Key People
PAUL LEWIN
BARRISTER & SOLICITOR
Paul Lewin has been a lawyer in Toronto and across Canada for over 27 years. He practices with Lewin & Sagara LLP in Toronto: http://www.lewinsagara.ca/ His focus concerns litigation and consultation on matters related to cannabis and psychedelics.
Paul has fought cannabis issues at all levels of the Ontario Courts and in other provinces. He litigated the constitutionality of the religious use of cannabis establishing a freedom of religion breach. He challenged the medical cannabis doctor-as- gatekeeper rules under the Medical Marihuana Access Regulations. He challenged the constitutionality of the limited cannabis strain choice under the Medical Marihuana Access Regulations. He challenged the constitutionality of the cannabis extraction rules under the Marihuana for Medical Purposes Regulations. At the Ontario Court of Appeal, his court challenge to the cannabis grower privacy laws ended the ongoing privacy breaches in which the police would access, without warrant, hydro consumption records of cannabis growers. His most recent ruling is R v. Howell 2020 ABQB 385 at the Alberta Queens Bench is the first case to successfully strike down the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations as unconstitutional due to serious infringements of the rights of medical cannabis patients. You can read the ruling here:https://www.canlii.org/en/ab/abqb/doc/2020/2020abqb385/2020abqb385.html
Paul was on the Board of Directors of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Canada (NORML Canada) http://www.norml.ca advocating for cannabis reform from 2011 to 2020. He spearheaded advocacy campaigns across the country including a national ranking of politicians on their cannabis positions. He lobbied politicians at all levels of government. He has spoken at cannabis events, he has moderated cannabis policy discussions and he has been interviewed dozens of times in the media on cannabis policy. Paul has advised doctors, lawyers, politicians, and the police on cannabis laws and cannabis policy.
Paul has advised medical professionals across Canada on laws and regulations in the psychedelic industry. Paul has a deep understanding of the developing psychedelic legal landscape. The medicinal use of psychedelics is following a similar path as the early regulation of medicinal cannabis. Paul knows this road well. He has litigated issues related to s. 56 of the CDSA. Paul advises widely on the laws and regulations within the psychedelic industry.
JACK LLOYD
BARRISTER & SOLICITOR
Jack Lloyd is a Cannabis lawyer practicing across Canada excluding Quebec. He articled with Paul Lewin at Lewin & Sagara LLP, a prominent cannabis law firm in Toronto. After finishing articling he joined Kirk Tousaw at Tousaw Law Corporation (https://www.tousawlaw.ca) where he worked as an Associate until the firm closed in 2018 at which time he began Lloyd Law Professional Corporation where he is now the principal lawyer.
Tousaw Law Corporation was Canada’s foremost cannabis litigation boutique and was the firm responsible for R v Smith 2015 SCC 34 (https://www.canlii.org/en/ca/scc/doc/2015/2015scc34/2015scc34.html) which was the per curiam decision from the Supreme Court of Canada which legalized cannabis edibles (and other extracts and derivative medicines) for medical cannabis patients in Canada. His practice consists primarily of criminal and constitutional litigation relating to medical cannabis regulation as well as consultancy work relating to the cannabis industry and the emergent issues surrounding psilocybin for medical purposes.
He has appeared at all levels of court in Ontario and British Columbia, as well as the Supreme Court of Canada, always in relation to cannabis. Prior to becoming a lawyer, he was the editor at Green Candy Press, the world’s largest publisher of books about the cannabis plant and psilocybin mushrooms. He continues to edit select titles for Green Candy Press, including an update to Greg Green’s seminal book on cannabis genetics, The Cannabis Breeder’s Bible, as well as several cannabis and psilocybin cookbooks, including The Ganja Kitchen Revolution https://www.amazon.ca/Ganja-Kitchen-Revolution-Cannabis-Cuisine/dp/1937866009/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=ganja+kitchen+revolution&qid=1607780249&sr=8-1and Marijuana Chef Cookbookhttps://www.amazon.ca/Marijuana-Chef-Cookbook-S-Oner/dp/193786619X/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=as well as the Psilocybin Chef Cookbook https://www.amazon.ca/Psilocybin-Chef-Cookbook-Dr-Mandrake/dp/1937866416/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=psilocybin+chef+cookbook&qid=1607780343&s=books&sr=1-2. In 2016 he edited The Psilocybin Mushroom Bible: The Definitive Guide to Growing and Using Magic Mushrooms: https://www.amazon.ca/Psilocybin-Mushroom-Bible-Definitive-Mushrooms/dp/1937866289/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=psilocybin+mushroom+bible&qid=1607780161&sr=8-2which was the first book on psilocybin mushroom cultivation released in over a decade. He is the President of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws in Canada (NORML Canada) where he advocates for sensible regulations concerning cannabis in Canada (www.norml.ca).
MICHAEL STAROGIANNIS
Michael has practiced as a business consultant for the last 6 years assisting small companies and start-ups with business plans, business strategy, corporate development, financial modelling, and corporate governance. Prior to business consulting, Michael worked for almost 10 years as an investment analyst in the resource sector, working for a number of Toronto based investment banks where his work involved the methodical screening and valuation of projects, management teams, and companies. Michael also has experience in residential and commercial construction having worked as 4 years as a general contractor/builder. Prior to his time on Bay Street Mike practiced as a professional engineer in the mining and heavy civil infrastructure sectors.
Michael brings over 24 years of experience in various capacities of analysis, design, governance, and project management to bear on behalf of the firm’s clients to refine business plans, perfect license applications, and advance entrepreneurial projects from concept to reality. Much of Michael’s professional career has been spent in the field, interacting with contractors, subcontractors, trades peoples, design professionals, and technical specialists. This experience is applied daily on behalf of the firm’s clients.
DANIEL PERLIN
Daniel Perlin is a corporate commercial lawyer with over ten years of experience. He is a member of the Law Society of Ontario and the New York State Bar. He holds a Masters in Business Administration in addition to his law degree.
He is the principal lawyer at Guardian Legal Consultants in Toronto, a boutique business and litigation law firm that offers individuals and businesses creative and effective legal solutions in a wide variety of areas https://www.guardianlc.com
Daniel worked previously for a large corporate law firm where he dealt with major corporate transactions. He left law and pursued a career in finance for a large American bank.
Daniel brings his experience and knowledge to bear for Cannabis and Psychedelics Law Group LLP to assist with all facets of your business. He has deep knowledge of the issues and concerns facing start-ups. His goal is to work with start-ups every step of the way to ensure that all the legal provisions are in and safeguards are in place, so that the founders can focus on one thing – growing their cannabis or psychedelics company. Whether an entrepreneur needs to get incorporated and organized, have the organizational agreements prepared, or help facilitate funding to make sure their rights and interests are protected, Daniel is here to help.
JASDEEP BAL
Jasdeep is the lead litigation lawyer at Cannabis and Psychedelics Law Group. Jasdeep has extensive experience in insurance coverage, product liability, municipal law, regulatory law, shareholder disputes, commercial litigation and property disputes. He provides holistic advice with a view of finding a practical solution for his clients, and often weaves together bespoke legal services that blends his experience across various fields. He uses his experience and knowledge of the law to achieve a cost-effective solution, often without resorting to litigation, while being ever ready to fight for his clients in the courtroom.
Jasdeep is also the principal litigation lawyer at Guardian Legal Consultants, a boutique law firm that offers creative, effective, and practical legal solutions across litigation, corporate, employment, and real estate law.