Overview
"Tom is a really great lawyer who is practical and solutions-oriented." - Cannabis Client, Chambers USA
Tom is one of the most sought-after attorneys serving the Ohio and national cannabis industry, representing licensed operators and ancillary service providers. He advises cannabis clients (often as outside general counsel) on a wide range of issues, including g license acquisition, corporate transactions, litigation, day-to-day business matters, strategic planning, municipal law, and regulatory compliance. Tom has led some of the largest M&A deals in the Ohio cannabis market, representing both the selling license holders and acquiring entities.
When Ohio cannabis organizers sought a leader for the effort to legalize adult-use marijuana in the Buckeye State, they chose Tom as the campaign spokesperson. His leadership was instrumental in passing Ohio’s Issue 2 initiative, which passed with over 57% of the vote, gaining support from voters across various geographic, political, and cultural backgrounds. Tom’s extensive experience and practical insights have made him a trusted advisor to policymakers and industry stakeholders, who rely on his guidance to navigate complex issues and bridge the gap between policy and real-world application
Tom’s work has earned him considerable recognition, including the Crain’s Cleveland Business‘ 2021 list of Forty Under 40 and The Best Lawyers in America®. Additionally, Tom is ranked by the prestigious Chambers USA in cannabis law.
As a result of his national reputation, Tom is an avid contributor to various local and national media outlets and often speaks at industry conferences and events. A natural collaborator, he knows how important it is to build consensus at the local and State level to further clients’ interests.
Representative Experience
- Along with co-counsel, successfully obtained a sanction award against an eBay seller who brought a SLAPP suit against two out-of-state individuals.
- Successfully quashed a subpoena issued by a Plaintiff in a SLAPP suit that would have revealed a client’s identity, where the client engaged in constitutionally protected speech online.
- Obtained an acquittal on behalf of a client accused of improperly purchasing liquor for business purposes, thereby avoiding revocation of his client’s liquor license.
- Obtained a summary judgment against a construction equipment company where the company attempted to hold the client personally liable for business debt; defended the decision in the Court of Appeals, which subsequently affirmed the trial court’s decision.
Education & Admissions
Education
- Cleveland State University College of Law J.D., cum laude, 2011
- John Carroll University B.A., 2008
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Ohio
- State of Colorado
- State of Michigan
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
- Ohio Hemp Association, Executive Vice President (2019 – Present)
- International Cannabis Industry Association, Legal and Banking Committee (2016 – 2017)
- International Cannabis Bar Association, Member (2016 – Present)
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member (2012 – Present)
- Council of Delegates (2018 – 2019)
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member (2011 – Present)
- Board of Directors Trustee (2018-2021)
- Criminal Justice Reform Group, Chair (2021 – Present)
- Police Reform Subgroup for the Racial Equality And the Law (REAL) Working Groups (2021 – Present)
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, Board of Directors (2022)
- National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Legal Committee, Member (2012 – 2020)
Community Involvement
- Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), Lead Cohort 5 (Class of 2020)
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Solo Incubator Advisory Council (2011 – Present)
- Candidate for Ohio Senate, District 23 (2014)
- Lowellville High School Commencement, Speaker (2014)
Firm Involvement
- Cannabis Law Practice, Chair
- Management Committee, Member
Awards & Honors
- Named to the Crain’s Cleveland Business’ Power 150 List (2024)
- Named to Chambers USA in Cannabis Law (2021 – 2023)
- Named to the Crain’s Cleveland Business’ Forty Under 40 list (2021)
- Named to the Top 7 Cannabis Attorneys in the U.S. by The Vape Report
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® in Cannabis Law and Commercial Litigation (2021 – Present)
- Named to the Top 200 Global Cannabis Lawyer Directory published by Cannabis Law Report & Cannabis Law Journal
- Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2019 – Present)
Publications
- Founder and Editor, Ohio Cannabis Law Blog—www.ohiomarijuanalaw.com
- “A Year in Review of Ohio’s Adult Use Cannabis Program for Employers,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Cannabis Law Blog (December 2024)
- “Cannabis Business Disputes: Options for Staying Out of the Courtroom,” (Co-Author) Cannabis Business Times (June 2024)
