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Jessica C. McElfresh

Founder and Principal

McElfresh Law, Inc.


Jessica C. McElfresh of McElfresh Law, Inc. has worked in cannabis law and policy since 2010. 
She is the Chair of the International Cannabis Bar Association’s Professional Responsibility and 
Ethics Committee and a member of its Board of Directors.  Jessica focuses on local and state 
applications, land use, regulatory compliance, and business law.  She represents cannabis 
retailers, distributors, cultivators, manufacturers, and testing labs, as well as landlords and 
ancillary businesses.  She has guided clients through successful applications in jurisdictions such 
as the City of San Diego, La Mesa, and the County of San Diego.   


Jessica has authored or advised on nearly ten local ballot measures to regulate cannabis 
businesses.  Successes include Measure U in La Mesa and Measure V in Lemon Grove in 2016 
and Measure H in Encinitas in 2020.  As part of this work, Jessica has won writs of mandate at 
the local and appellate level to compel local governments and registrars of voters to accept 
petitions and count voter signatures. 


Jessica represents people facing discipline or loss of state and local licenses, particularly in the 
cannabis industry.  She began her career in criminal defense and continues to take select cases.  
Jessica has unique experience with the crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege and the 
duties of an attorney under investigation or facing criminal charges.   


Outside of her law practice, Jessica is an advocate for cannabis and broader drug policy reform.  
She is an advisory board member for A New PATH, an organization dedicated to promoting 
therapeutic rather than punitive drug policies.  Jessica served as a consultant for the American 
Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Northern California about how Proposition 64 affects 
criminal justice reform and individual rights.   


Jessica grew up in San Diego and graduated summa cum laude from Scripps College before 
attending the University of San Diego School of Law on a Dean’s Honor Scholarship.  She has 
spoken at conferences and taught continuing legal education classes for organizations and law 
schools including the National Cannabis Industry Association Business Summit & Expo, California Lawyers Associatoin,
Practicing Law Institute, International Cannabis Bar Association, San Diego County Bar 
Association, and University of San Diego School of Law.  Her publications include “Attorney 
Ethics and Cannabis: Conflicts of Laws, Conflicts of Interest, and Attorney-Client Privilege for 
Cannabis Practitioners” (CLA Real Property Journal Vol. 38, No. 4 2020).

 

Product Type
On Demand

Ethics


Average Rating:
   1
Categories:
Ethics |  Regulatory Rounds
Faculty:
Jessica C. McElfresh |  Sophia Cope |  Hannah Stitt |  Heather Segal
Duration:
60 minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
SKU:
INCBA072420ETOD
License:
Access for 6 month(s) after purchase.
Short Description:
This panel will cover not only the law and current developments, but also offer practical advice for traveling, consuming, and securing privilege while practicing cannabis law.
Price:
$75.00 - Non Member Price

Product Type
On Demand

Average Rating:
   3
Bundle:
INCBA’s Cannabis Law Crash Course Bundle | CLI2022 On-Demand
Categories:
Business of Law |  Mindfullness |  Regulations
Faculty:
Jessica C. McElfresh |  Joslin E. Monahan |  Tom Firestone
Duration:
1 Hour 25 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
SKU:
INCBA072022KYCOD
License:
Access for 6 month(s) after purchase.
Short Description:
In this CLE, you will learn about best practices and how to avoid common pitfalls in the rules of professional conduct. The panel will also provide an update on current proposals growing out of the at...
Price:
$75.00 - Non Member Price

Product Type
On Demand

Average Rating:
   9
Bundle:
Litigation Symposium 2023 On-Demand Bundle
Categories:
Litigation
Faculty:
Daniel Koffmann |  Jessica C. McElfresh |  Amy McGahan
Duration:
55 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
SKU:
INCBA032023crisisOD
License:
Access for 6 month(s) after purchase.
Short Description:
Crisis communications for cannabis companies; media messaging; attorney-client privilege with consultants and public relations companies
Price:
$75.00 - Non Member Price

Product Type
On Demand

Average Rating:
   6
Bundle:
Litigation Symposium 2023 On-Demand Bundle
Categories:
Litigation
Faculty:
Leo J. Hurley, Jr. |  Jessica C. McElfresh |  Tom Haren
Duration:
1 Hour 1 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
SKU:
INCBA032123investigationsOD
License:
Access for 6 month(s) after purchase.
Short Description:
To successfully navigate a government investigation of a licensed cannabis client, an attorney needs to assess which government agency (or agencies) is conducting the investigation, what are the poten...
Price:
$75.00 - Non Member Price

Product Type
On Demand

Average Rating:
   4
Bundle:
Litigation Symposium 2023 On-Demand Bundle
Categories:
Litigation |  Ethics
Faculty:
Jessica C. McElfresh |  Michelle Mabugat |  Deborah Wolfe |  Katy Young
Duration:
1 Hour 2 Minutes
Format:
Audio and Video
SKU:
INCBA032123privilegeOD
License:
Access for 6 month(s) after purchase.
Short Description:
Maintain privilege while representing an entity client amid overinvolved founders; parent and subsidiary litigation; and mergers and acquisitions.
Price:
$75.00 - Non Member Price

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