Jean E. Smith-Gonnell

Representative Experience

• Obtained settlement for the receivership estate and interested claimants in a matter in which she counseled a special master and second receiver throughout their investigation of first receiver for misappropriation of receivership assets in addition to potentially fraudulent actions concerning a cannabis business operation with multiple locations.
• Counseled client in expansion from a single rural marijuana dispensary to a large and successful multiregional cannabis operation, ultimately including 14 dispensary locations, three cultivation sites, and two infused-product manufacturing facilities.
• Represented buyer in litigation concerning a cannabis business transaction which resulted in the return of broker fees by the broker as they were found to have only made an introduction of the parties.

Education & Admissions

Education

• University of Denver, Sturm College of Law, J.D., 2011
  • Editor, Criminal Law Review
  • Executive Member, Moot Court Board
  • Mediator, Student Law Office Mediation Clinic
• University of Colorado Denver, B.A., Political Science, with honors, 2009

Bar and Court Admissions

• State of Colorado
• State of North Carolina

Involvement

Professional Affiliations

• Law360 Cannabis Editorial Advisory Board, Member (2025 – Present)
• Colorado Department of Revenue Marijuana Enforcement Division Legislation Implementation Work Group, (2016 – Present)
• Colorado Bar Association, Young Lawyers Division (2012 – Present)
• Arapahoe County Bar, Member
• Colorado Women’s Bar, Member

Community Involvement

• Third Way Center
  • Board Member (2020)

Awards & Honors

• Named to Super Lawyers North Carolina Rising Stars (2021 – 2022)
• Recognized by Law Week Colorado: Barrister’s Choice as “Best Marijuana Lawyer” (October 2017)

Publications

• “A Recipe for Avoiding Disaster: How Strong Trade Associations Can Help Neutralize Bitter Ingredients in the Cannabis Industry,” (Co-Author), Cannabis Business Times (October 2025)
• “Governor DeWine Issues Executive Order Targeting Intoxicating Hemp Products,” (Co-Author), Frantz Ward Cannabis Law Blog (October 2025)
• “Balancing Innovation and Compliance: How Technology Is Transforming the Cannabis Industry,” (Co-Author), Reuters and Westlaw Today, (September 2025)
• “Bipartisan State AGs Urge Congress to Grant Access to Federally Regulated Banking and Financial Services to State-Regulated Cannabis Businesses,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (August 2025)
• “Closing the Loophole: Updates on Federal and State Attempts to Regulate Intoxicating Hemp-Derived Products,” (Co-Author), Reuters and Westlaw Today, (July 2025)
• “Congressional Briefing Highlights Growing Bipartisan Consensus on the Need for Federal Clarity in Hemp-Derived Cannabinoid Regulation,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (July 2025)
• “Texas Senate Bill 3: A Sweeping Ban on Intoxicating Hemp-Derived Products — Implications for the Industry,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (June 2025)
• “Colorado Cracks Down on Hemp Misrepresentation,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (June 2025)
• “A Path Forward for Colo. Pot Products After Failed Safety Test,” (Co-Author), Law360, (May 2025)
• “Testing Turmoil: The Legal and Business Implications of Inconsistent Cannabis Testing Standards,” (Co-Author), Reuters and Westlaw Today, (April 2025)
• “Indiana AG Pushes Back on THC Legislation,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (April 2025)
• “Whistleblower Lawsuit Against METRC Raises Significant Compliance and Accountability Concerns for the Legal Cannabis Industry,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (April 2025)
• “Massachusetts Efforts to Ensure Safety in the Cannabis Industry: New Testing Requirements and Recent Advisories,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (March 2025)
• “Suit Against Cannabis Giant Trulieve Underscores Cashless ATM Risks and the Need for Banking Reforms,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (March 2025)
• “Virginia’s Path to a Regulated Marijuana Market: Legislative Advances and Political Hurdles,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (February 2025)
• “Missouri Legislature’s Proposals to Regulate Hemp-Derived Consumable Products,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (February 2025)
• “A Need for Balance – How SB25-076’s Requirements Could Hurt Licensed Cannabis Businesses in Colorado,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (February 2025)
• “The Current Landscape of Texas Cannabis Policy and Laws: A 2025 Overview,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (January 2025)
• “Weed-ing Through the Laws: A Snapshot of US Cannabis Legislation,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (January 2025)
• “Cannabis Rescheduling: ALJ Cancels Upcoming Hearings on Proposed Rulemaking,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (January 2025)
• “Federal Appeals Court Deals Another Blow to Intoxicating Hemp Products in Virginia,” (Co-Author), Previous Firm Publication (January 2025)
• “Getting Into the Weeds on Marijuana Excise Taxes: Trends and Outliers in the Larges Markets,” (Co-Author), Reuters, (November 2024)
• “NCAA Drug Testing & Cannabinoids: A Break-up Story,” (Co-Author), Westlaw Today, (November 2024)
• “State AGs Take Action to Quell Proliferation of Intoxicating Hemp Products,” (Co-Author), Cannabis Business Times, (August 2024)
• “Key Regulatory Changes in Colorado’s Marijuana Industry – What Businesses Need to Know,” (Co-Author), Cannabis Business Times, (August 2024)
• “Rescheduling and Recreational Marijuana: Possible Step Toward National Legalization?” (Co-Author, Reuters and Westlaw Today, (July 2024)
• “Cannabis Rescheduling: A Potential Watershed Moment That Comes with Many As-Yet Unanswered Questions for the Marijuana Industry,” (Co-Author), Cannabis Business Executive, (May 2024)
• “Proposed Federal Cannabis Legislation Aimed at Providing Access to Veterans,” (Co-Author), Homeland Magazine, (March 2024)
• “Where Things Stand: A Summary of Pending Federal Cannabis Legislation,” (Co-Author), Reuters, (February 2024)
• “FOIA Exemption Questions on Redacted HHS Cannabis Letter,” (Co-Author), Law360, (January 2024)
• “Opinion: Emerging Trends and Regulatory Shifts in 2024,” (Co-Author) Marijuana Venture (December 2023)
• “How Cannabis Cos. Are Adapting in Shifting Bankruptcy Arena,” (Co-Author), Law360, (December 2023)
• “Green in a Gray Area: Lessons for Virginia Cannabis ‘Gifting’ Businesses,” (Co-Author), Virginia Lawyers Weekly, (November 2023)
• “Legislative Changes Significantly Impact Ownership and Financing of Colorado Marijuana Businesses,” (Co-Author), Colorado Bar Association Business Law (November 2016)

