Growing Pains:
Getting Cannabis
from Awkward to Adept
June 17 & 18, 2026 | Chicago
Neither a nascent industry, nor a mature going concern, Cannabis has completed much of its growing pains and offers solid ground for long-term institutional lawyering. While still in its adolescence, we can no longer pretend that the industry is in its “infancy.” Attorneys must prepare themselves and their clients for that reality.
~13 CLE sessions. 1 on Day 1 plus 12 on Day 2 split between 2 classrooms. Attendees will have access to all on-demand CLE sessions through the INCBArchives® after the in-person event.
*(All content subject to change.)
CLI2026 Agenda At-a-Glance
The CLI2026 program is built around a simple but urgent premise: cannabis law has grown up, and so must we. Two days of substantive programming — curated by some of the sharpest legal minds in the industry — will challenge attorneys to meet the moment. Every session is designed for practitioners who are done with introductory conversations and ready for what comes next.Can't attend every session? Every CLI2026 CLE session will be available on-demand after the event. Register once. Access everything.
Day 1 — Wednesday, June 17 — Plenary Track
Track Lead: David Ruskin
Partner, Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
All attendees come together for a full day of plenary sessions — no parallel tracks, no choices to make. Everyone in the same room, engaging the same conversations.The day opens with a keynote from a speaker of significance. An announcement is coming.The morning sessions take on the federal landscape head-on — rescheduling, hemp redefinition, medical cannabis's evolving role, and what the current political environment means for practitioners and their clients. If federal law is your chessboard, this is your morning.After lunch, the conversation shifts to the business and practice of cannabis law itself. What does it mean to be a cannabis lawyer in 2026? What can attorneys learn from other highly regulated industries? And what happens when cannabis capital goes wrong? The afternoon closes with a cross-industry look at vice law — drawing on hard-won lessons from alcohol and gaming to illuminate what's ahead for cannabis.
Plenary — Morning Sessions
Progress Without Parity: Federal Cannabis Policy at a Crossroads
Okay, There's A Proven Medical Benefit… Now What?
Regulators Updates Panel (Official title coming soon. Panelists confirmed!)
Plenary — Afternoon Sessions
Beyond Borders: International Cannabis Law Developments
Cannabis Capital: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
Vice Law: Alcohol, Gaming and Cannabis
Day 2 — Thursday, June 18
Day 2 splits into two concurrent tracks running simultaneously throughout the day. Track 1 will cover Practicing Law in the Cannabis Industry. Track 2 will cover Developments in Law and Policy. Choose the sessions from each track that fit your practice — watch all others on-demand after the event. No FOMO required.
Track 1a — The Practice of Law
Track Lead: Jill Cohen
Partner, VerrillThe morning opens with the practical and ethical challenges facing cannabis attorneys right now. AI is reshaping the legal workplace and bringing new ethical obligations with it. Courts are still wrestling with cannabis's federal status, making alternative dispute resolution an increasingly strategic tool. And as cannabis companies grow up, so do their corporate hygiene requirements. This half-day is for the attorney who wants to sharpen their practice.Contains the following three sessions:
What Are You Smoking? AI Hallucinations, Ethics, and Compliance
Business Disputes Better Left out of Court: ADR in the Cannabis Industry
Startups No Longer: Corporate Practice at a Cannabis Company
Track 1b — Current Legal Developments
Track Lead: Daniel Molina
Associate Attorney, Vicente LLPThe afternoon turns to the legal developments rewriting the rulebook in real time. Rescheduling remains caught in political crosscurrents — this track breaks down what it actually means for operators and their counsel. A counter-movement is emerging in jurisdictions moving to restrict or effectively recriminalize cannabis, and attorneys need to know how to fight back. The track closes with a deep dive into vapes — where intellectual property, consumer safety, and rapidly evolving regulation collide.Contains the following three sessions:
Rescheduling in Limbo: Navigating the Legal Landscape of a Potential Schedule III Reclassification
