Practices & Industries

The rapidly growing, billion dollar legal cannabis market is having a far-reaching and dramatic impact on numerous industries.  Due to constantly changing state and foreign cannabis laws, and questions raised regarding the enforceability of federal anti-drug, anti-money laundering, and banking laws in light of state and foreign legalization, the lawful cannabis industry presents a complex landscape for investors, lenders, ancillary service providers, and impacted industries to navigate. Our Cannabis Law Group can provide clients with advice on the spectrum of issues that may arise for lawful businesses in, and impacted by, this area.

Riker Danzig’s Cannabis Law Group combines the talents of seasoned attorneys from our Corporate, Tax, Governmental Affairs, and White Collar Criminal Defense and Investigations Practice Groups. Our attorneys are knowledgeable about the latest legal developments and trends related to lawful cannabis-related activity, and are well-equipped to provide counsel on the following legal matters:

• Proposed and existing federal, state, and municipal laws and policies;
• Entity formation and corporate governance;
• Licensing, registration, and permitting;
• Domestic and foreign/cross-border investments;
• Corporate and commercial transactions, mergers, acquisitions, and financing deals;
• Vendor and ancillary business contracts;
• Banking and financing issues;
• Developing legislative strategies;
• Administrative regulations;
• Government investigations and compliance issues; and
• Criminal charges by federal and state law enforcement authorities.

Riker Danzig’s Cannabis Law Group currently provides counsel to clients on state and federal law and policies, entity and fund formation, domestic and foreign investment activity, permitting, and other legal, tax, and regulatory compliance matters.

The Cannabis Law Group is led by partners Jason D. Navarino and Mary Kay Roberts.

Jason D. Navarino has considerable experience advising both large and small business clients with respect to structuring and documenting domestic and cross-border mergers and acquisitions and joint ventures in a tax-efficient and tax-compliant manner, forming operating and investment partnerships and limited liability companies, managing other related tax and corporate matters.

Mary Kay Roberts, a lawyer and a lobbyist, has substantial experience providing governmental affairs and lobbying services to a broad and diverse range of industries, including pharmaceuticals, banking, insurance, education, technology, telecommunications, utilities, and also a recently formed coalition of the state’s blood banks.

Another member of our Cannabis practice, Cristin M. Boyle, is a member of the New Jersey State Bar Association’s Cannabis Law Special Committee.