- “5 Things to Confirm When Signing a Cannabis Facility Construction Agreement,” (Co-Author) Cannabis Business Times (May 2024)
- “DEA Advances Marijuana Rescheduling; Senators Propose Descheduling,” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (May 2024)
- “Labor Law Developments Clear the Path for Growing Unionization in Cannabis,” (Co-Author) Cannabis Business Times (March 2024)
- “7 Critical Questions Cannabis Businesses Need to Be Asking About The Corporate Transparency Act, The Most Important Federal Law You’ve Never Heard Of,” Cannabis Business Times (February 2024)
- “Issue 2 and Social Equity,” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (November 2023)
- “Ohio Voters Decisively Pass Issue 2 to Legalize Adult Use Marijuana in the Buckeye State,” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (November 2023)
- “North Carolina Medical Marijuana Bill Advances Through State Senate, Moves to the House of Representatives for Consideration,” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (March 2023)
- “Seventh Time’s the Charm,” Podcast Guest – Marijuana Today (July 2022)
- “Marijuana Testing Standards,” Podcast Guest – Marijuana Today (March 2022)
- “What Does A Change in Senate Control Mean for Ohio’s Marijuana Laws?” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (January 2021)
- “Section 280E and the Cannabis Industry,” Journal of Taxation of Investments (Summer 2020)
- “Unable to Collect Voter Signatures Amid Pandemic, Ohio Recreational Marijuana Campaign Will Likely Burn Out,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (May 2020)
- “Expanding Medical Marijuana Treatment in Ohio: State Medical Board Seeks “Consensus” on Adding New Qualifying Conditions,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (March 2020)
- “8 Tips for Fighting Cannabis Moratoriums,” Cannabis Dispensary (February 2020)
- “Ohioans Are Crossing Border for Michigan Marijuana, but Police Keeping an Eye on State Line,” Detroit Free Press (December 2019)
- “Cannabis Industry Faces Another Obstacle As Tax Court Upholds Section 280E,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (November 2019)
- “Company Faces RICO Lawsuit Over “Falsely Advertised” CBD Product After Employee Tests Positive For THC and Loses His Job,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (October 2019)
- “Senate Bill 57 Positions Ohio Hemp Industry for a Breakout,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (August 2019)
- “SB 57 May Clear the Air on Selling CBD Products,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (June 2019)
- “Investment Firms See Cannabis As a Growth Industry,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (May 2019)
- “Ohio is Missing Out on Lucrative Hemp Industry,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (March 2019)
- “Hemp in Ohio,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (February 2019)
- “Seller Beware: State Agencies Starting to “Embargo” Ohio CBD Products,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (February 2019)
- “Cannabis Cultivator Prevails in Landmark Civil RICO Trial,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (November 2018)
- “Frantz Ward Client Awarded Five Dispensary Licenses in Ohio,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (June 2018)
- “Federal Industrial Hemp Reform on the Horizon,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (May 2018)
- “Suit Regarding Facebook Parody of Parma Police Moves Forward,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (April 2018)
- “Cole Memo and Other Marijuana-Related Enforcement Guidance Rescinded by the Department of Justice Creating Greater Uncertainty for State-Legal Marijuana Businesses,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (January 2018)
- “Competing for a Cannabis License is More Than Filling Out an Application,” Cannabis Dispensary Magazine (November 2017)
- “The Uncertainty of Ohio Law: The New Legal Frontier of Medical Marijuana,” The OACDL Vindicator (2017)
- “Medical Marijuana and Attorney Ethics,” (Page 39) Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (October 2016)
Presentations & Lectures
- “The Wake of Ohio’s New Recreational Marijuana Law: What’s Next for Employers,” Cleveland Society for Human Resource Management (December 2023)
- “Navigating Cannabis Transactions,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Annual Real Estate Law Institute (November 2023)
- “The Future of Marijuana Policy in Ohio,” Ohio Chamber of Commerce Post-Election Impact Ohio (November 2023)
- “Key Issues in Impact Cannabis Litigation,” International Cannabis Bar Association Webinar (March 2021)
- “Cannabis Considerations: Tips for Starting Up,” MJBizCon 2020 Virtual Event (December 2020)
- “Federalism through the Prism of Marijuana Legalization Debate,” Federalist Society of The Ohio State University (November 2020)
- “Full Legalization,” Ohio State Bar Association’s Ohio Cannabis Law Conference (October 2020)
- “An Update on Ohio’s Hemp and Marijuana Laws,” Parma Bar Association Seminar (October 2020)
