Ryan Hurley is the Chairman of the Cannabis Practice Group and affectionately known as the “Father of Cannabis Law” in Arizona. His practice has been focused on the business of legal cannabis since 2010. Before recently rejoining the firm, Ryan was General Counsel at Copperstate Farms, and Sol Flower Dispensaries. Copperstate is the largest grower in AZ (one of the largest cannabis growers in the country) and is vertically integrated with nine Sol Flower branded retail cannabis dispensaries in AZ. As General Counsel, Ryan helped the company grow from its inception to its current position as a leader in market share with nearly 600 employees. At Copperstate/Sol Flower he managed overall company compliance, HR/employment issues, contracting, capital and debt raises, mergers/acquisitions/dispositions, joint ventures and special projects, entity/board management, risk management and litigation strategy.

Ryan has been involved in AZ’s cannabis industry since the very beginning, assisting clients with all aspects of AZ’s marijuana law but primarily focusing on the business of cannabis. He is a frequent presenter at marijuana seminars and conferences throughout the country and is a tireless advocate for marijuana reform and for marijuana patients and businesses in myriad interviews and appearances on TV, print and radio. Mr. Hurley was also deeply involved in the 2016 and 2020 initiatives to legalize adult-use cannabis in AZ and the subsequent regulatory rules. Ryan is one of the founding members and former board member of the National Cannabis Industry Association and a former Vice President of the Arizona Dispensaries Association, of which he is also a founding member. Ryan has been committed to the entire cannabis space from day one and continues to be a thought leader for this emerging industry.

Prior to his focus on the cannabis space, Ryan’s legal background started with land use and zoning law, environmental and water issues, renewable energy and a wide variety of regulatory compliance and administrative law issues. Along with his law degree Ryan has a Bachelor’s of Science in Environmental Science from the University of Arizona College of Agriculture.

In addition to his interest in cannabis, Ryan has an interest in advancing legal therapeutic psychedelics, and is deeply fascinated with blockchain, decentralized finance (de-fi), digital autonomous organizations (DAOs), web3 and metaverse applications and their nearly limitless potential to revolutionize the world.