The Zoghlin Group offers a range of cannabis/marijuana and hemp related services for municipalities and cultivators/farmers, processors, and vendors.
Municipalities:
- Special Counsel – Marijuana Law and Policy
- Counselling on municipal policy priorities and goals.
- Researching and drafting white papers or other policy papers.
- Drafting Marijuana Laws
- Assistance in drafting local cannabis/marijuana legislation related to land use, zoning, environmental, and municipal law issues.
- Advising municipalities on how to properly adopt local laws and amend zoning codes to address cannabis/marijuana and hemp related issues, including environmental reviews and procedural requirements for adoption of legally defensible laws and regulations.
- Municipal Defense Counsel
- Defending municipalities in Article 78 proceedings and/or declaratory judgment actions challenging, for example, the adoption of local laws, the denial of permits, the adequacy of environmental reviews, and/or zoning decisions related to cannabis/marijuana regulations.
Farmers/Cultivators, Processors, and Vendors — How To Comply With federal, state, and/or legal restrictions.
- Due Diligence - Legal Viability of Cannabis/Marijuana Development:
- Review of state and local laws and regulations to identify and advise on relevant restrictions on cultivation, processing, or sale in your project area.
- Zoning and Land-Use Permit Applications:
- Site plan and other local land use applications to municipal boards to obtain approvals for cannabis/marijuana farms or processing/cultivation facilities.
- Appearance before local boards, including planning boards, zoning boards, town boards, and boards of appeal.
- Negotiation of approval conditions.
- Administrative appeals of initial denials of local approvals.
- Court Actions: Prosecuting Article 78 petitions and/or hybrid declaratory judgment actions challenging denials of zoning approvals or permit/licenses applications.
- Retail Permits and Licenses:
- Preparation of Permit/License and other Applications to state and local agencies.
- Administrative appeals of initial denials of permits, licenses, or other required approvals.
- Court Actions: Prosecuting Article 78 petitions and/or hybrid declaratory judgment actions challenging denials of licenses, permits, or other approvals.
- Government Investigations and Enforcement Actions:
- Assistance in responding to government investigations, notices of violation, or other administrative enforcement actions (but not criminal investigations or prosecutions).
- Response to subpoenas or other requests for information.
- Defense counsel in administrative proceedings.
- Civil Actions:
- Defense against private lawsuits.
- Negotiating with adverse parties to resolve and settle lawsuits.
- Appeals:
- Appealing adverse court decisions as needed to higher courts.
For more information about our cannabis/marijuana practice group, or for inquiries related to these practice areas, please contact Jacob H. Zoghlin or Mindy L. Zoghlin.
