Sean Hocking
Head of News - Founder
Cannabis Law Report is published and edited by Sean Hocking.
Sean has worked in the legal publishing industry for 25 years
In the late 80’s and early 90’s he worked for Law Book Company & Point of Law In Sydney. On moving to London he worked for Legalease UK ( the creator of the Legal 500 series, the law awards concept & Legal Business magazine) as their international print media sales director.
On returning to Australia in 1998 Sean created Australia’s first independent online legal news website for legal information professionals , Excata.com. This platform was subsequently sold to Lexis Nexis and Sean was hired to manage the Lexis Nexis’ then new online team for legal media and awards. On leaving the company in late 2001 he subsequently launched the publication Law Librarians News and the website Practicesource.com.
Practicesource.com and Cannabis Law Report are owned by Godge City Investments a registered Australian company.
Rod Kight
Contributor
Rod Kight attorney represents businesses in the cannabis industry in the US and internationally. He consults, assists with strategic planning, advises on compliance issues, and offers a full array of business services to the cannabis sector, including hemp, CBD and other cannabinoids, medical marijuana, and adult use marijuana.
Rod also drafts legislation for governments and promotes cannabis in lawful international markets.
Lisa Pittman
Contributor
Lisa Pittman focuses on litigation, regulatory compliance, and corporate matters. Throughout Ms. Pittman’s 25-year career, she has litigated and tried disputes relating to labor & employment, breach of contract, commercial banking, fraud, fiduciary duty, construction defect and injury, deceptive trade practices, premises liability, professional liability, and products liability. She also possesses extensive expertise in complex commercial insurance coverage matters, having both defended insurance companies and advocated for policy holders in commercial property, residential property, and life insurance matters.
Ms. Pittman is a pioneering figure in the emerging legalized hemp/cannabis industry in Texas. Ms. Pittman is an appointee to the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Industrial Hemp Advisory Council. She is also a non-resident fellow of the Drug Policy Program at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Ms. Pittman presented the American Bar Association’s first marijuana law CLE at its annual meeting in New York City in 2017, resulting in the creation of the American Bar Association’s Task Force on Cannabis Law and Policy, and she is the Chair of the American Bar Association’s Cannabis Law & Policy Committee for 2021-2022.
June McLoughlin
Contributor
June McLaughlin is Professor & Paralegal Studies Program Director at Irvine Valley College in Orange County, CA. She teaches business law and paralegal studies courses. In 2019, IVC’s Paralegal Studies program received ABA approval. Professor McLaughlin has taught Sales, Securities Regulation, and Cannabis Law and Policy at University of La Verne College of Law. She has taught at the undergraduate level in the US and the UK.
June is currently on sabbatical writing a cannabis business &
law related title for publication in late 2022
Prior & Other Roles
Arbitrator – Financial Industry Regulatory Authority – 1997 – Present
Securities Arbitrator in NY, LA, Philadelphia and London
Editor in Chief – Journal of Law, Business & Ethics – 2014 – Dec 2020
Member of the Board – Hope Center for the Arts – Mar 2015 – Present
Hope is a multi-faceted fine arts program for adults with
intellectual disabilities designed to serve individuals
showing talent, interest or motivation in the arts.
Equity Trader sell side – Legg Mason – Aug 1985 – Jul 1991
Aaron Pelley
Contributor
Aaron Pelley is a veritable celebrity in both his achievements as a lawyer, and advocate of cannabis business for over a decade. Having made sizable contributions to the foundation of legal protections surrounding medicinal cannabis law, his passion in this new realm of law drove him forward. This saw the creation of Cultiva and the subsequent creation of a boutique law firm that lies on the pulse of current cannabis law. Aaron is unafraid of change and willing to live on the tip of the spear his entire career. He’ll greet any challenge you present to him with open arms.
In addition to representing cannabis clients and their business interests, Aaron has earned a reputation for effective high-profile litigation. His representative cases convey his ability to handle a diversity of complex legal matters. He has also been invited to speak at Legal Education Seminars and Cannabis Conferences throughout the U.S. and has been repeatedly named a “Rising Star” by Super Lawyers and a Top 100 Trial Lawyer by the National Trial Lawyers. Aaron is personally and professionally passionate about advancing the interests of a legitimate and integrous cannabis industry, establishing and enforcing equitable relationships among business partners, and supporting and promoting the end of the war on cannabis.