- “Focus on State Industrial Hemp Programs,” Halfmoon Education Inc. Industrial Hemp Law, Applications and Economics Seminar, Columbus, OH (January 2020)
- Marijuana Business Daily Podcast, MJBizCon, Las Vegas, Nevada (December 2020)
- “Sophomore Year: What’s Next for Illinois, Michigan and the Midwest,” MJBizCon, Las Vegas, Nevada (December 2019)
- Cannabis Law: Practical Issues Impacting the Workplace,” Cleveland SHRM Chapter Meeting, Cleveland, OH (December 2019)
- “Medical Marijuana Law in Ohio,” National Business Institute CLE, Columbus, OH (December 2019)
- “Hemp and CBD,” Ohio Craft Brewers Association (OCBA) Quarterly Meeting, Cleveland, OH (November 2019)
- “Effective Strategies to Navigate Increasing Administrative Oversight,” Frantz Ward Litigation Seminar, Cleveland, OH (September 2019)
- “Acquisitions and Business Growth,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2019)
- “Crowdfunding,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2019)
- “Ethics and Practice Management,” MJBizConNEXT Pre-Conference Cannabis Law Session, New Orleans, LA (June 2019)
- “Legalization in Michigan and the Future of the Midwest,” MJBizConNEXT panel, New Orleans, LA (June 2019)
- “Online Defamation and Anti-SLAPP Laws,” CMBA Hot Talk, Cleveland, OH (May 2019)
- “Cannabis Law and Practical Issues Impacting the Workplace,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Cleveland, OH (May 2019)
- “Medical Marijuana in Ohio,” Ohio State Bar Association’s Business Law Institute, Columbus, OH (May 2019)
- “Understanding the Future of Cannabis and the Workplace: Possible Impacts and Outcomes of Cannabis Legalization on HR Policies and Workplace Safety,” USI Brokerage Insurance Roundtable, Cleveland, OH (April 2019)
- “Clearing the Weeds: Marijuana and the Law,” Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, OH (February 2019)
- “Medical Marijuana & Your Workplace,” Greater Circle Business Alliance, Cleveland, OH (February 2019)
- “Drugs in the Workplace: Building a Strategic Employer Plan,” Hylant Seminar (February 2019)
- “Handling Potential Client Intake,” CMBA New Lawyer Boot Camp, Cleveland, OH (December 2018)
- “New Lawyer Boot Camp,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cleveland, OH (December 2018)
- “Speech Protections Under the First Amendment,” Walsh Jesuit High School, Stow, OH (December 2018)
- “Marijuana Business Crash Course: Taxes & Legal,” Marijuana Business MJBizCon, Las Vegas, NV (November 2018)
- “The Changing Cannabis Landscape Considerations for Journalists,” Ohio Newspaper Association & Ohio Association of Broadcasters, Webinar (November 2018)
- “Practical Guidance on Data Breach Prevention and Response,” Frantz Ward Litigation Panel Series, Cleveland, OH (September 2018)
- “Defending Against: Product Liability, RICO, Dram Shop/Social Host, and Other Claims,” National Cannabis Bar Association’s Law Institute, Washington D.C. (September 2018)
- “Ohio Cannabis Legal and Financial Impact & Update,” BioOhio’s Medical Cannabis in the Buckeye State Conference, Cleveland OH (June 2018)
- “Hot Emerging Medical Markets: Michigan, Pennsylvania & Ohio,” MJBixConNEXT, New Orleans, LA (May 2018)
- “How to Screen a Case,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Associations’ New Lawyer Bootcamp, Cleveland, OH (December 2017)
- “The Ethics of Representing Medical Marijuana Clients: What We Know, What We Don’t, and How Other States Have Addressed Attorney Participation in this Growing Industry,” Oho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Hot Topics in Criminal Laws, Columbus, OH (December 2017)
- “Ohio Medical Marijuana: Implementation and Opportunities for Young Lawyers,” Panelist, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Federalist Society Meeting, Columbus, OH (October 2017)
- “Rules Regarding Representation in Medical Marijuana Matters,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Sizzling Hot Topics in Professional Conduct (October 2017)
- “Dealing with the Realities of Un/Underemployment and Career Transition,”
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Pillars Program (October 2017)
- “Hot Topics in Media Law,” Ohio State Bar Associations’ Law and Media Conference (October 2017)
- “Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program: An Overview,” Ohio Cannabis Institute (May 2017)
- “Medical Marijuana and Attorney Ethics,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (October 2016)
- “The Ethical Black Hole of Ohio’s Green Rush,” Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2016)
- “Back to Basics: Defamation, Privacy, and Copyright Law in Ohio,” Ohio State Bar Association Law & Media Conference (2015)
- “Litigating the Offensive Online Speech Case: Perils, Protections, and Public Relations,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association CLE (2013)
Media Coverage
- Featured in, “Bill to legalize marijuana in Ohio heads to lawmakers after hitting signature requirements,” The Columbus Dispatch (January 2022)
