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Washington Cannabis
Expert Advisors to Cannabis Businesses in Washington
The cannabis industry often faces numerous hurdles unique to its business landscape. Let Harris Sliwoski provide you with the industry-expert legal planning, regulatory support, corporate guidance, and compliance strategies you need for success.
Contact UsSeattle Cannabis Lawyers
Headquartered in Seattle, Harris Sliwoski launched our now nationally known cannabis advisory practice in Washington State, way back in 2010, two years before Washington (along with Colorado) became the first U.S. State to permit recreational use of cannabis.
The Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board (WSLCB) regulates the industry and controls the issuance of producer, processor, and retailer licenses for the cannabis industry. Though the application process for those licenses in Washington is currently closed, we regularly assist clients with the transfer and sale of existing licenses. The WSLCB also issues research and transportation licenses, for which applications remain open. To learn more about our licensing services, please see our State Licensing & Registration page.
Because of the closure of the application process for producer, processor, and retailer licenses and the profitable and competitive nature of the industry, Washington cannabis licenses are valuable assets that require thoughtful protection through strict regulatory compliance and the proper corporate agreements and governance. Failure to comply with Washington law and WSLCB regulation can result in severe penalties, including license cancellation.
Services Available From Our Cannabis Business Lawyers in Washington
In a multilayered business environment, you need all-encompassing legal advice from a nimble team. Harris Sliwoski is the answer. We can provide various helpful services, including:
Forming Your Business
The type of entity you create significantly affects business aspects like operational responsibilities, economic and management rights, and taxation. The skilled cannabis attorneys at Harris Sliwoski have guided hundreds of companies globally and countrywide in forming the right entity to safeguard their investments.
Drafting Business Contracts
Clarity and practical expectations form the foundation of a solid business contract that protects your rights and interests. Our team has the in-depth knowledge to negotiate and draft the best contracts to ensure your firm legal footing and business security.
Collecting Unpaid Debt
The cannabis industry often extends business credit to customers since getting it from a standard bank can be difficult, but many of these companies haven’t thoroughly analyzed the risk potential. When a customer fails to pay, cash flow can significantly decrease and impact operations. Our dedicated cannabis debt collection attorneys can help you get what’s owed.
Our Washington Cannabis Attorneys
Our Washington State cannabis attorneys are expert at providing clients with the legal planning, regulatory support, corporate guidance, and compliance strategies they need to grow their businesses smoothly, but when obstacles do arise, we work with the WSLCB to mitigate possible fines or represent clients in administrative litigation that may affect licensing.
Beyond advising individual businesses, our cannabis attorneys are committed to fortifying, defending, and building credibility for the industry as a whole. We speak to business groups, academic institutions, and government bodies on a variety of cannabis legal issues, and our cannabis lawyers are frequently quoted by global and local media outlets.
AWARD-WINNING
CANNA LAW BLOG
An intelligent, timely resource for the cannabis industry
Beyond advising individual businesses, our cannabis attorneys are committed to fortifying, defending, and building credibility for the industry as a whole. Harris Sliwoski’s cannabis business lawyers are more than legal strategists—they are thought leaders: forward-thinking bloggers, educators, writers, and speakers.
They regularly write articles for legal journals and frequently post to our acclaimed and widely followed Canna Law Blog. We speak to business and trade groups, academic institutions, and government bodies on a variety of cannabis legal issues, and our cannabis lawyers are frequently quoted by global, national, and local media outlets. We also have compiled (and are forever adding to) a Cannabis Glossary, to help with industry terminology.
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Our Clients' Successes
“Harris Sliwoski expertly guided us through the formation of our company. They continue to assist with necessary registrations and compliance with numerous regulations. They were able to promptly answer all our many questions and provide understandable options, explanations and practical advice. We expect to continue to use Harris Sliwoski on a regular basis as our company expands. They were also able to introduce us other professional experts. We would not hesitate to recommend Harris Sliwoski to any companies in need of legal advice.”
Three Continents Foods LLC
This law firm was a huge help as our company went through the process of commercial licensing in the California cannabis industry. They have helped us with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while clearly communicating with us throughout the process. Everyone we’ve worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field and we have always felt that we were in good hands through our legal representation.
