About Lisa

I am the most experienced lawyer in Texas on cannabis issues. Since 2015, I have represented companies and people across the cannabis supply chain on operational, corporate, regulatory, licensing, and litigation issues. I work with trusted partners on criminal issues.

Cannabis is the only product that has the potential to turn illegal on you. It is subject to two distinct but overlapping bodies of law: civil law and criminal law. Under civil law, your damages are financial; under criminal law, the punishment is your freedom. You can be simultaneously compliant under civil law, yet go to jail under criminal law, because the laws are written and enforced differently in how they address the same topic.

There is a lot of misinformation out there about what is legal and what is not. The laws are different in every state and at the federal level. You need an attorney that understands the legislative history, knows the arguments for both sides, and that is able to prepare and defend you.

I am the only attorney in Texas that moved to Colorado for two years to work under the 2014 Farm Bill (when hemp was still marijuana) and newly legalized recreational marijuana. I worked under a DEA task force commander and have a thorough understanding for what it means for law enforcement to consider your hemp to be marijuana.

Risk management and mitigation are the name of the game in cautiously scaling a business in an environment of the unknown involving constantly evolving laws and policies. Make sure to protect your investments and your freedom by working with an experienced attorney dedicated to understanding cannabis law conflicts.

Keep scrolling to learn more about my experience, education, affiliations, awards and recent publications.

My Experience

From the inception of the Texas Compassionate Use Act of 2015, I have been advocating for patient
access and representing businesses in competitive medical marijuana licensing, investment, corporate
structure, contracts, compliance, marketing strategies, FDA labeling guidance, governmental and
overall proactive risk prevention strategies to prevent incurring law enforcement or administrative
action and lawsuits.

I worked to help get Texas’ Hemp Act passed in 2019, and in 2020, I was appointed to the Texas
Department of Agriculture Commissioner’s Industrial Hemp Advisory Council. That year I was also
appointed to Rice University’s Baker Institute of Public Policy’s Drug Policy Program as a Non-
Resident Fellow. In 2020 I earned the National Law Journal 2020 Trailblazer Award for Cannabis
Law, and the Texas Lawyer Trailblazer Award.

In 2021, I was included in the Top 200 Global Best Cannabis Lawyers publication. I Chaired the
American Bar Association Cannabis Law & Policy Committee in 2021-2022, an outgrowth of my
presentation of the ABA’s first marijuana CLE program at its annual meeting in 2017.

In the ABA, I am a Vice-Chair on the Business Litigation, Corporate, and Product Liability
Committees. The largest North American association of attorneys, the ABA provides me a network
of high caliber attorneys in virtually any location. I am also a member of several leading trade
industry associations and sit on the Executive Board of the Texas Hemp Coalition.

Working in the cannabis and psychedelics industries necessitates daily briefing on international law
changes and court and agency decisions in order to digest the context in which these new laws are
set within traditional law. I publish the most notable stories on www.Polk-Salad.com. My twenty-
five year experience in commercial litigation informs me on negotiating contracts avoiding such
litigation. I offer outside general counsel services for on call guidance on any of your daily issues.
My unique trial and multi-state cannabis industry experience allows me to be an educated and
effective mediator and arbitrator.

From my time working on marijuana and hemp matters, I have curated trusted partners including
attorneys in other specialties and locations, insurance brokers, CPAs, banks, and other business
professionals who can serve my clients. My goal is to help you succeed, and to be your long-term
business partner connecting you to people and information you need to put you in the driver’s seat.

Click here to view my practice areas and call or email to schedule a consultation.

Click here to see my speaking engagements, press, and publications.

Admissions

Texas Bar, 2001
Colorado Bar, 2018

U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas

U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas
U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas
U.S. District Court of Colorado
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals

Education

University of Houston Law Center, Juris Doctor, 2001
University of Texas at Austin, Bachelor of Arts English/Psychology/Spanish, 1997

Professional Affiliations

Psychedelic Bar Association, Founding Member 2022 - Present
Non-resident Fellow, Rice University Baker Institute for Public Policy, Drug Policy Program 2020 – Present

Appointee, Texas Department of Agriculture Industrial Hemp Advisory Council. 2020 – Present

Member, The American Bar Association – Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Section

Chair, Cannabis Law & Policy Committee, 2021 – Present
Vice-Chair, Product Liability Committee, 2015 – Present
Vice-Chair, Corporate Counsel Committee, 2015 – Present
Vice-Chair, Business Litigation Committee, 2012 – Present
Author, Editor, Tort, Trial & Insurance Practice Law Journal, 2006 – Present

Member, Travis County Women Lawyers Association, 2002 – Present
Member, The Texas Bar Association, 2001 – Present
Member, College of the State Bar of Texas, 2009—Present
Member, The Austin Bar Association, 2002 – Present
Member, The Colorado Bar Association, 2018 – Present
Member, International Cannabis Bar Association, Amicus Committee, 2021
Member, National Cannabis Industry Association , Hemp Committee, 2021
Member, U.S. Hemp Builders Association
Executive Board Member, Texas Hemp Coalition

Leadership Honors

Acquisition International Most Influential Woman in Cannabis & Hemp Business Legal Support Services (USA) 2022

Chair, American Bar Association Cannabis Law & Policy Committee 2021-2022

Executive Board Member, Texas Hemp Coalition, 2022 - Present
Acquisition International Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, 2020 - Present

National Law Journal Trailblazer Award for Cannabis Law 2020

Texas Lawyer Trailblazer Award, 2020

Rice University Baker Institute of Public Policy Drug Policy Program, Non-Resident Fellow, 2020 – Present
Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner’s Industrial Hemp Advisory Council, 2020 - Present
Leadership Austin, Essential Class of 2017
Austin Bar Association Leadership Academy Class of 2016
American Bar Association Leadership Academy Class of 2014-2015
40 Under 40 Finalist, Houston Business Journal 2013
Executive Moms Society, Founder, President 2012-2014