- Featured in, “Marijuana legalization in Ohio and around the country,” All Sides with Ann Fischer (January 2022)
- Featured in, “Recreational marijuana is coming to Ohio, the question is: How? – News 5 Cleveland,” Thrillist Dispensary (January 2022)
- Featured in, “Ohio pot legalization proposal is back on track to come before lawmakers,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (January 2022)
- Featured in, “Ohio’s Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Turns In Signatures,” Cannabis Business Times
- Featured in, “Ohio Marijuana Activists Almost Have Enough Signatures To Force Lawmakers To Consider Legalization,” Marijuana Moment (November 2021)
- Quoted in “Competition for Ohio dispensary licenses is red hot,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (November 2021)
- Quoted in “How Ohio will select 73 new medical marijuana dispensaries,” News 5 Cleveland (September 2021)
- Quoted in “New bills, statutes promise to change cannabis in Ohio,” News 5 Cleveland (September 2021)
- Quoted in “Ohio recreational marijuana initiative is ready for voter signatures,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (August 2021)
- Quoted in “Supreme Court Justice Thomas sharply criticizes federal marijuana laws,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (June 2021)
- Quoted in “Will Ohio be the next state to deregulate delta-8 THC?” Crain’s Cleveland Business (May 2021)
- Quoted in “There’s a Hemp Product That Gets Users High and Is Available All Over Ohio,” News 5 Cleveland (May 2021)
- Quoted in, “Legal Recreational Marijuana for Adults Seems Inevitable, No Matter What Ohio Lawmakers Think,” News 5 Cleveland (April 2021)
- Quoted in, “Ohio’s Growing Medical Marijuana Market Poised to Reach $400 Million in Sales a Year,” Marijuana Business Daily (March 2021)
- Quoted in, “Could Ohio Move Toward Adult-Use Marijuana in 2021? Here are Some Factors at Play,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (February 2021)
- Mentioned in, “Lawyers, Firms Receive Recognition,” Cleveland Jewish News (January 2021)
- Quoted in, “Ad Restrictions Frustrate Medical Marijuana Companies,” Columbus Dispatch (December 2020)
- Quoted in, “Changing Attitudes Towards Marijuana, Ohio’s Laws Could Force Lawmakers to Take Action,” News 5 Cleveland (November 2020)
- Featured in, “Top 7 Cannabis Lawyers in the US,” The Vape Report (October 2020)
- Quoted in, “Medical Marijuana Businesses Say Ohio’s System Needs to Grow to Meet Demand, the State Says ‘Not Now’,” News 5 Cleveland (August 2020)
- Quoted in, “Ohio Campaign for Recreational Marijuana to Regroup, Try Again in 2021,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (July 2021)
- “Unable to Collect Voter Signatures Amid Pandemic, Ohio Recreational Marijuana Campaign will Likely Burn Out,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (May 2020)
- Quoted in, “Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program Changes Rules for Buying Marijuana During COVID Outbreak for Patients,” News 5 Cleveland (April 2020)
- Quoted in, “Ohioans are Crossing Border for Michigan Marijuana, but Police Are Keeping an Eye on the State Line,” Detroit Free Press (December 2019)
- Quoted in, “Huffman introduces anti-SLAPP bill,” Limaohio.com (October 2019)
- Featured in, “Press Conference with State Senator Matt Huffman: The Ohio Citizen Participation Act,” Ohio Channel (October 2019)
- Quoted in, “Senate Bill 57 Positions Ohio Hemp Industry Breakout,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (August 2019)
- Quoted in, “4-month Delay Comes to an End as Patients Buy Medical Marijuana at 4 Dispensaries,” News 5 Cleveland (January 2019)
- Quoted in, “Ohio’s Cannabis Program Finally Flowers, but Not Yet Fully Grown,” Spectrum News 1 (January 2019)
- Quoted in, “Stow Man Facing Jail Time for Taking FDA Approved Medicine Containing a Medical Marijuana Compound,” News 5 Cleveland (December 2018)
- Quoted in, “Could Industrial Hemp Come to Ohio Next Year?” Cincinnati.com/The Enquirer (December 2018)
- Quoted in “Federal Legalization Could Pave Way for Ohio Hemp Market, but Uncertainties Remain” Crain’s Cleveland Business (December 2018)
- Quoted in, “Ohio Medical Marijuana Program Has Been Delayed,” Puff Puff Post (September 2018)
- Quoted in, “Cannabis Regulated Like Plutonium’: Security Measures Causing Delays in Marijuana Launch Date,” News 5 Cleveland (September 2018)
- Quoted in, “As Medical Marijuana Makes Its Debut in Cleveland, City Leaders to Explore Recreational Marijuana,” News 5 Cleveland (July 2018)
- Quoted in, “Ohio Confirms Medical Marijuana Delay; Businesses Will Suffer, but Costs Unclear,” Marijuana Business Daily (June 2018)
- Quoted in, “Banks Hedging at Working in Marijuana Space,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (March 2018)
Representative Experience
- Along with co-counsel, successfully obtained a sanction award against an eBay seller who brought a SLAPP suit against two out-of-state individuals.
