Navigating the Highs and Lows of Cannabis Regulatory Compliance—Insights, Best Practices, and Hurdles

Jessica C. McElfresh Related Seminars and Products

Founder and Principal

McElfresh Law, Inc.

Jessica C. McElfresh of McElfresh Law, Inc. has worked in cannabis law and policy since 2010. She focuses on local and state applications, land use, regulatory compliance, and business law.  Jessica represents cannabis retailers, distributors, cultivators, manufacturers, and testing labs, as well as landlords and ancillary businesses.  She has guided clients through successful applications in jurisdictions such as the City of San Diego, La Mesa, Encinitas, Lemon Grove, and the County of San Diego. 

Jessica has authored or advised on nearly ten local ballot measures to regulate cannabis businesses.  Successes include Measure U in La Mesa and Measure V in Lemon Grove in 2016 and Measure H in Encinitas in 2020.  As part of this work, Jessica has won writs of mandate at the local and appellate level to compel local governments and registrars of voters to accept petitions and count voter signatures.

Jessica represents people facing discipline or loss of state and local licenses, particularly in the cannabis industry.  She began her career in criminal defense and continues to take select cases.  Jessica has unique experience with the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege and the duties of an attorney under investigation or facing criminal charges. 

Outside of her law practice, Jessica is an advocate for cannabis and broader drug policy reform.  She is an advisory board member for A New PATH, an organization dedicated to promoting therapeutic rather than punitive drug policies.  Jessica served as a consultant for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California about how Proposition 64 affects criminal justice reform and individual rights.  

Jessica grew up in San Diego and graduated summa cum laude from Scripps College before attending the University of San Diego School of Law on a Dean’s Honor Scholarship.  She is a former Chair of the International Cannabis Bar Association’s Professional Responsibility and Ethics Committee and its Continuing Legal Education Committee, and a former member of its Board of Directors.  Jessica has spoken at conferences and taught continuing legal education classes for organizations and law schools including the California Lawyers Association, Practising Law Institute, International Cannabis Bar Association, San Diego County Bar Association, and University of San Diego School of Law.  Her publications include “Attorney Ethics and Cannabis: Conflicts of Laws, Conflicts of Interest, and Attorney-Client Privilege for Cannabis Practitioners” (CLA Real Property Journal Vol. 38, No. 4 2020).

Shahiedah Shabazz Related Seminars and Products

Former Executive Director

Shahiedah is the Former Executive Director of the International Cannabis Bar Association. Prior to joining INCBA, Shahiedah worked as an associate at ArentFox Schiff LLP, where she served as co-chair of the firm's Cannabis Industry Group and represented licensed cannabis companies on regulatory matters. Before joining ArentFox Schiff, Shahiedah worked at the Los Angeles County Counsel’s Office for four years, where she helped to develop local cannabis policy, monitored developments in cannabis law and policy within federal, state and local government agencies, and prosecuted unlicensed dispensaries. She also served as in-house counsel to the County Auditor-Controller and the Treasurer and Tax Collector, and successfully defended the County against multiple lawsuits. Between stints at the County Counsel, Shahiedah worked as a deputy city attorney to several cities, where she primarily focused on land use, the California Environmental Quality Act, and writ litigation. In addition to extensive experience in land use and cannabis law, Shahiedah has advised clients in the areas of real estate, business transactions and nonprofit law, and trademark law.

Francine Muhammad Related Seminars and Products

Senior Manager, Regulatory Compliance

Dutchie

Francine is the head of regulatory compliance at Dutchie. Prior to joining Dutchie, she served as Chief Compliance Officer for two vertically-integrated cannabis companies in Michigan. She is passionate about the role cannabis technology plays in cannabis regulatory compliance and helping cannabis companies operate their business successfully. She enjoys leveraging her experience in cannabis operations to work cross-functionally to ensure Dutchie can deliver the best technology solutions to their customers. She began her career as a corporate attorney at Choate, Hall & Stewart in Boston, Massachusetts and has experience in other regulated industries including CBD and the vape industry.

Katherine Bierwas Related Seminars and Products

Cannabis Attorney

Law Offices of Katherine J Bierwas

Experienced Attorney, with a demonstrated history of excellence in the practice of law, the leadership of teams, and the financial success of organizations. Strong legal professional skilled in cannabis regulations and compliance, legislative policy for children and families, litigation, negotiation, mediation, multi-disciplinary cooperation, and child welfare. 

Before pursuing a law degree, garnered significant contract and business experience through entrepreneurial and professional positions, including Management Consultant, Director of Operations, Non-Profit Director, and Human Resources/Accounting Administrator.