Strategies for a Successful Cannabusiness and Winning Facilities

Two powerhouse cannabis law firms are joining forces for a seminar to educate entrepreneurs about the regulated cannabis industry, the application process, and how to win municipal and state cannabis business licenses. Attendees will also learn about a variety of issues that are integral to running a successful commercial cannabis operation.

Now that Michigan is implementing a regulatory framework for the medical marijuana industry, it is imperative that you receive counsel and assistance from those who have successfully navigated this process in other established markets. That is what Vicente Sederberg LLC brings to the table like no other law firm can.
Headed by Brian Vicente, Christian Sederberg and Josh Kappel, Vicente Sederberg is the most experienced full-service cannabis law firm in the country.

They have won licenses through competitive application processes in 18 states and counting, and leaders of the firm played leading roles in drafting, passing, and implementing Colorado’s Amendment 64, which established the nation’s first adult-use marijuana market.

Seminar attendees will learn everything they need to know about writing successful municipal and state license applications from experienced lawyers from Colorado and Michigan. They will be guided through the process step by step, and they will receive checklists and draft business and operational plans. They will also learn how to obtain and calculate the reliable and realistic financial projections that are necessary to develop a legitimate plan.
Building and protecting your brand is very important, so seminar attendees will also find out what they need to know in order to protect their intellectual property.

Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code

Thanks to Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, commercial cannabis companies should be prepared for the possibility of an IRS audit within three years of operation. Our expert CPA who specializes in the cannabis industry will provide you with all of the details about 280E, specific to each license type, along with strategies to minimize its impact on your business.
Seminar Schedule
(Subject to Change)

8:00
Breakfast and Registration
8:30
Opening Remarks
9:00
Municipal Licensing Issues and LARA’s new Emergency Administrative Rules – Licensing a Property and the Significance of the Administrative Rules- Craig Aronoff, Cannabis Legal Group
10:00
The Economics of Marijuana Markets: Michigan and Beyond – Andrew Livingston, Vicente Sederberg
11:00
Business Planning – Step by Step: Create a Great Plan Through Reliable Financial Projections – Barton Morris, Cannabis Legal Group
12:00
Lunch, Networking, Sponsor Introductions
1:00
CPA Attestations for Pre-Qualifications, Accounting and 280E – Principles and Mitigation Strategies – Simon Gumma, CPA, CGMA
1:30
Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol Campaign Update – Robin Schneider, Marijuana Policy Project – MI Coalition to Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol
1:50
Understanding Political Systems to Write Successful Applications – Dwight Clark, Vicente Sederberg
2:30
How to Build, Register, License and Protect Your Brand and Intellectual Property – Travis Copenhaver, Cannabis Legal Group
3:30
Writing Winning Applications: Secrets and Tips – Brian Vicente, Vicente Sederberg
4:30
Questions and Answers

About the Presenters
Our seminar instructors are accomplished and proven experts in the national cannabis landscape. You will hear from:

Brian Vicente | Vicente Sederberg
Brian Vicente, Esq., is a partner and founding member of Vicente Sederberg LLC. He served as the co-director of the Amendment 64 campaign and was one of the primary authors of this historic measure, which resulted in Colorado becoming the first state in the nation – and the first geographic area in the world – to make the possession, use, and regulated distribution of marijuana legal for adults. Vicente also serves as executive director of Sensible Colorado, the state’s leading non-profit working for medical marijuana patients and providers. He was given the Gideon award for his free speech advocacy during the 2008 Democratic National Convention. In 2010, Vicente was elected the first-ever chair of the National Cannabis Industry Association, the only trade association in the U.S. that works to advance the interests of marijuana-related businesses on the national level.
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Andrew Livingston | Vicente Sederberg
Andrew Livingston serves as Director of Economics and Research for Vicente Sederberg LLC. He first worked alongside the Vicente Sederberg team in 2012 during Colorado’s Amendment 64 campaign, which legalized marijuana for adults. Before starting a career in cannabis market and policy analysis, he focused his studies at Colgate University on the economics of illegal drugs and the harms they create for societies around the world. Andrew is often asked to speak at business and legal seminars around the country and internationally on the intersection of market dynamics and cannabis policy. At Vicente Sederberg, Andrew provides analysis on legal and regulatory matters as well as economic market projections for adult-use and medical marijuana laws in Colorado and around the world. Andrew also sits on the Denver Cannabis Sustainability Working Group and helps coordinate government and industry efforts to increase environmental stewardship within cannabis business.

Dwight Clark | Vicente Sederberg
Dwight Clark is the Technical Writer for Vicente Sederberg, where he specializes in national licensing. He has worked on medical and adult use applications for clients in Florida, California, Ohio, and Arkansas. Mr. Clark spent four years as the Legislative and Communications Director for Texas State Senator, José Menéndez. As Legislative Director, he drafted and advocated for Texas’ first comprehensive medical cannabis legislation. As Communications Director, he was the Senator’s principal speech writer, online content producer, and regularly interfaced with the media. Mr. Clark also served as Committee Clerk for the Defense and Veterans Affairs Committee in the Texas House of Representatives. Prior to working in the legislature, he spent a decade successfully managing political campaigns, ranging from city council to president. Mr. Clark is also a featured speaker on cannabis policy and regulation, having spoken at SXSW and numerous other civic engagements, panels, and conferences.

Barton Morris | Cannabis Legal Group

Barton Morris is the founder and principal attorney of the Cannabis Legal Group, specializing in all marijuana related legal issues including criminal defense, business law, licensing, consulting, land use and real property. Barton is well known as one of the top cannabis law lawyers in Michigan having developed this expertise since 2008 with the enactment of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act. He is a council member of the Marijuana Law Section of the Michigan Bar Association and chair of its science committee and is a national speaker and writer on marijuana law issues.
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Craig Aronoff | Cannabis Legal Group
Craig Aronoff is a senior attorney with the Cannabis Legal Group. His practice areas include cannabusiness, real estate and civil litigation. Craig works with cannabusiness entrepreneurs, municipalities, caregivers and patients on licensing strategy, business planning, industry segmentation, entity formation, real estate acquisitions or tenancy, municipal ordinances, licensing preparation, application packages and industry advocacy. Since the enactment of the Michigan Medical Marijuana Act in 2008, Craig has also advised and counseled dozens of Caregivers, Patients, real estate professionals, investors and business owners on licensing, compliance, entity formation, municipal compliance and landlord/tenant related matters.
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Travis Copenhaver | Cannabis Legal Group
Travis joined the Cannabis Legal Group in the fall of 2017 as an associate cannabis attorney.
Copenhaver brings a wealth of knowledge to the firm with experience working for the Cannabis Attorneys of Michigan and Ignite Legal. His experience has given him a leg up when it comes to servicing and representing cannabis clients, as he will in his capacity with the Cannabis Legal Group.
Copenhaver received his law degree from Case Western Reserve University in May of 2013. Prior to receiving his Juris Doctor, he held numerous intern positions exposing him to various aspects of the legal world. Copenhaver received his B.A. in Philosophy from the University of Michigan in 2009.