- Successfully quashed a subpoena issued by a Plaintiff in a SLAPP suit that would have revealed a client’s identity, where the client engaged in constitutionally protected speech online.
- Obtained an acquittal on behalf of a client accused of improperly purchasing liquor for business purposes, thereby avoiding revocation of his client’s liquor license.
- Obtained a summary judgment against a construction equipment company where the company attempted to hold the client personally liable for business debt; defended the decision in the Court of Appeals, which subsequently affirmed the trial court’s decision.
Education & Admissions
Education
- Cleveland State University College of Law J.D., cum laude, 2011
- John Carroll University B.A., 2008
Bar and Court Admissions
- State of Ohio
- State of Colorado
- State of Michigan
Involvement
Professional Affiliations
- Ohio Hemp Association, Executive Vice President (2019 – Present)
- International Cannabis Industry Association, Legal and Banking Committee (2016 – 2017)
- International Cannabis Bar Association, Member (2016 – Present)
- Ohio State Bar Association, Member (2012 – Present)
- Council of Delegates (2018 – 2019)
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Member (2011 – Present)
- Board of Directors Trustee (2018-2021)
- Criminal Justice Reform Group, Chair (2021 – Present)
- Police Reform Subgroup for the Racial Equality And the Law (REAL) Working Groups (2021 – Present)
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Foundation, Board of Directors (2022)
- National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML) Legal Committee, Member (2012 – 2020)
Community Involvement
- Greater Cleveland Partnership (GCP), Lead Cohort 5 (Class of 2020)
- Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Solo Incubator Advisory Council (2011 – Present)
- Candidate for Ohio Senate, District 23 (2014)
- Lowellville High School Commencement, Speaker (2014)
Firm Involvement
- Cannabis Law Practice, Chair
- Management Committee, Member
Awards & Honors
- Named to the Crain’s Cleveland Business’ Power 150 List (2024)
- Named to Chambers USA in Cannabis Law (2021 – 2023)
- Named to the Crain’s Cleveland Business’ Forty Under 40 list (2021)
- Named to the Top 7 Cannabis Attorneys in the U.S. by The Vape Report
- Named to The Best Lawyers in America® in Cannabis Law and Commercial Litigation (2021 – Present)
- Named to the Top 200 Global Cannabis Lawyer Directory published by Cannabis Law Report & Cannabis Law Journal
- Named to the Ohio Super Lawyers Rising Stars list (2019 – Present)
Publications
- Founder and Editor, Ohio Cannabis Law Blog—www.ohiomarijuanalaw.com
- “A Year in Review of Ohio’s Adult Use Cannabis Program for Employers,” (Co-Author) Frantz Ward Cannabis Law Blog (December 2024)
- “Cannabis Business Disputes: Options for Staying Out of the Courtroom,” (Co-Author) Cannabis Business Times (June 2024)
- “5 Things to Confirm When Signing a Cannabis Facility Construction Agreement,” (Co-Author) Cannabis Business Times (May 2024)
- “DEA Advances Marijuana Rescheduling; Senators Propose Descheduling,” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (May 2024)
- “Labor Law Developments Clear the Path for Growing Unionization in Cannabis,” (Co-Author) Cannabis Business Times (March 2024)
- “7 Critical Questions Cannabis Businesses Need to Be Asking About The Corporate Transparency Act, The Most Important Federal Law You’ve Never Heard Of,” Cannabis Business Times (February 2024)
- “Issue 2 and Social Equity,” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (November 2023)
- “Ohio Voters Decisively Pass Issue 2 to Legalize Adult Use Marijuana in the Buckeye State,” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (November 2023)
- “North Carolina Medical Marijuana Bill Advances Through State Senate, Moves to the House of Representatives for Consideration,” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (March 2023)
- “Seventh Time’s the Charm,” Podcast Guest – Marijuana Today (July 2022)
- “Marijuana Testing Standards,” Podcast Guest – Marijuana Today (March 2022)
- “What Does A Change in Senate Control Mean for Ohio’s Marijuana Laws?” Frantz Ward Cannabis Law and Policy Blog (January 2021)
- “Section 280E and the Cannabis Industry,” Journal of Taxation of Investments (Summer 2020)
- “Unable to Collect Voter Signatures Amid Pandemic, Ohio Recreational Marijuana Campaign Will Likely Burn Out,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (May 2020)