Rolling Back the Clock: Recriminalization, Municipal Bans, and the New Prohibitionist Playbook
Understanding why Hardware is Hard: Legal Issues for Cannabis Vapes
Track 2a — Running Bussineses
Track Lead: Kyle Finnegan
Partner, Ice Miller LLPRunning a cannabis business has never been simple — but the legal risks are getting more sophisticated. The morning covers three critical pressure points: how inside and outside counsel should guide clients through regulatory infractions and compliance failures; the rapidly evolving intersection of cannabis, data privacy, and cybersecurity; and the unique real estate gauntlet cannabis operators must run. Practical, current, and built for attorneys who advise operators.Contains the following three sessions:
Whistleblowers, Subpoenas, Demand Letters, oh my! Best Practices for Responding to Notice of Potential Infractions and Non-Compliance
Data Privacy, Data Security, and the Cannabis Business
Advanced Playbook for Negotiating Cannabis Leases: Navigating Landlords, Zoning, and Industry-Specific Challenges
Track 2b — Adult Use Hemp: Trajectory
Track Lead: Steve Schain
Senior Counsel, Smart CounselThe afternoon is devoted entirely to intoxicating hemp — the most disruptive legal development in the cannabis space right now. Three sessions trace the full arc: what hemp-derived intoxicants are and why they've exploded in the marketplace; how a sweeping federal redefinition of hemp is reshaping what's legal and what isn't; and the litigation brawl now playing out between licensed cannabis operators and hemp-derived THC producers. If hemp is on your radar — and it should be — this is your afternoon.Contains the following three sessions:
Forbidden Fruit: Hemp Derived Intoxicants and How Science Outpaces Legislation
What is Hemp's Restrictive Redefining? Is it Here to Stay?
Hatfield and McCoys: Litigation Over Hemp Derived Intoxicants
Don't Miss Any CLE Credits
Every CLE session at CLI2026 will be available on-demand after the event.
Register once. Access everything. Earn CLE on your schedule.
Bronze Sponsors
Additional Support Provided By...
CLI2026 Roster | Program | Course Docs
CLI2026 Content Committee
Board President
CLI Event Chair & Track Lead
David Ruskin, Partner
Kilpatrick Townsend & Stockton LLP
CLE Committee Chair
CLI Content Chair & Track Lead
Kyle Finnegan, Partner
Ice Miller LLP
Event Committee Board Liaison
CLI Track Lead
Jill Cohen, Partner
Verrill Dana LLP
CLE Committee Member
CLI Track Lead
Steve Schain, Senior Counsel
Smart Counsel
Events Committee Co-Chair
CLI Track Lead
Daniel Molina, Associate Attorney
Vicente LLP
Secretary & CLE Committee
Board Liaison & CLI Session Lead
Timothy L. Alger, Owner
Alger Resolutions
CLE Committee Member
CLI Content Committee
Mia L. Garcia, Of Counsel
Frantz Ward LLP
Board VP of Legal Education
CLI Session Lead
Fatima Afia, Associate
Rudick Law Group, PLLC
CLI Technology Lead
Jim Canto, CIO | CTO
INCBA
Events Committee Co-Chair
Steve Okoroha, Owner
Lawyer Up Legal Services
About CLI2026
With federal uncertainty and market complexity rising,
cannabis attorneys gather to confront what comes next
Chicago, IL - April 21, 2026 - The International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) announced the return of its flagship annual event, the Cannabis Law Institute (CLI2026), taking place June 17–18, 2026 at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law in Chicago.Widely regarded as the leading conference dedicated exclusively to cannabis law, the Cannabis Law Institute convenes top attorneys, regulators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to navigate one of the most complex and rapidly evolving legal landscapes in the United States.The 2026 program is built around a simple but urgent premise: cannabis law encompasses both “marijuana” and “hemp” and the traditional methods of analyzing and serving the two industries need updating.Over two days of substantive programming curated by some of the sharpest legal minds in the industry, CLI2026 will challenge attorneys to move beyond introductory conversations and engage with the real-world complexities defining the space today. From evolving regulatory frameworks to litigation risk, compliance strategy, and emerging business models, every session is designed for practitioners who are done with the basics and ready for what comes next.Day 1 features a full plenary format bringing all attendees into a shared set of conversations. The program opens