Hemp: USDA Interim Final Rule and What it Means for Hemp Clients

Shawn Hauser Related seminars and products

Partner

Vicente LLP

Shawn Hauser is a partner at Vicente Sederberg and co-chair of the firm's Hemp and Cannabinoids Department. Shawn helps cannabis and hemp businesses navigate the intersections between state and federal law including hemp laws, food and drug laws, regulatory compliance, licensing, general business representation, investment, and general business matters.

As co-chair of the VS Hemp and Cannabinoids Department, Shawn advises clients on the unique legal landscape governing cannabinoids and hemp, helping them form compliant business structures, maintain compliance with hemp and food and drug laws as they evolve, and develop informed solutions that best position them for success at the at state, national, and international levels. 

With more than a decade of experience in cannabis law and policy, Shawn is a go-to source for businesses, industry groups, governments, and reporters seeking opinions, analysis, and guidance on cannabis and hemp law and policy matters. She is on the Board of Directors of the International Cannabis Bar Association, and was on the steering committee for the American Hemp Campaign, a project of Vote Hemp which was instrumental in legalizing hemp in Texas in 2019. In 2023, Shawn was recognized by her peers in the "Best Lawyers" list for her work in cannabis law. In 2021 and 2022, Shawn was recognized by Chambers and Partners as one of the top cannabis lawyers in the United States. She has been named one of "Denver's Top Lawyers" by 5280 magazine since 2015 and was listed in Denver Business Journal's "40 Under 40" in 2021. 

Since directing Sensible Colorado's local government implementation team following the passage of Amendment 64, Shawn remains active in policy work with local and state governments in Colorado and Texas and is passionate in supporting the development and implementation of marijuana and hemp regulations that advance the cannabis industry in a dynamic and responsible manner. After attending law school at the University of Denver, Shawn was an associate attorney at McAllister, Darnell & Gottlieb PC, one of the first marijuana-focused law firms in Colorado.

Alex Berger Related seminars and products

Attorney

Emerge Law Group P.C.

Richard Y. Cheng, Esq., CHC Related seminars and products

Member

Ritter Spencer Cheng PLLC

My practice is focused on corporate transactions, healthcare regulations, administrative appeals, and healthcare compliance matters. I represent post-acute care providers (e.g. skilled nursing facilities, assisted living, hospices, home health agencies, rehabilitation providers), physician groups, management service organizations (MSOs), dental service organizations (DSOs), community hospitals, retail medicine providers (e.g. free standing ERs), ancillary providers (e.g. pharmacies, labs, DME), digital health companies, behavioral health, chiropractors, and veterinary practices, private equity groups and investors in the healthcare industry. 

Due to my healthcare practice, I regularly serve as special counsel in conjunction with white collar criminal defense teams in federal cases or investigations involving healthcare fraud and abuse. In these roles, I assist criminal defense attorneys on health care regulatory violations (e.g. Anti-kickback, OIG exclusion issues, etc.), operations, assessment of plea bargains and the sentencing process.

In addition to my healthcare practice, I developed a cannabis regulatory and corporate practice starting in late 2013. I formerly served as outside general counsel for the Texas Cannabis Industry Association, served on the National Cannabis Industry Association’s FDA coalition, which helped co-author a FDA primer in preparation for the 2019 FDA public hearing on CBD products, and currently serve as an advisory board member to a hemp bio-pharmaceutical development company. I represent and regularly advise a broad base of cannabis related clients, including, physicians, private equity groups investing in the cannabis industry, cultivators, processors, wholesalers, retailers, distribution centers, reverse distributors, and ancillary providers (e.g. testing labs, biomass brokerage firms, MLM companies etc.) in regulatory and corporate matters.

Mai T. Dinh Related seminars and products

Assistant General Counsel, Marketing, Regulatory, and Food Safety Programs Division

Office of the General Counsel, USDA

Mai Dinh is the Assistant General Counsel for Marketing, Regulatory, and Food Safety Programs Division where she manages a staff of attorneys providing legal advice to the Agricultural Marketing Service, including the recent regulations on the Domestic Hemp Production Program and the National Bioengineered Food Disclosure Standard.  Prior to USDA, she was the Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) where she guided significant rulemaking actions and program developments on passenger information screening and general aviation security.  Prior to TSA, she supervised teams of attorneys at the Federal Election Commission who developed regulations to implement sweeping campaign finance reform legislation. Ms. Dinh is a graduate of the George Washington University Law School and the University of Pennsylvania Wharton School of Business.