, September 27, 2019
- The Washington Post, June 28, 2019
- Law360, June 3, 2019
- Law360, May 28, 2019
- Physicians Practice, February 16, 2016
- Professional Solutions Insurance Company, October 27, 2015
Alerts
- December 4, 2020
- December 4, 2020
- November 18, 2020
- November 18, 2020
- November 18, 2020
- November 18, 2020
- November 18, 2020
- October 26, 2020
- September 14, 2020
- September 10, 2020
- August 31, 2020
- July 24, 2020
- July 1, 2020
- May 27, 2020
- May 26, 2020
- May 18, 2020
- May 15, 2020
- May 14, 2020
- May 14, 2020
- May 11, 2020
- May 8, 2020
- May 5, 2020
- May 5, 2020
- April 30, 2020
- April 30, 2020
- April 28, 2020
- April 23, 2020
- April 22, 2020
- April 17, 2020
- April 17, 2020
- April 17, 2020
- April 13, 2020
- April 10, 2020
- April 7, 2020
- April 6, 2020
- April 5, 2020
- April 4, 2020
- April 3, 2020
- April 1, 2020
- April 1, 2020
- March 31, 2020
- March 31, 2020
- March 30, 2020
- March 30, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 27, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- March 26, 2020
- March 25, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 24, 2020
- March 22, 2020
- March 20, 2020
- March 20, 2020
- March 19, 2020
- March 18, 2020
- December 5, 2019
- November 22, 2019
- August 20, 2019
- August 15, 2019
- June 3, 2019
- May 1, 2019
- April 18, 2019
- April 3, 2019
- February 15, 2019
- February 7, 2019
- January 24, 2019
- December 18, 2018
- November 7, 2018
- November 7, 2018
- October 11, 2018
- September 28, 2018
- September 12, 2018
- August 29, 2018
- June 27, 2018
- May 7, 2018
- July 29, 2016
Publications
- DRI’s For the Defense, November 2020
- USLAW Magazine, March 25, 2020
- NAMA: In Touch, January 2020
- VendingMarketWatch.com, May 8, 2019
- USLAW Magazine, March 28, 2019
- DRI's The Voice Newsletter, January 30, 2019
- Marijuana Investor News, March 23, 2016
Presentations & Events
- DRI 2021 Cannabis Law Virtual Seminar, Webcast, April 28, 2021
- USLAW Network, Webcast, September 30, 2020 - October 9, 2020
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast, September 23, 2020
- DRI Cannabis Law Virtual Seminar, Webcast, September 17, 2020
- National Automatic Merchandising Association, Seminar; Nashville, TN, May 7, 2020
- Clear Law Institute, Webcast, March 24, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Webcast, March 3, 2020
- Elgin Area Chamber, Seminar; Elgin, IL, February 26, 2020
- Pincus Professional Education; Chicago, IL, February 21, 2020
- SmithAmundsen, Webcast; Chicago, IL, February 20, 2020
- Chaddick Institute for Metropolitan Development- Depaul Univeristy, Webcast, February 20, 2020
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Glen Ellyn, IL, February 19, 2020
- National Business Institute, Seminar; Oak Lawn, IL, December 19, 2019
- National Business Institute, Seminar; Northbrook, IL, December 16, 2019
- Grain & Feed Association of Illinois; Webinar, December 3, 2019
- Elgin Area Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, November 12, 2019
- Illinois Manufacturers' Association; Champaign, IL, September 18, 2019
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce, Seminar; Glen Ellyn, IL, August 20, 2019
- Webinar; BankersWeb, July 18, 2019
- Rockwell Beer Co.; St. Louis, MO, June 26, 2019
- NAMA Webinar, June 25, 2019
- DRI Cannabis Law Seminar; Washington, D.C., May 15, 2019
- Lorman Education Services; Webinar, March 26, 2019
- Clear Law Institute, Webinar, February 7, 2019
- Clear Law Institute, Webinar, October 16, 2018
- The Future of Medical Marijuana in Missouri: Dealing With the Disconnect Between State & Federal LawSmithAmundsen, Webinar, September 18, 2018
- National Business Institute; Chicago, IL, June 28, 2018
- Arizona Automatic Merchandising Council & California Automatic Vendors Council Annual Meeting; San Diego, CA, September 21, 2017
- Chicago-Kent College of Law, Seminar; Chicago, IL, March 16, 2017
- Illinois Chamber of Commerce; Webinar, February 8, 2017
- Chicago Bar Association, Chicago, IL, May 25, 2016
- 2016 Katie School/CPCU Symposium; Bloomington, IL, April 22, 2016
- Association of Lloyd's Brokers, Chicago, IL, March 15, 2016