The Strange World of Cannabis Disputes and ADR

Robert F Copple Related Seminars and Products

Copple & Associates PC

, JD, PhD, Copple & Associates PC, is an arbitrator, mediator, investigator, and litigation strategy consultant. He helps to resolve disputes involving technology and science issues, including intellectual property, biotechnology, information technology, cybersecurity, telecommunications, high tech manufacturing, the environment, and health care. He was on the ground floor applying alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to the rapidly growing cannabis industry. Bob frequently lectures on law and technology issues both in law schools and professional organizations. He has authored more than 40 books and articles including the ABA Treatise, "Biotechnology and the Law" (Editor-in-Chief and coauthor). Bob is recognized as an organization leader, both statewide and nationally, serving as the chair of the board for the Arizona State University (ASU) Center for Law, Science, and Innovation, chair of the ADR Section of the Arizona State Bar Association, and member of the Intellectual Property Section Executive Council, among other positions. Bob worked as a litigator and regulatory negotiator for large law firms in Denver and Phoenix and was Senior Litigation Counsel for Motorola. In addition, he was a judicial law clerk for a Federal District judge and for a state supreme court chief justice. He received his BA, MA, and JD from the University of Nebraska, and his PhD from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Bob was the executive editor of the Nebraska Law Review and is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP/US).

Michael Ryan Hurley Related Seminars and Products

General Counsel

Ryan Hurley is CEO and co-founder of Litix Legal, an Arizona licensed ABS law firm on a mission to make clients love their lawyers and lawyers love their law firm by replacing the outdated hourly billing model with flat fees whenever possible.

Hurley previously served as general counsel for Copperstate Farms, a vertically integrated cannabis company with 9 dispensaries under the Sol Flower brand name and one of the largest greenhouse cannabis production facilities in North America. Hurley was an instrumental player in Copperstate Farms’ birth, growth, and development, positioning the company as a market leader through his strategic business advice, careful compliance and risk mitigation.

Referred to as Arizona’s “Father of Cannabis Law,” Hurley has been recognized as one of the Top 100 Lawyers in Arizona and as one of the 20 Names to Know by Phoenix Business Journal. He has been a part of the Arizona cannabis industry from its inception and played a pivotal role in the initiatives to legalize medical and adult-use cannabis in Arizona. A founding member and former board member of the National Cannabis Industry Association, Hurley is deeply entrenched in all aspects of the cannabis industry and a sought-after expert on cannabis policy. Ryan Hurley was also a founding member of the Arizona Dispensaries Association and the organization’s former vice president. Hurley was also a pioneer in the AZ solar energy and cryptocurrency/blockchain industries.

A dedicated, passionate, and knowledgeable attorney, innovator, and entrepreneur, Hurley has presented at several conferences and seminars throughout the country and has been featured in many interviews in television, print, and radio. His expansive background in policy has cemented his reputation as a reliable thought leader.

Hurley holds a B.S. in environmental science from the University of Arizona and a J.D. from the University of Arizona’s James E. Rogers College of Law. Before emerging as a leader in the cannabis industry and co-founding Litix, Hurley was an associate attorney at Lewis and Roca LLP focusing on land use, zoning, water, and environmental issues and a named partner at Rose Law Group.

Adam Foster Related Seminars and Products

Adam Foster is a business lawyer and mediator based out of Boulder, Colorado. Adam is the Chief Legal Officer of Silver Stem Fine Cannabis and serves on the board of Doctors for Drug Policy Reform. He is also the past chair of the Colorado Bar Association's ADR Section.

Lance Tanaka Related Seminars and Products

Lance K. Tanaka is a Vice President at the American Arbitration Association’s (AAA) Denver office. He is responsible for market development and client outreach across a 14-state region, including Alaska, Arizona, Colorado, Hawai’i, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, New Mexico, Nevada, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

In addition to regional responsibilities, Mr. Tanaka oversees the AAA’s alternative dispute resolution (ADR) services for the Cannabis, Energy, and Sports industries. He also leads the recruitment and training of arbitrators and mediators for the Association’s Panel of Neutrals.

Mr. Tanaka is a trained mediator, having received his certification from the Neighborhood Justice Center (NJC) in Honolulu. There, he mediated a wide range of disputes, including those involving landlords and tenants, neighbors, families, and commercial businesses.