California Cannabis Attorney Kelly Hayes Says ‘There’s Always a Way’

San Diego-based attorney Kelly Hayes received an early introduction to cannabis justice while attending college, where she was a member of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). The organization had a significant impact on her career’s trajectory, eventually leading her to work for the group in Washington, D.C., for a summer.

Hayes attended law school in San Diego, where she connected with a professor who had previously worked as an attorney for SSDP and served on the group’s board of directors. He encouraged her to stay in San Diego, where she met operators in the state’s medical marijuana industry.

Hayes began specializing in cannabis law professionally in 2014 after joining a firm following her graduation from law school. She started her own practice in 2022 and now focuses on helping clients in California’s regulated cannabis industry with legal matters including business formation, licensing, regulatory compliance, and litigation, particularly disputes between business owners and lawsuits filed against the state’s Department of Cannabis Control.

In addition to her private practice, Hayes recently joined Armada Law Corporation in Northern California to assist with the firm’s cannabis business litigation. She finds that her clients appreciate her skills and experience, especially her connections and rapport with other legal professionals.

“I like being in the courtroom,” she explains in an interview with IgniteIt. “I like working with judges and other attorneys, and this industry doesn’t really know how to navigate that process.”

More Than a Decade of Experience in California Cannabis

Hayes now has more than a decade of experience practicing cannabis law in California, one of the country’s most competitive and challenging regulated markets. She says that she appreciates her clients’ resourcefulness and determination, noting that her experience with California cannabis operators has taught her that there is always a solution to the problem at hand.

“There’s always a way,” she says, adding, “There’s always a way to come to the table, even with the regulators. And that’s what I tell my clients, too. But my clients are very good at figuring those things out. That’s something that this industry has always been good at–finding a way through the rubble.”

When asked what California cannabis operators should consider when selecting an attorney to represent them and protect their legal rights, Hayes said the most important factor is a wealth of experience in the industry.

“I’m very passionate about this work, and I wouldn’t want them to be in the hands of somebody who doesn’t understand it,” she says. “It can be a very complicated regulatory situation.”

For more information about Kelly Hayes’ legal practice, visit her website.