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.)
View past CLI Events
CLI2026 Program 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.
Day 2 — Thursday, June 18
Two Parallel Tracks
Day 2 splits into two concurrent tracks running simultaneously throughout the day. Choose the track that fits your practice — or attend both via on-demand access after the event. No FOMO required.
Track 1 — Practicing Law in the Cannabis Industry
Morning Sessions
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Track Lead: Jill Cohen
Partner, Verrill
The 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.
Afternoon Sessions
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Track Lead: Daniel Molina
Associate Attorney, Vicente LLP
The 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.
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Track 2 — Developments in Law and Policy
Morning Sessions
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Track Lead: Kyle Finnegan
Partner, Ice Miller LLP
Running 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.
Afternoon Sessions
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Track Lead: Steve Schain
Senior Counsel, Smart Counsel
The 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.
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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.
MEET THE SPEAKERS
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 Association
The 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
jisenstadt@marinopr.com
516-991-3842