with a keynote from a soon-to-be-announced speaker, followed by a focused look at the federal landscape - including rescheduling, hemp redefinition, and the evolving role of medicinal cannabis. That discussion will be complemented by a plenary panel featuring four state regulators, offering on-the-ground insight into how states are responding to hemp-related challenges and navigating shifting federal direction. The afternoon turns to the business and practice of cannabis law, including how the profession is evolving and what can be learned from other highly regulated industries.Day 2 introduces two concurrent tracks of continuing legal education, each reflecting the increasing specialization within cannabis law. One focuses on the practical realities of legal practice - from AI-driven ethical considerations to dispute resolution and corporate governance. The other examines key legal and policy developments, including enforcement, data privacy, real estate, and the rapidly evolving legal battle around adult-use hemp.“Cannabis remains one of the most dynamic and challenging areas of law today,” said David Ruskin, INCBA’s Board President. “The Cannabis Law Institute brings together the legal minds and industry leaders who are shaping the regulatory and business frameworks in real time. As the industry matures, so too must the sophistication of the legal strategies that support it - and CLI is where that evolution happens.”Spanning keynote discussions, panel sessions, and networking opportunities, the event will draw outside counsel, in-house attorneys, regulators, compliance professionals, and executives from across the cannabis ecosystem. At a time when federal reform remains uncertain and state-by-state frameworks continue to evolve, CLI2026 offers a critical forum for serious practitioners to exchange ideas, pressure test strategies, and stay ahead of what’s coming next.CLI2026 is made possible through the support of leading law firms, service providers, and industry partners committed to advancing legal excellence in cannabis. A limited number of sponsorship opportunities remain available for organizations seeking to align with the industry’s premier legal event.About the International Cannabis Bar AssociationThe International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA) is the leading non-partisan nonprofit and professional organization dedicated to the practice, policy, and business aspects of cannabis law. With an international membership, INCBA provides a platform for attorneys, regulators, and industry leaders to collaborate, educate, and advocate for the highest standards of legal excellence in the cannabis industry.For media inquiries or more information, please contact:Jordan Isenstadt
Marino PR
[email protected]
516-991-3842
Location & Hotels
Northwestern Pritzker School of Law
Each year, INCBA holds its annual event at a law school around the continental US. We search for a location that can support our growing numbers, but provide the intimate setting and academic influence that makes our members and attendees strive for legal excellence. We are thrilled to present the 2026 Cannabis Law Institute® at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law for just these reasons.
Get Directions
375 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, Illinois 60611-3069
Hotels
CLI2026 Block Pricing | Close to Venue
Chicago Marriott Downtown Magnificent Mile
540 Michigan Ave, Chicago, IL 60611
Hotel Saint Clair
Magnificent Mile
162 East Ontario Street, Chicago, IL 60611
CLI2026 Retail Price: $1,399
PREFERRED Price + Membership Bundle Instructions Below
MEMBER "PREFERRED": $999
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Pay CLI2026 Member Price
PREFERRED + MEMBERSHIP BUNDLE: $1,299
🎯 First year of membership included.
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Select Annual Attorney Membership (reg. $420)
Use Discount Code CLI26-300 at checkout
NON-MEMBER PREFERRED: $1,299
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Pay Same Price as Non-Member Early Bird
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How *Discount Code CLI26-300 is applied:
Annual Attorney Membership $420 $300 + Current CLI2026 Member "PREFERRED" Price $999 = Bundled Price $1,299
Need help? Email: [email protected]
*Discount code is only valid towards our Annual Attorney Membership.
Membership renews annually at regular price.
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