Skip to main content

Are you wondering how to start a career as a cannabis lawyer? There a few industries that should consider guidance and legal advice if they were to emerge in the cannabis industry. There are never ending marijuana regulations to content with in the industry and for that reason a cannabis lawyer is necessary, if you want to successfully run a business.

These days, cannabis has become a hot topic in many conversations; starting in a college dorm room to a large corporation's board room.

Either way, it has become important because of the green rush and how many operations are profiting from it. However, with this comes the legal regulation that must be complied with. In such a situation, the dispensaries are calling for the cannabis lawyer to become part of the team of staff members in order to stay in compliance.

Each state has its own cannabis laws and regulations. Each part of the state's government entity will also have additional laws that companies have to abide by; locally or statewide. In addition, the federal government will intervene, if the states and local cities are not maintaining their role in keeping everything regulated. This is especially true since the feds consider marijuana to be a Schedule 1 substance.

It can be quite difficult and overwhelming for a cannabis entrepreneur without a cannabis lawyer on the team. That is how you come in, if you are a lawyer and want to begin a career as a cannabis lawyer.

How to become a cannabis lawyer

The Education Needed to Become a Cannabis Lawyer

The question now that we will address is how you can make this happen and focus your attorney skills on the cannabis industry. As with other careers or professional such as an accountant or doctor, the cannabis industry is looking for workers who are already licensed in their field.

If you aspire to become a cannabis lawyer, it is a must that you complete an undergraduate degree at an accredited university or law school. You must also have passed your bar exam and your bar exam must be taken in the state where you are going to practice law.

How To Become a Cannabis Lawyer-Step-By Step

Becoming a cannabis lawyer requires a special combination of legal knowledge and in-depth knowledge of the cannabis market, which is frequently complicated and changing quickly. The steps to start down this career route are as follows:

Get a Law Degree: The first step is to graduate from a law school that has been accredited with a Juris Doctor (JD). Concentrate on studying subjects like company law, criminal law, and administrative law that are pertinent to the cannabis sector.

Pass the Bar Exam: In order to practice law in the state where you plan to graduate from law school, you must pass the bar exam in that state. Both state-specific and universal legal principles are tested on the bar exam.

Acquire Legal Experience: Prior to focusing on cannabis law, it is advantageous to acquire expertise in allied legal domains. To lay a strong basis, take into consideration jobs in criminal defense, business law, regulatory compliance, or agricultural law.

Recognize Cannabis regulations and Regulations: It's important to keep up to date on the latest developments in cannabis regulations, which differ significantly between states. Learn every detail there is to know about federal rules, state-specific cannabis legislation, and state laws that apply to you as a practitioner.

Continuing Education: Attend cannabis-focused continuing legal education (CLE) programs. These classes can offer perspectives on contemporary legal matters, business patterns, and changing rules.

Attend conferences, seminars, and events in the cannabis sector to network with others in the field. Making connections with professionals in the field can yield useful information and possible business opportunities. It can also be helpful to join associations that are pertinent, such as the National Cannabis Bar Association.

Build Your Niche: The cannabis business includes several different industries, such as product manufacture, retail, medical research, and growing. You may want to think about focusing on a specific area of the cannabis industry, such as employment law, business transactions, intellectual property, or compliance.

Practice: After gaining the requisite legal and sector-specific expertise, begin providing legal services to cannabis companies. You might do this by opening your own practice or by working with a law firm that has a cannabis practice group.

Develop Your Credibility by writing articles, giving talks at trade shows, and taking part in cannabis legal panels. Developing a name for yourself as a cannabis law authority might draw business and recommendations.

Keep Up to Date and Flexible: Laws and policies pertaining to the cannabis sector are subject to regular changes. To effectively advise your clients, stay up to date on new developments and be flexible.

Ethical Considerations: Be aware of ethical issues and make sure that all legal requirements are met in light of the complicated legal environment, particularly with regard to the differences between state and federal laws.

Selling Your Services: To attract possible customers in the cannabis sector, sell your legal services in an efficient manner. Online marketing, trade show attendance, and social media platform utilization are a few examples of this.

There are over 300,000 jobs in the cannabis industry. CTU trained me for one of them!

marijuana extraction course - Johanna Rose
Makes $24.50 @ THC +

A commitment to learning the unique legal subtleties of the cannabis sector is necessary for beginning a career as a cannabis lawyer, in addition to the usual legal education and competencies.

There will probably be a growing need for attorneys with this kind of specific understanding as the field expands.

How to Land a Cannabis Job

If you are serious about starting a marijuana job and want to learn all facets of the booming cannabis industry start with online cannabis training from the cannabis college, the Cannabis Training University online.

Fred Hernandez - Cannabis industry expert writer
Fred Hernandez

Fred Hernandez is a highly accomplished and versatile writer, boasting an extensive background in the cannabis industry. With an in-depth understanding of various sectors including cultivators, processors, retailers, and brands, Fred's expertise spans across the entire cannabis landscape. As a prominent contributor to CTU, he consistently delivers insightful articles exploring the latest developments, news, and regulations shaping the cannabis industry. Whether it's delving into the intricacies of cannabis products, cannabis strain reviews, or providing comprehensive analyses of cannabis laws, or sharing expert insights on cannabis cultivation techniques, Fred's wealth of knowledge positions him as an invaluable writer and educator for all cannabis-related subjects.

Enroll Now