Presentations & Lectures

• “Colorado’s Legislative Crossroads: Prepare, Pivot, or Push Back.” (Moderator), IgniteIt Cannabis’ Market Spotlight: Colorado 2026 (September 2026)
• “Issues in Receiver Sales,” (Panelist), Commercial Receivers Association (CRA) 2026 Annual Conference (August 2026)
• “Cannabis Regulatory Agencies — Best Practices & Challenges in Protecting Patients & Customers,” (Panelist), CannMed 26 Innovation & Collaboration Summit (June 2026)
• “Beyond Total Yeast & Mold — Toward Modern, Risk-Based Microbial Standards,” (Panelist), CannMed 26 Innovation & Collaboration Summit (June 2026)
• “Lawyers, Guns, and Money: Second Amendment Rights and Cannabis,” (Speaker), Continuing Legal Education in Colorado’s (CBA-CLE) 10^th Annual Cannabis Symposium (March 2026)
• “Cannabis Update: The Dichotomy Between Marijuana and Hemp Law and the Future of Legality,” (Speaker), TPPPA 2025 Solving the Payments Puzzle Conference (November 2025)
• “Marijuana Banking Challenges: FINCEN, Payment Processing, Crypto, and More,” (Co-presenter), Cannabiziac University Webinar Series (October 2025)
• “Anticipating a Cannabis Receivership – Questions You Should Ask Before Getting Involved,” (Panelist), Commercial Receivers Association Annual Conference (August 2025)
• “The Differences Between Cannabis Decontamination and Remediation: Analyzing the Latest Research,” (Speaker), 13^th Annual MJBizCon (December 2024)
• “Federal Rescheduling of Cannabis,” (Speaker), Attorney General Alliance Working Group Meeting (October 2024)
• “CANNABIS LAW: Basic Cannabis Concepts,” (Speaker), Thomson Reuters West LegalEdCenter (September 2024)
• (Moderator), CannMed 24 Innovation & Investment Summit (May 2024)
• “Cannabis and Psychedelics Law,” (Speaker), National Business Institute (February 2024)
• “All the Buzz: Cannabis & Banking Series from the TPPPA,” (Presenter), Third Party Payment Processors Association (TPPPA) (2024)
• “Latest Developments in Cannabis and Implications for Payment Processors,” (Speaker), TPPPA Solving the Payments Puzzle Conference (September 2023)
• “Marijuana Business Operations in Connecticut,” (Speaker), National Business Institute (August 2023)
• “Cannabis Business Law: Everything You Need to Know Now!” (Speaker), National Business Institute (December 2021)

Media Coverage

• Quoted in “Tax relief comes with caveats as federal marijuana rules shift,” Spectrum News 1 (April 2026)
• Quoted in “Can Cryptocurrencies Solve Cannabis Business Banking Challenges?” MJBizDaily (May 2025)
• Quoted in “Cannabis Taxes Have Not Solved Colorado’s Budget Woes,” CPR News (December 2023)
• Mentioned in “Wake Up Call: Taylor Swift Taps Venable Lawyer for Corporate Job,” Bloomberg Law (July 2023
• Quoted in “Centennial Sues Swingers Club the Office, Alleging Zoning Code Violation,” The Denver Post (February 2023)
• Quoted in “Who Will Be Missouri’s ‘Blind Scorer’ for Marijuana Business Licenses?” Springfield News-Leader (July 2019)
• Quoted in “Columbia School Board Member in Running for Medical Marijuana Contract,” ABC 17 NEWS KMIZ (July 2019)
• Quoted in “Report: Cannabis In-House Counsel Expect to Spend More to Keep Up with Market,” com Corporate Counsel (July 2019)
• Quoted in “All Change at Cannabis Law Firm,” Cannabis Law Report (September 2016)
• Quoted in “Has Colorado Changed Its Rules for Out-of-State Marijuana Biz Investors?” The Cannabist (July 2025)
• Quoted in “Marijuana: Shop Drops Challenge to Pot-Hating Town Amid Fears of Overzealous Enforcement,” Westword (January 2015)