After years of inching towards legalization, the General Assembly finally passed the Virginia Cannabis Control Act in early 2021, but we are still far away from true commercial legalization. The Virginia Cannabis Control Act is complicated and subject to change, leaving both business owners and consumers without answers to fundamental questions. What we do know is that while legalization isn’t going anywhere, the nature of Virginia’s multi-billion dollar commercial cannabis industry is yet to be determined. Greg will provide clarification on some complex and often contradictory points in the Cannabis Control Act, help business owners strategize before license applications go live, and reveal a host of potential amendments to the law that could change everything.
Greg Habeeb, President, Gentry Locke Consulting
Greg Habeeb, Esq. is a former member of the Virginia House of Delegates, where he represented Virginia’s 8th District and served as Vice-Chair of the Courts of Justice Committee. Greg retired from the Virginia House of Delegates in August 2018 and now chairs Gentry Locke Attorneys’ Government and Regulatory Affairs practice group in Richmond, Virginia and serves as President of Gentry Locke Consulting. Greg is also a litigation partner specializing in complex business and catastrophic injury cases, representing individuals and companies in courts throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and the nation. In 2017 Greg was named a “Leader in the Law” by Virginia Lawyers Weekly.
Patrice Lewis, Esquire/Government Affairs Specialist, Gentry Locke
Patrice Lewis, Esq. is Gentry Locke’s Government Affairs Specialist, where she utilizes data and strategy to help clients achieve their legal, policy, and communications goals. Patrice’s eclectic background fuses law with policy and communications. She recently served as a strategic marketing and communications consultant for senior advisor for SIR, Inc. in Richmond, VA. Prior to her time at SIR, she worked as an outreach representative for Senator Mark R. Warner, serving Central and South Central Virginia, and as the legislative assistant to former Delegate Onzlee Ware. Patrice is a native of Roanoke, Virginia. She received her undergraduate degree in Sociology from the University of Virginia and her law degree from Regent University School of Law. Patrice is licensed to practice law in Maryland and Virginia.