Cannabis
Sutin’s long-standing experience dealing with regulatory compliance and the licensure application process for the cannabis industry began in the years following the enactment of the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act.
Since that time, we have developed expertise in every area of law those in the industry require: cannabis law and regulatory compliance, corporate law and governance, employment law, contracts and real estate, land use and zoning, litigation, healthcare law, and taxation. The Sutin cannabis law team has developed the experience necessary to represent and provide counsel to recreational and medical cannabis producers, manufacturers, couriers, and dispensaries, as well as medical cannabis patients and cannabis-related businesses. We represent micro-producers (200+ plants) as well as vertically integrated cannabis establishments, as well as those hoping to become licensed under the various new allowable cannabis licenses.
In the area of employment law, for example, we serve as advocates for employers across the state regarding compliance with specific New Mexico cannabis laws. Our employment and civil rights lawyers present training seminars and prepare employment contracts and policies regarding cannabis usage. These tools provide our clients concrete direction to appropriately navigate the sometimes-murky waters of cannabis law across all types of employees, even Federal contractors.
Tina Muscarella Gooch, who heads our cannabis law practice, is a board member of the Cannabis Law section of the State Bar of New Mexico. She also has significant experience in civil and commercial litigation, having argued cases in state and federal courts on a variety of issues.
- Assisting medical cannabis producers in obtaining licensure both before and after the new allowable cannabis establishment licenses became available
- Managing the application process for cannabis licenses for a variety of medical and/or recreational cannabis producers, manufacturers, and retailers
- Assisting clients in establishing cannabis-related businesses, from setting up their businesses’ corporate structure, corporate governance, and ongoing regulatory compliance
- Creating policies and procedures to keep employers in compliance with New Mexico cannabis laws
- Advising businesses and employers on New Mexico’s cannabis laws as they relate to employment protections
- Providing training to employers about compliance with cannabis employment-related laws
- Advising federal contractors regarding the effect of New Mexico cannabis laws on federal contracts
- Litigation
- Real estate and land use matters including the purchase of real estate for cannabis-related endeavors, compliance with applicable zoning requirements for various local municipalities, and handling zoning variance requests when needed
- Drafting and reviewing all types of contracts needed by cannabis-related businesses, such as leases and purchase agreements, corporate by-laws and tax documents, and non-disclosure and sponsorship agreements
- Representing cannabis clients before regulatory boards, including the New Mexico Tax and Revenue Department
- Assisting cannabis clients in obtaining state and federal trademarks