Cannabis Licensing and Compliance Specialists

Trailblazers in the cannabis industry, we outpace the competition and navigate a direct path to licensing and compliance for marijuana-related ventures in California. For more than a decade, Nelson Hardiman has provided cannabis businesses with unmatched experience and specialized understanding of the still-evolving regulatory challenges and local rules across the full spectrum of cannabis businesses. Universally respected in the industry, Partner Aaron Lachant was appointed by the Board of Supervisors to serve on the Los Angeles County Advisory Working Group on Cannabis Regulation.

Representing Cannabusinesses, Dispensaries, and Startups

We are trusted and respected authorities on the complexities of marijuana laws. In addition to advising on compliance and regulatory issues, we are at the forefront of industry developments. We create strategies for cannabis businesses based on our extensive experience dealing with cultivators, dispensaries, distributors, labs, manufacturers and processors. Our cannabis clients turn to us for advice on the full range of business issues focused on finance and investment strategies to pave the way for future growth. We harness our strong transactional skills, regulatory knowledge and frontline experience to advocate for clients and solve their toughest legal challenges.

From the fabled cannabis farms in the north to the “green rush” in the Sierra foothill counties, navigating the complexities of conflicting local, state and federal marijuana laws is no easy task. We have worked with multiple jurisdictions on marijuana regulations. We represent individual growers, property owners and investors who finance marijuana businesses from the ground up. Nelson Hardiman attorneys have the in-depth industry experience and nuanced understanding of laws in transition that cannabis cultivators need to navigate growth opportunities while mitigating the inherent risks in the burgeoning cannabis industry.

Our Work Includes:

  • Compliance Programs Prepared an operating plan and compliance program for a medical marijuana dispensary in connection with a license application.
  • Investors Worked on many sophisticated transactions, advising clients on M&A deals, partnership disputes, and litigation involving regulatory violations.
  • Land Acquisition Completed the land acquisition on behalf of a client of a several hundred acre ranch in Humboldt County for a marijuana venture.
  • Licensing Co-founder of MMLG, a compliance consulting company specializing in navigating state and local licensing processes for cannabis-related businesses.
  • Start-ups Advised on raising capital to fund business start-up, growth and operations.
  • Unlawful Seizure Obtained a court order for the Los Angeles Police Department to return $100,000 bail payment that was unlawfully seized along with unlawfully seized medical marijuana.

Unmatched experience defines the scope of our work with cannabis dispensaries. Our work with local and state government has played a singular role in shaping the path of California marijuana laws, making us the ideal partner for cannabis dispensaries statewide.

A trusted and respected authority on the complexities of marijuana laws, Nelson Hardiman is widely recognized for our work with marijuana dispensaries. We have been intimately involved with crafting local law that governs dispensaries in Los Angeles, and are committed to streamlining and clarifying laws regulating where and how medical marijuana-based businesses can operate in California. No matter the challenge, we have the pioneering experience and regulatory insight marijuana dispensaries need to grow and prosper in the volatile cannabis industry.

Our Work Includes:

  • Business Tax Dispute Persuaded the Los Angeles Office of Finance to reinstate a medical marijuana dispensary’s business tax certificate, enabling our client to re-open their business.
  • Compliance Programs Prepared an operating plan and compliance program for a medical marijuana dispensary in connection with their license application.
  • Multi-party Lawsuit Represented 40 medical marijuana dispensaries and obtained favorable settlements in a multi-party lawsuit filed by the City of Los Angeles. Additionally, represented 20 medical marijuana dispensaries in a lawsuit filed against the City involving the medical marijuana regulatory ordinance.
  • Proposition D Defense Obtained two complete dismissals against Prop D-compliant marijuana businesses, including a dismissal based on a Kellett motion, as well as multiple settlements in which the City Attorney agreed not to prohibit the business from operating.
  • Proposition D Defense Since Proposition D was passed in May 2013 to regulate local medical marijuana businesses, the Los Angeles City Attorney has shut down more than 800 dispensaries. Rarely is a case dismissed. But, Nelson Hardiman won a dismissal on the first day of trial by showing that the prosecution would be unable to meet the legal burden proving our client engaged in illegal activity.
  • Taxation Represented eight medical marijuana dispensaries in ongoing lawsuit related to the City of Los Angeles medical marijuana taxation ordinance.
  • Unfair Competition Obtained a permanent injunction on behalf of a Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensary, as part of a global settlement with an illegal competitor business.
  • Unlawful Seizure Obtained court order for the Los Angeles Police Department to return $100,000 bail payment that was unlawfully seized as well as unlawfully seized medical marijuana.