- “Expanding Medical Marijuana Treatment in Ohio: State Medical Board Seeks “Consensus” on Adding New Qualifying Conditions,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (March 2020)
- “8 Tips for Fighting Cannabis Moratoriums,” Cannabis Dispensary (February 2020)
- “Ohioans Are Crossing Border for Michigan Marijuana, but Police Keeping an Eye on State Line,” Detroit Free Press (December 2019)
- “Cannabis Industry Faces Another Obstacle As Tax Court Upholds Section 280E,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (November 2019)
- “Company Faces RICO Lawsuit Over “Falsely Advertised” CBD Product After Employee Tests Positive For THC and Loses His Job,” Frantz Ward Labor & Employment Navigator (October 2019)
- “Senate Bill 57 Positions Ohio Hemp Industry for a Breakout,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (August 2019)
- “SB 57 May Clear the Air on Selling CBD Products,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (June 2019)
- “Investment Firms See Cannabis As a Growth Industry,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (May 2019)
- “Ohio is Missing Out on Lucrative Hemp Industry,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (March 2019)
- “Hemp in Ohio,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (February 2019)
- “Seller Beware: State Agencies Starting to “Embargo” Ohio CBD Products,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (February 2019)
- “Cannabis Cultivator Prevails in Landmark Civil RICO Trial,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (November 2018)
- “Frantz Ward Client Awarded Five Dispensary Licenses in Ohio,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (June 2018)
- “Federal Industrial Hemp Reform on the Horizon,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (May 2018)
- “Suit Regarding Facebook Parody of Parma Police Moves Forward,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (April 2018)
- “Cole Memo and Other Marijuana-Related Enforcement Guidance Rescinded by the Department of Justice Creating Greater Uncertainty for State-Legal Marijuana Businesses,” Frantz Ward Client Alert (January 2018)
- “Competing for a Cannabis License is More Than Filling Out an Application,” Cannabis Dispensary Magazine (November 2017)
- “The Uncertainty of Ohio Law: The New Legal Frontier of Medical Marijuana,” The OACDL Vindicator (2017)
- “Medical Marijuana and Attorney Ethics,” (Page 39) Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (October 2016)
Presentations & Lectures
- “The Wake of Ohio’s New Recreational Marijuana Law: What’s Next for Employers,” Cleveland Society for Human Resource Management (December 2023)
- “Navigating Cannabis Transactions,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Annual Real Estate Law Institute (November 2023)
- “The Future of Marijuana Policy in Ohio,” Ohio Chamber of Commerce Post-Election Impact Ohio (November 2023)
- “Key Issues in Impact Cannabis Litigation,” International Cannabis Bar Association Webinar (March 2021)
- “Cannabis Considerations: Tips for Starting Up,” MJBizCon 2020 Virtual Event (December 2020)
- “Federalism through the Prism of Marijuana Legalization Debate,” Federalist Society of The Ohio State University (November 2020)
- “Full Legalization,” Ohio State Bar Association’s Ohio Cannabis Law Conference (October 2020)
- “An Update on Ohio’s Hemp and Marijuana Laws,” Parma Bar Association Seminar (October 2020)
- “Focus on State Industrial Hemp Programs,” Halfmoon Education Inc. Industrial Hemp Law, Applications and Economics Seminar, Columbus, OH (January 2020)
- Marijuana Business Daily Podcast, MJBizCon, Las Vegas, Nevada (December 2020)
- “Sophomore Year: What’s Next for Illinois, Michigan and the Midwest,” MJBizCon, Las Vegas, Nevada (December 2019)
- Cannabis Law: Practical Issues Impacting the Workplace,” Cleveland SHRM Chapter Meeting, Cleveland, OH (December 2019)
- “Medical Marijuana Law in Ohio,” National Business Institute CLE, Columbus, OH (December 2019)
- “Hemp and CBD,” Ohio Craft Brewers Association (OCBA) Quarterly Meeting, Cleveland, OH (November 2019)
- “Effective Strategies to Navigate Increasing Administrative Oversight,” Frantz Ward Litigation Seminar, Cleveland, OH (September 2019)
- “Acquisitions and Business Growth,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2019)
