PITTSBURGH, PA – April 20, 2022 – Leech Tishman and the University of Pittsburgh School of Law (“Pitt Law”) are pleased to announce that Leech Tishman partner Michael H. Sampson, who co-leads the law firm’s Cannabis Industry Group, has been selected to teach Pitt Law’s inaugural “Cannabis in the Law” course this fall. The cutting-edge course, which Sampson designed in conjunction with Pitt Law, is one of the first such courses to be taught at a U.S. law school.

“It is no longer possible for a sophisticated commercial attorney to wall herself or himself off from the cannabis industry,” Sampson said. “What we would consider to be ‘mainstream’ businesses have entered this space. Many more ancillary businesses – such as architects, landlords, packaging companies, and insurance companies – interact routinely with this industry. As such, outside and/or in-house counsel representing ‘conventional’ companies – as well as ones advising plant-touching companies, such as cannabis dispensaries, growers, and processors – must understand the unique legal challenges the U.S. cannabis industry faces.”

This unique course is intended to help students understand those challenges, while also asking them to consider if and how established law can adapt to novel industries. The course will cover a wide range of topics affecting the cannabis industry, including, but not limited to, federalism, criminal law, state regulation and licensing, contracts, real estate, insurance, employment law, and academics and athletics.

Sampson regularly advises U.S. and international cannabis-related businesses, as well as ancillary businesses servicing the U.S. cannabis industry. He frequently helps clients in the state-compliant medical and adult-use cannabis, as well as the CBD and hemp markets, comply with U.S. federal law (in particular, the federal Controlled Substances Act), understand the potential for aiding-and-abetting liability, navigate the conflict between federal and state laws, adhere to applicable state regulations, and protect their contractual rights. Bridging his insurance coverage and cannabis law practices, Sampson also routinely assists cannabis dispensaries, REITs, and other cannabis-related businesses with various insurance coverage and risk management matters. Sampson was recently appointed as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Pitt Law.

“I could not be more excited to teach this course,” said Sampson. “I cannot say enough good things about Pitt Law, its commitment to this course, and the foresight it is demonstrating by offering it.”

The class, which is scheduled to be taught during the Fall 2022 semester, is already full.