how to become a medical marijuana lawyer

by Dr. Edmond Kshlerin IV 7 min read

If you are a permanent legal resident in the state and over 18, your first step is to meet with a licensed, certified doctor and obtain your medical records from them. A qualified doctor is a physician registered in Florida with a valid medical marijuana license.

Full Answer

How to become a successful cannabis attorney?

To excel in this industry, a cannabis attorney should become politically active. Your city government, state government, city attorneys, and police authorities are actively forming their cannabis policy. With the right approach, they may be quite receptive and work with you to get the laws and enforcement right.

What kind of lawyer specializes in marijuana law?

Marijuana law, like entertainment law, is an amalgamation of other practice areas, including business law, administrative law, intellectual property, criminal law, employment law and tax law. I would advise that any attorney targeting the cannabis industry should start with a firm foundation in business law.

How to start a medical marijuana business?

Monitor the interior of the store as well as the parking lot and the street area out front and in back of the building with video cameras to protect the business from theft, vandalism, raids and other such threats. Hire staff members. Select knowledgeable applicants with experience in the marijuana industry and demonstrated trustworthiness.

What can you do with a marijuana degree?

Depending on where you live, or plan to live, getting an education in marijuana could help you blaze a path to a practical career in a real and growing field (all puns intended). Individual states are acknowledging the medicinal properties of marijuana, with prohibition laws becoming more relaxed all the time.

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What is a medical marijuana license in Mississippi?

The only license available for a marijuana business in Mississippi is for “Medical Marijuana Treatment Center”. The medical marijuana treatment centers are entities registered with and licensed and regulated by the department and that processes medical marijuana, related supplies, and/or educational materials.

When is the marijuana license open in Mississippi?

When are Marijuana Business License Applications Open in Mississippi. The Mississippi Department of Health has to implement the provisions of the amendment and issue rules and regulations for the program by July 1, 2021. The deadline to issue identification cards and licenses for treatment centers by August 15, 2021.

When does medical cannabis go into effect in South Dakota?

On June 30, the South Dakota Department of Health announced a preliminary list of conditions that will be covered by the state’s medical cannabis program, which goes into effect on July 1 following the voters’ passage of IM-26 last November. Under the law passed by...

Is cannabis legal in Nevada?

Nevada just legalized a new type of establishment: the cannabis consumption lounge. The state’s legislature just passed a bill that allows two types of cannabis lounges. Since Nevada’s cannabis legalization in 2017, people weren’t able to consume cannabis in any...

Does Mississippi allow medical marijuana?

It proposes to amend the Mississippi Constitution to allow qualified patients with debilitating medical conditions, as certified by Mississippi licensed physicians, to use medical marijuana. This amendment would allow medical marijuana to be provided only by licenses treatment center. RELATED POST: MISSISSIPPI MEDICAL MARIJUANA LAWS.

When does medical cannabis go into effect in South Dakota?

On June 30, the South Dakota Department of Health announced a preliminary list of conditions that will be covered by the state’s medical cannabis program, which goes into effect on July 1 following the voters’ passage of IM-26 last November. Under the law passed by...

Is medical marijuana legal in North Carolina?

Medical marijuana won near-una nimous approval in a committee hearing in the Republican-controlled North Carolina General Assembly on Wednesday, in a sign that it could have broad support in a state that has been a holdout on legalization. While the votes were not...

Is cannabis legal in Nevada?

Nevada just legalized a new type of establishment: the cannabis consumption lounge. The state’s legislature just passed a bill that allows two types of cannabis lounges. Since Nevada’s cannabis legalization in 2017, people weren’t able to consume cannabis in any...

Legalize It or Criticize It

Marijuana remains an illegal Schedule I narcotic at the national level — the harshest rating given by the federal government. And the Justice Department under the Trump Administration has rescinded some of the legal gains made by marijuana during the Obama era.

The Best Marijuana Degrees

Let’s start with the obvious. You can actually major in cannabis at highly-regarded, fully accredited schools around the U.S. As a major cash crop that comes in almost infinite strains and is the subject of numerous medical trials, cannabis represents an expansive area of study all on its own.

Take the next step toward your future with online learning

Discover schools with the programs and courses you’re interested in, and start learning today.

