Marijuana Law and Policy Group added to Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick roster

Attorneys will assist clients with rapidly changing federal and state laws and policies, firm says

David Axelrod. Contributed photo
David Axelrod. Contributed photo

The full-service business law firm Shumaker, Loop & Kendrick LLP (www.SLK-Law.com) just added a new practice group — the Marijuana Law and Policy Group — to its roster, the firm announced this week.

“Recent developments in Florida, Ohio and across the country have spawned an emerging area of law and policy surrounding legalized marijuana, bringing unprecedented legal issues to the fore,” a news release says. “Federal and state laws and policies concerning the medical and recreational use of marijuana are changing rapidly, and efforts to legalize its recreational use in additional states are gaining ground,” the release adds.

“Shumaker’s team of attorneys and consultants will advise clients based on the totality of their perspective and needs,” the release continues.

“More than 30 states now have some form of state-sanctioned marijuana, with a dizzying mélange of rules and regulations,” said David Axelrod, a partner in Shumaker’s litigation group, in the release. “Clients inside and outside the industry must be concerned about state and federal laws and policies, as well as operational issues, such as how to deal with employees’ use of medical marijuana in the workplace. Shumaker is committed to providing thoughtful advice about these and other marijuana-related challenges facing our clients,” he added in the release

Erin Smith Aebel. Contributed photo
Erin Smith Aebel. Contributed photo

The practice group includes attorneys Axelrod, Douglas Berman, Rachel Goodman, W. Jan Pietruszka, Erin Smith Aebel and Mechelle Zarou, along with Shumaker Advisor consultant Andrew W. Herf, the release notes. “This group will counsel clients in business, healthcare, agriculture and other industries on the developing marijuana laws from a variety of legal perspectives,” the release continues. “The team will also work with legislators, regulators and government entities that have a stake in regulating the use of marijuana.”

“The long-term market, legal and social trends suggest that legal use of medical marijuana is here to stay,” said Aebel, a board-certified health law specialist, in the release.