The evolving cannabis industry is a growth sector funded by investors attracted by the high-risk/high-reward opportunities offered by the cultivation, distribution, and sale of legal marijuana. Nelson Hardiman combines nearly a decade of hands-on experience shaping the path of California marijuana laws with a deep bench of transactional talent handling sophisticated corporate transactions.

We are uniquely qualified to advise marijuana business investors in a burgeoning industry beset by a wide array of legal challenges. Nelson Hardiman offers investors strategic counsel based on our pioneering experience, regulatory insight and in-depth industry knowledge. We navigate the ever-shifting patchwork of local rules and regulations to help investors gain a foothold in the emerging multibillion-dollar cannabis industry.

Our Work Includes:

  • Investors Worked on many sophisticated transactions, advising clients on M&A deals, partnership disputes and litigation involving regulatory violations.
  • Land Acquisition Negotiated the land acquisition on behalf of a client of a several hundred-acre ranch in Humboldt County for a marijuana venture.
  • Licensing Founded MMLG, a compliance consulting company specializing in navigating state and local licensing processes for cannabis-related businesses.
  • Mergers & Acquisitions Completed numerous acquisitions of cannabis dispensaries.
  • Start-ups Advised on raising capital to fund business start-up, growth and operations.

Nelson Hardiman assists with cannabis licensing regulations focusing on navigating complicated local and state licensing application processes for cannabis-related businesses in California.

Our intimate knowledge of local and state regulations provides a comprehensive solution for complying with the ever-changing rules and regulations governing the cannabis industry. Operating on the industry frontlines for the past decade, Nelson Hardiman keeps its finger on the pulse of the regulatory space through our strong relationships with local and state regulators, lobbyists and trade organizations. For marijuana businesses in legal and permitted jurisdictions, we traverse the murky regulatory terrain to protect our clients from potential missteps and inform business decisions in the rapidly expanding cannabis marketplace.

Our Work Includes:

  • Compliance Programs Prepared operating plan and compliance program for medical marijuana dispensary in connection with licensing application.
  • Licensing Obtained permits for medical marijuana activity in Palm Springs, San Diego, Malibu and San Luis Obispo.
  • Regulatory Help draft Proposition D, the municipal medical marijuana regulatory ordinance that qualified for the May 2013 ballot in the City of Los Angeles, providing limited immunity from enforcement to approximately 135 original cannabis dispensaries from a previous City ordinance.
  • Regulatory Committed to keeping marijuana businesses open, consulting with regulators in various jurisdictions to keep laws favorable.

Manufacturers, operating in one of the most exacting sectors of the emerging cannabis industry, rely on Nelson Hardiman to guide every phase of their business ventures. We are a trusted and respected authority on the complexities of marijuana laws with more than a decade of experience advising leading business entities. Our combined experience gives us a nuanced understanding of the needs of marijuana manufacturers from the ground up.

We advise manufacturers of cannabis products and equipment for retail and wholesale use to ensure their products comply with all aspects of California law, in preparation for the issuance of cannabis manufacturing licenses in 2018.

Our Work Includes:

  • Business Issues Worked on many sophisticated corporate transactions, advising clients on M&A deals, partnerships, disputes and litigation involving regulatory violations.
  • Finance Advised on raising capital to fund start-up, growth and operations.
  • General Counsel Served as general counsel for manufacturing companies.
  • Intellectual Property Negotiated out-of-state licensing deals for manufacturing company IP/brand.
  • Operations Advised on various operational matters and drafted marketing, employment/contractor, distribution and licensing requirements.