Which states have legalized medical marijuana?

States like California and Colorado have especially liberal policies when it comes to medical marijuana distributors, and a handful of other states also feature legal avenues for the sale of this substance as a medicinal product.

How to work with a dispensary?

Work to create a positive relationship with the community surrounding the dispensary. Keep clients under control and make attempts to forge ties with other local business owners and residents. Run the business as a responsible and non-imposing enterprise to reduce the risk of community outcry and other negative effects.

Is it risky to open a dispensary?

Even so, becoming a medical marijuana distributor remains a risky enterprise. Entrepreneurs must be extremely vigilant and cautious when opening a dispensary business.

Do Minors Need a Medical Marijuana Caregiver?

Yes, patients who are a minor require a caregiver to register on their behalf. If you are the minor's parent, legal guardian, or spouse, you can register as their caregiver through the Pennsylvania Department of Health.

How Do I Become a Caregiver for a Pennsylvania Medical Marijuana Patient?

Individuals who wish to become a caregiver for a patient must register with the Pennsylvania Department of Health and complete a criminal history background check. Caregivers must have a valid Pennsylvania driver's license or state-issued ID card.

Becoming A Licensed Marijuana Grower

Unlike growing industrial hemp, you must obtain a cannabis cultivation license to grow recreational or medical cannabis legally.

Starting Your Own Licensed Cannabis Cultivation Business

Have you successfully obtained your grower license, and are looking forward to setting up your legal marijuana business?

Joining An Established Cannabis Cultivation Business

The legal cannabis industry is massive, and it continues to expand daily.

How To Get A Cannabis Growing License

As stated earlier, becoming a legal cannabis grower demands that you understand the frequently changing marijuana laws at the local or state level.

Drafting A Cannabis Business Plan

A business plan for your cannabis cultivation business is a necessity. Note that you must submit the complete business plan with your application for a license.

Hiring A Team For Growing Cannabis

Whether you plan on operating a sole proprietorship business or not, you will need an experienced and competent team for your operations to run smoothly.

Obtaining Funding To Grow Cannabis

Cannabis cultivation businesses, whether small, medium-sized, or big, require funding.

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Practice Areas

  • Marijuana law, like entertainment law, is an amalgamation of other practice areas, including business law, administrative law, intellectual property, criminal law, employment law and tax law. I would advise that any attorney targeting the cannabis industry should start with a firm foundatio…
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Personal Knowledge

  • You should become adept in the subject matter. I am not advocating the consumption of large amounts of cannabis, or even any at all. However, you should know everything there is to know regarding marijuana. If you were to represent a liquor distiller, getting as drunk as the day after law school finals doesn’t (necessarily) help the matter, but you should know how liquor is distille…
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First Impression

  • In every state on the path to legalization, marijuana is governed by brand-new regulation, modeled after systems that aren’t quite analogous. This creates an issue that is unique to this area of law. The laws and regulations will change quickly and be applied inconsistently as the governing bodies learn and adapt to the subject matter. As a result, understanding of the law is not enoug…
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Partnerships

  • Many clients in the marijuana industry have no experience running a proper legal business. They will be lost and seeking your help in all aspects of starting and growing a business. Legal expertise is what we, as attorneys, provide. Not going further will be a disservice to your clients and leave them vulnerable to an industry that is far more competitive than any they have thus fa…
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Ethics

  • Does your state bar support a marijuana practice that is advises clients how to break federal law? Check the ethics opinions of your bar association or, if none exists, request an ethics opinion. If you are disbarred, you may be left with little choice but to grow fields of weed for a living. Determining if this is a better career path for you, I will let you discuss with your mom.
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Choose Your Clients

  • It is very important that you choose your clients with care. Do not be afraid to send them to your competitors. Many of the most experienced people in marijuana are long-time criminals. All are criminals under federal law. Most often, veteran marijuana kingpins are rather docile. However, some of the people knocking on your door may be more dangerous and prone to shady dealing. …
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Off You Go

  • Marijuana law is a fantastic but mine-filled practice area. If you are looking for something different, where you can help forge the laws, culture, and trajectory of an entire industry, there is nothing like it. Nothing is boilerplate and everything requires creative thinking. There is no place I would rather be.
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