- “Crowdfunding,” Association of Corporate Counsel, Cleveland, OH (August 2019)
- “Ethics and Practice Management,” MJBizConNEXT Pre-Conference Cannabis Law Session, New Orleans, LA (June 2019)
- “Legalization in Michigan and the Future of the Midwest,” MJBizConNEXT panel, New Orleans, LA (June 2019)
- “Online Defamation and Anti-SLAPP Laws,” CMBA Hot Talk, Cleveland, OH (May 2019)
- “Cannabis Law and Practical Issues Impacting the Workplace,” Frantz Ward Labor and Employment Law Seminar, Cleveland, OH (May 2019)
- “Medical Marijuana in Ohio,” Ohio State Bar Association’s Business Law Institute, Columbus, OH (May 2019)
- “Understanding the Future of Cannabis and the Workplace: Possible Impacts and Outcomes of Cannabis Legalization on HR Policies and Workplace Safety,” USI Brokerage Insurance Roundtable, Cleveland, OH (April 2019)
- “Clearing the Weeds: Marijuana and the Law,” Cleveland-Marshall College of Law, Cleveland, OH (February 2019)
- “Medical Marijuana & Your Workplace,” Greater Circle Business Alliance, Cleveland, OH (February 2019)
- “Drugs in the Workplace: Building a Strategic Employer Plan,” Hylant Seminar (February 2019)
- “Handling Potential Client Intake,” CMBA New Lawyer Boot Camp, Cleveland, OH (December 2018)
- “New Lawyer Boot Camp,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association, Cleveland, OH (December 2018)
- “Speech Protections Under the First Amendment,” Walsh Jesuit High School, Stow, OH (December 2018)
- “Marijuana Business Crash Course: Taxes & Legal,” Marijuana Business MJBizCon, Las Vegas, NV (November 2018)
- “The Changing Cannabis Landscape Considerations for Journalists,” Ohio Newspaper Association & Ohio Association of Broadcasters, Webinar (November 2018)
- “Practical Guidance on Data Breach Prevention and Response,” Frantz Ward Litigation Panel Series, Cleveland, OH (September 2018)
- “Defending Against: Product Liability, RICO, Dram Shop/Social Host, and Other Claims,” National Cannabis Bar Association’s Law Institute, Washington D.C. (September 2018)
- “Ohio Cannabis Legal and Financial Impact & Update,” BioOhio’s Medical Cannabis in the Buckeye State Conference, Cleveland OH (June 2018)
- “Hot Emerging Medical Markets: Michigan, Pennsylvania & Ohio,” MJBixConNEXT, New Orleans, LA (May 2018)
- “How to Screen a Case,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Associations’ New Lawyer Bootcamp, Cleveland, OH (December 2017)
- “The Ethics of Representing Medical Marijuana Clients: What We Know, What We Don’t, and How Other States Have Addressed Attorney Participation in this Growing Industry,” Oho Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers’ Hot Topics in Criminal Laws, Columbus, OH (December 2017)
- “Ohio Medical Marijuana: Implementation and Opportunities for Young Lawyers,” Panelist, The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law Federalist Society Meeting, Columbus, OH (October 2017)
- “Rules Regarding Representation in Medical Marijuana Matters,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association’s Sizzling Hot Topics in Professional Conduct (October 2017)
- “Dealing with the Realities of Un/Underemployment and Career Transition,”
- Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association Pillars Program (October 2017)
- “Hot Topics in Media Law,” Ohio State Bar Associations’ Law and Media Conference (October 2017)
- “Ohio Medical Marijuana Control Program: An Overview,” Ohio Cannabis Institute (May 2017)
- “Medical Marijuana and Attorney Ethics,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Journal (October 2016)
- “The Ethical Black Hole of Ohio’s Green Rush,” Ohio Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers (2016)
- “Back to Basics: Defamation, Privacy, and Copyright Law in Ohio,” Ohio State Bar Association Law & Media Conference (2015)
- “Litigating the Offensive Online Speech Case: Perils, Protections, and Public Relations,” Cleveland Metropolitan Bar Association CLE (2013)
Media Coverage
- Featured in, “Bill to legalize marijuana in Ohio heads to lawmakers after hitting signature requirements,” The Columbus Dispatch (January 2022)
- Featured in, “Marijuana legalization in Ohio and around the country,” All Sides with Ann Fischer (January 2022)
- Featured in, “Recreational marijuana is coming to Ohio, the question is: How? – News 5 Cleveland,” Thrillist Dispensary (January 2022)
- Featured in, “Ohio pot legalization proposal is back on track to come before lawmakers,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (January 2022)