Wil Crummer, CEO PRO Farms
Legal stuff is always scary. And I’ve had to play offense a couple times, begrudgingly. To have Harris Sliwoski have my back? It made things a lot less prickly. They quickly walked me through my options, and were refreshingly consistent in their communications, timing and billing. I’ve been lucky to stay out of the legal side of things my whole career, thankfully. When things went a little wrong, Harris Sliwoski quickly made things right.
Aaron Draplin, Founder Draplin Design Co.
I am impressed with this law firm. They answered all my questions regarding cannabis businesses and the California cannabis framework, and they have helped me with a variety of legal issues in a timely fashion, while always clearly communicating with us throughout the process. They also redirected me to other quality people for my business needs. Everyone I worked with at Harris Sliwoski is an expert in their field, and I was in good hands throughout my legal representation.
Corey T., CEO Thinc Cubed, LLC
I have been working with the lawyers at Harris Sliwoski for more than 20 years both as a business owner and as an executive at a large east-coast health system and that is because they have always efficiently provided high level and clear international law advice. Most recently, Harris Sliwoski provided legal support on many matters related to procuring medical products worldwide. Their support was particularly helpful to during the onset of COVID, when there was a big need for securing PPE quickly, all while navigating complicated international and domestic legal requirements. Harris Sliwoski’s team of international lawyers helped by conducting rapid-fire due diligence on potential suppliers, navigating the legal logistics for getting product from overseas and through U.S. customs, and drafting contracts to protect against various sorts of horribles. They did this by essentially providing what amounted to 24/7 service. I cannot recommend them highly enough.
Dan Pak Hospital Supply Chain Executive
Harris Sliwoski has represented our company in the legal cannabis industry for years. Harris Sliwoski has advised us in a wide variety of legal matters, and they are truly experts in their field. I would highly recommend Harris Sliwoski to anyone with questions about cannabis law, or any legal matters. They have been great for our Company, and will continue to guide us as our industry evolves
Matt Hurt, COO Cannabis Nation
You won’t find a better partner than Harris Sliwoski when trying to navigate the complex world of healthcare regulations. They not only give sound and reliable legal advice, but they are also very responsive and are able to guide you in a way that helps you reach your business objectives as well.
Joseph Axelrod, General Counsel Irwin Naturals
When we started the process of building a ‘seed to sale’ cannabis company in Oregon, we saw the need for expert legal counsel. The cannabis sector is fraught with potential peril at every turn, and we wanted the best legal advice we could find. After talking to several firms and individuals, we feel extremely fortunate to have chosen Harris Sliwoski as our legal counsel.
Tony Theiss, CEO and Co-Founder Redbarn Cannabis
We use Harris Sliwoski on all our international legal matters, including on our international litigation matters. We have over the last few years been involved in a couple big international legal disputes and Harris Sliwoski’s international dispute resolution team provided us with expert legal assistance on both matters. They were always very careful to explain to us what they were doing and why and what their actions would likely cost us in legal fees. Most importantly, we did extremely well on both cases and I have no doubt Harris Sliwoski was a big factor in that.
Kevin English, CEO We Are Camp
We have used Harris Sliwoski for legal help related to our international manufacturing. The lawyers with whom I worked had extensive familiarity with the international legal issues involved in our various projects and offered us key insights. I particularly appreciated how they always quickly and efficiently do what they say they will do and always within their cost estimates.
Andrea Barona Valladolid, Senior Legal Counsel Fairphone
Frequently Asked Questions
Discover answers to common questions below.
What Should I Do About a Commercial Property Issue With My Cannabis Business?
Zoning laws, restrictive covenants, and lease clauses can lead to unique challenges for cannabis businesses looking to buy or lease. At Harris Sliwoski, we’ve successfully resolved many real estate issues to help our clients proceed with property purchases or rentals.
Can I Acquire an Existing Cannabis Business in Washington?
A thriving cannabis business often makes an attractive target for companies considering expansion or wanting to diversify their portfolios. Our deal-making mergers and acquisitions team can guide you through the legalities of financing, tax implications, and more.
Why Partner With Harris Sliwoski as Your Cannabis Lawyer in Washington?
Cannabis-based companies throughout the Evergreen State choose the Harris Sliwoski team because we’ve been there and done that with over a decade of ground-level experience. We leverage our knowledge to provide legal advice for industry members at every stage of business maturity. Our attorneys start by listening to gain an understanding of your needs and then develop a tailored legal blueprint to meet them.
We do tough. We do bold.
We do innovative.