Probably not, but the answer is uncertain.
More than thirty-three jurisdictions in the United States permit some type of marijuana sale and use. See Map of Marijuana Legality by State (as of June 2021). But, much of what these state and local jurisdictions permit remains illegal under the federal Controlled Dangerous Substances Act (codified in Title 21 of the United States Code). Presently, the federal government is not targeting distributors of marijuana in states that have legalized its use.
By way of history, in August 2013, the Obama Administration, through Deputy Attorney General James M. Cole, issued a “Guideline Regarding Marijuana Enforcement” to its United States Attorneys announcing that the Department would not enforce federal marijuana laws in states that have “legalized marijuana in some form.” See U.S. Dep’t of Justice August 29, 2013 Memorandum on Guidance Regarding Marijuana Enforcement (“Cole Memo”). In 2014, Congress then adopted legislation prohibiting the Department of Justice from using appropriated funds to prevent states from implementing state laws permitting the distribution and use of medical marijuana. See The Rohrabacher Amendment. On January 4, 2018, however, the Trump Administration issued a memorandum declaring that “previous nationwide guidance specific to marijuana enforcement is unnecessary and is rescinded, effective immediately.” See U.S. Dep’t of Justice January 4, 2108 Memorandum on Marijuana Enforcement. More recently, the Biden Justice Department has expressed disinterest in aggressively enforcing federal marijuana laws. See Biden AG Stresses That Marijuana Use In Legal States Is Not A Justice Department Priority | Marijuana Moment (May 4, 2021). But federal statutory law remains unchanged.
The Problem for Lawyers
That marijuana distribution remains a crime under federal law presents a problem to lawyers who would like to advise their clients as to marijuana sale and use. Both the ABA Model Rules of Professional Conduct and the Louisiana Rules of Professional Conduct in their respective rule 1.2(d) prohibit a lawyer from counseling a client to engage, or assisting a client, “in conduct that the lawyer knows is criminal.” See La. Rules of Prof’l Cond. R. 1.2(d). While the rule allows a lawyer to discuss the “legal consequences” of any proposed course of conduct and to make a “good faith effort to determine the validity, scope, meaning or application of the law,” id., it simply does not allow a lawyer to assist a drug-distribution operation by, for example, drafting contracts with vendors, transporters, suppliers, and the like.
Other States’ Solutions
Because of this problem, several jurisdictions have amended their lawyer-conduct standards to expressly permit lawyers to provide advice to clients engaged in marijuana distribution that is criminal under federal law. In July 2021, the New York State Bar Association published an ethics opinion opining that lawyers may counsel clients engaged in recreational marijuana business. See N.Y. Formal Opinion 1225 (2021). The New York opinion also advises that a lawyer may use marijuana for recreational purposes and may, when the Recreational Marijuana law becomes effective, cultivate an authorized amount of marijuana plants at home for personal use.
Similarly, in 2018 California amended the comments to California Rule 1.2.1 (“Advising or Assisting the Violation of Law”) to address this issue. The comment provides as follows:
Paragraph (b) permits a lawyer to advise a client regarding the validity, scope, and meaning of California laws that might conflict with federal or tribal law. In the event of such a conflict, the lawyer may assist a client in drafting or administering, or interpreting or complying with California laws, including statutes, regulations, orders, and other state or local provisions, even if the client’s actions might violate the conflicting federal or tribal law. If Califronia law conflicts with federal or tribal law, the lawyer must inform the client about related federal tribal law and policy and under certain circumstances may also be required to provide legal advice to the client regarding the conflict. (See rules 1.1 and 1.4.).
See Admin. Order 2018-09-26-01, Supreme Court of California (filed Ca. Sep. 26, 2018).
Louisiana?
What’s a Louisiana lawyer to do? In May 2016, the Louisiana Legislature adopted legislation permitting the cultivation, distribution, and use of medical marijuana. LSU and Southern University now have grow houses and cultivation facilities. Will Louisiana lawyers be able to provide them with legal advice to further their efforts? More recently, in June 2021, Louisiana decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana. See Louisiana: Marijuana Decriminalization Legislation Signed into Law (Jun. 15, 2021).
In 2016, the Louisiana State Bar Association’s Rules of Professional Conduct Committee debated the issue and declined to recommend an amendment to the Louisiana rules that would have permitted lawyers to give legal advice to LSU and Southern regarding marijuana cultivation and distribution. In so doing, the committee respected the basic federalism principle of supremacy embodied in Article VI § 2 of the United States Constitution. Indeed, if the State of Louisiana were to permit racial discrimination in the workplace in violation of federal civil rights laws, the rules would not allow a lawyer to advise a restaurant as to how to refuse to hire African-American waiters. Allowing advice regarding illicit marijuana cultivation and distribution would have been just as unacceptable in our federal system.
If you disagree, write to your Congressman.