- Featured in, “Ohio’s Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Turns In Signatures,” Cannabis Business Times
- Featured in, “Ohio Marijuana Activists Almost Have Enough Signatures To Force Lawmakers To Consider Legalization,” Marijuana Moment (November 2021)
- Quoted in “Competition for Ohio dispensary licenses is red hot,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (November 2021)
- Quoted in “How Ohio will select 73 new medical marijuana dispensaries,” News 5 Cleveland (September 2021)
- Quoted in “New bills, statutes promise to change cannabis in Ohio,” News 5 Cleveland (September 2021)
- Quoted in “Ohio recreational marijuana initiative is ready for voter signatures,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (August 2021)
- Quoted in “Supreme Court Justice Thomas sharply criticizes federal marijuana laws,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (June 2021)
- Quoted in “Will Ohio be the next state to deregulate delta-8 THC?” Crain’s Cleveland Business (May 2021)
- Quoted in “There’s a Hemp Product That Gets Users High and Is Available All Over Ohio,” News 5 Cleveland (May 2021)
- Quoted in, “Legal Recreational Marijuana for Adults Seems Inevitable, No Matter What Ohio Lawmakers Think,” News 5 Cleveland (April 2021)
- Quoted in, “Ohio’s Growing Medical Marijuana Market Poised to Reach $400 Million in Sales a Year,” Marijuana Business Daily (March 2021)
- Quoted in, “Could Ohio Move Toward Adult-Use Marijuana in 2021? Here are Some Factors at Play,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (February 2021)
- Mentioned in, “Lawyers, Firms Receive Recognition,” Cleveland Jewish News (January 2021)
- Quoted in, “Ad Restrictions Frustrate Medical Marijuana Companies,” Columbus Dispatch (December 2020)
- Quoted in, “Changing Attitudes Towards Marijuana, Ohio’s Laws Could Force Lawmakers to Take Action,” News 5 Cleveland (November 2020)
- Featured in, “Top 7 Cannabis Lawyers in the US,” The Vape Report (October 2020)
- Quoted in, “Medical Marijuana Businesses Say Ohio’s System Needs to Grow to Meet Demand, the State Says ‘Not Now’,” News 5 Cleveland (August 2020)
- Quoted in, “Ohio Campaign for Recreational Marijuana to Regroup, Try Again in 2021,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (July 2021)
- “Unable to Collect Voter Signatures Amid Pandemic, Ohio Recreational Marijuana Campaign will Likely Burn Out,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (May 2020)
- Quoted in, “Ohio’s Medical Marijuana Control Program Changes Rules for Buying Marijuana During COVID Outbreak for Patients,” News 5 Cleveland (April 2020)
- Quoted in, “Ohioans are Crossing Border for Michigan Marijuana, but Police Are Keeping an Eye on the State Line,” Detroit Free Press (December 2019)
- Quoted in, “Huffman introduces anti-SLAPP bill,” Limaohio.com (October 2019)
- Featured in, “Press Conference with State Senator Matt Huffman: The Ohio Citizen Participation Act,” Ohio Channel (October 2019)
- Quoted in, “Senate Bill 57 Positions Ohio Hemp Industry Breakout,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (August 2019)
- Quoted in, “4-month Delay Comes to an End as Patients Buy Medical Marijuana at 4 Dispensaries,” News 5 Cleveland (January 2019)
- Quoted in, “Ohio’s Cannabis Program Finally Flowers, but Not Yet Fully Grown,” Spectrum News 1 (January 2019)
- Quoted in, “Stow Man Facing Jail Time for Taking FDA Approved Medicine Containing a Medical Marijuana Compound,” News 5 Cleveland (December 2018)
- Quoted in, “Could Industrial Hemp Come to Ohio Next Year?” Cincinnati.com/The Enquirer (December 2018)
- Quoted in “Federal Legalization Could Pave Way for Ohio Hemp Market, but Uncertainties Remain” Crain’s Cleveland Business (December 2018)
- Quoted in, “Ohio Medical Marijuana Program Has Been Delayed,” Puff Puff Post (September 2018)
- Quoted in, “Cannabis Regulated Like Plutonium’: Security Measures Causing Delays in Marijuana Launch Date,” News 5 Cleveland (September 2018)
- Quoted in, “As Medical Marijuana Makes Its Debut in Cleveland, City Leaders to Explore Recreational Marijuana,” News 5 Cleveland (July 2018)
- Quoted in, “Ohio Confirms Medical Marijuana Delay; Businesses Will Suffer, but Costs Unclear,” Marijuana Business Daily (June 2018)
- Quoted in, “Banks Hedging at Working in Marijuana Space,” Crain’s Cleveland Business (March 2018)
