Cannabis Law: Everything You Always Wanted to Know

For more than 135 years, the Toronto Lawyers' Association, located within the Courthouse Library, has represented the interests of lawyers practising in the City of Toronto. The association was founded to support its members in three key areas: Knowledge, Advocacy, and Community. To uphold these pillars, the association offers a year-round mix of online and in-person education programs for lawyers, hosts both free and paid events to foster in-person networking, and submits advocacy pieces on behalf of its members to the Ontario bench and bar, all levels of government, and the broader public.

Russell Bennett, B.Sc., LL.B., became a lawyer in 1997, prior to establishing a career in film, theatre and documentary production. In 1998, Bennett produced and directed the documentary STONED: Hemp Nation on Trial, which followed the test case and trial of Christopher Clay, owner of Hemp Nation, Canada’s first hemp store. STONED premiered on CBC and was nominated for Best Political Documentary at Hot Docs International Documentary Film Festival. In 2004, Bennett created the award-winning multi-character solo play, The Reefer Man, which told the story of a lawyer who moonlights as an underground cannabis grower. Bennett toured the “criminal comedy” to Fringe Festivals and professional theatres across Canada. In 2013, Bennett returned to practice insolvency law and fraud recovery law. In 2018, Bennett created his own full-service law firm, Cannabis Law, Barristers & Solicitors, to give entrepreneurs and small businesses the tools to protect themselves and thrive in the cannabis industry. Services include federal and retail licensing applications, defence of regulatory offences, employee issues, intellectual property, land use planning, asset protection and partner/shareholder issues. Cannabis Law also challenges questionable cannabis laws under the Constitution of Canada. In 2020, Bennett launched Cannabis Law in Canada, a long-format interview podcast featuring in-depth discussions with cannabis industry and legal experts that uncover the realities of the new laws, their impact on business and offering suggestions for change. Episode 1 features co-author Professor Emeritus Alan Young. Bennett also posts on matters relating to cannabis and the law regularly on his blog at cannabislaw.ca.

Matt Maurer is a prominent lawyer and Co-Chair of Torkin Manes LLP's Cannabis Law Group. With over a decade of experience in trial and appellate law, he has become a well-respected expert in the cannabis industry. Matt provides regulatory advice to various stakeholders in the cannabis sector, including licensed producers, entrepreneurs, and foreign businesses looking to enter the Canadian market. He is sought out for his knowledge and expertise under the Cannabis Act and its predecessor legislation, and is frequently asked to develop promotional strategies and advise on complex promotional provisions. Matt also helps clients obtain retail sales licenses across various Canadian provinces. In addition to his cannabis practice, Matt has a successful litigation practice, representing clients in a wide range of commercial disputes. He is a regular contributor to print and online media publications and is often invited to speak at industry conferences across North America.