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DP&F Announces Official Launch of Cannabis Practice Group

Dickenson Peatman & Fogarty (“DP&F”)  announces the official launch of its Cannabis practice group.  This group offers a specialized, full-service approach to serving the business needs of clients navigating California’s increasingly complex cannabis industry.

DP&F has a 50-year history of representing businesses in regulated industries, including the alcohol beverage industry.  For the past few years, the firm has been advising clients regarding compliance with state and local cannabis regulations and on the potential for creating geographic indications for regions in which cannabis is cultivated.  DP&F’s broad experience in advising clients on legal strategies where land use, intellectual property, business, employment and regulatory issues intersect gives its attorneys a sophisticated, integrated framework to address the complex regulatory framework impacting new entrants to and existing operators in the cannabis industry.

Erin Carlstrom, Senior Counsel, will lead the DP&F Cannabis practice group based out of its Santa Rosa office.  Carlstrom worked in cannabis compliance and land use at her previous firm, specializing in government relations and permitting.  She has ushered statewide clients through major projects, from incorporation to operations, and has been responsible for obtaining entitlements all over California.  She served on the Santa Rosa City Council from 2012-2016 where she served as Vice Mayor, and twice chaired the Cannabis Subcommittee, positioning Santa Rosa as one of the state’s most progressive jurisdictions for cannabis regulations. She obtained her Juris Doctorate from Pepperdine University and her undergraduate degree from Yale University. Carlstrom lives in Santa Rosa with her son, Adlai.

“Every day, DP&F attorneys serve clients who operate in highly regulated industries.  We are experts in the alcohol beverage industry and given the breadth and depth of our practice, we are set up to serve the cannabis industry seamlessly.  We are thrilled to have Erin, an attorney with significant and successful practical experience, spearheading our efforts to provide effective and thoughtful advice in this area,” says Carol Kingery Ritter, one of DP&F’s managing partners.

For more information about the DP&F Cannabis practice, please contact Erin Carlstrom via email.