Will my work experience in the marijuana industry hurt or help? 171/3.36 Forum

sirstynkalot · Post by **sirstynkalot** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:26 pm

Hi all,

Time to start getting my application ready again. I'm reapplying after having been waitlisted by almost every school between numbers 5 and 15 for Fall 2014. Decided to work on my resume for a year instead of waiting on tenterhooks to see if one of the schools would take me.

The problem is I'm concerned about whether I should even bother including my current job on my resume. I'm an I-502 (legal recreational marijuana) grower and processor. I'm the head grower and did all of the planning, designs, and licensing. We're currently building in and if we stay anywhere close to our time schedule I should have staff trained and mostly worked myself out of a job by the end of next spring. Going to have to do a couple hours of consulting a week through law school but that shouldn't be a problem. Go back home every 6 months or so to give OSHA compliance training and be on call to answer questions about half-lives of different pesticides.

Will this hurt me in my T14 applications? I have no idea. I'm from Washington. It's less stigmatized here and we get some level of public trust just from the amount of regulations we have to work under. Local firms would KILL to get a recreational marijuana specialized lawyer, but for all I know the Duke admissions panel is going to see it quite differently.

As far as other softs go, I have some volunteer hours logged since I last applied, mostly in a local political campaign (county prosecutor's office). I also worked for two years coauthoring a book about a local police brutality trial. We're in the publishing process right now with that. I don't really know how those stack up in this whole process either.

Thanks a lot!

ilikebaseball · Post by **ilikebaseball** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:29 pm

That's a tough one. I mean... they are looking to diversify their class right? I'd be willing to bet you're the only legal pot grower in dukes applying class!

sirstynkalot · Post by **sirstynkalot** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:41 pm

I'd think so, lol. I believe there are less than 4,000 of us in the country and not many will be heading back to school a few months after their doors open. I just don't know if these schools want my kind of diversity or how much they'll weigh it if they do.

Ti Malice · Post by **Ti Malice** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 8:46 pm

choward014 wrote:That's a tough one. I mean... they are looking to diversify their class right? I'd be willing to bet you're the only legal pot grower in dukes applying class!

I don't think this is a "tough one." I can't imagine this being anything other than fatal to his admission chances, given that use, sale, and cultivation are still crimes under the CSA (the latter two being felonies with insane mandatory minimums).

OP, it's not an option to omit this from your employment history on your apps. You will probably fail C&F if you do, which means discovering that you just finished taking on hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt for a degree you can't actually use.

A. Nony Mouse · Post by **A. Nony Mouse** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:07 pm

I'm curious if Colorado or Washington have addressed this in their state bar requirements. I couldn't find anything from a quick google search, but I would contact the bar associations in those states and ask them whether someone in your position could be admitted (or other states that have legalized medical marijuana, since presumably someone has to grow the stuff for medical use).

I can see it being fatal, but I don't think it's quite as much a slam dunk as Ti Malice does, if you have in fact followed all state laws and regulations (on the grounds that if a state is going to allow you actually to grow marijuana legally, they shouldn't use that fact to bar you from admission to the bar - I know it's still illegal under federal law, but bar admission is governed by the individual states, and the states themselves have decided that state choice trumps).

Of course, that's admission to a very limited number of state bars, which doesn't translate automatically into law school admissions. Ti Malice is also correct that you can't simply leave it off your resume, so you might just cut to the chase and call the schools you're considering to ask directly, before you go to the trouble of applying.

Ti Malice · Post by **Ti Malice** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:16 pm

Yeah, I was going to edit to suggest calling the state bars before paying law school application fees to see if he could be admitted to practice after law school.

Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic here. Even if some state bars have no problems with it (which would surprise me, with the possible exceptions of WA and CO), I can still see most/all schools being skittish about his bar admission chances and dinging him on that basis.

I do hope I'm wrong, though.

The Dark Shepard · Post by **The Dark Shepard** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:32 pm

Hmm. You might be stuck with UW at a full ride at best(do they even give full rides though?)

A. Nony Mouse · Post by **A. Nony Mouse** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:39 pm

Ti Malice wrote:Yeah, I was going to edit to suggest calling the state bars before paying law school application fees to see if he could be admitted to practice after law school.

Maybe I'm being overly pessimistic here. Even if some state bars have no problems with it (which would surprise me, with the possible exceptions of WA and CO), I can still see most/all schools being skittish about his bar admission chances and dinging him on that basis.

I do hope I'm wrong, though.

You may totally be right - I don't know. I could make an argument why it shouldn't be held against him, but I have no idea whether it would fly in practice.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 9:48 pm

Post removed.

sirstynkalot · Post by **sirstynkalot** » Sun Jul 06, 2014 11:07 pm

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I'm already limited to schools in states that allow medical use of marijuana for intractable pain, which cuts the T14 in half. I'll start my bar queries there.

I hadn't realized it was such a doom and gloom situation. Such silliness. I get the feeling the ACLU's going to have a field day sooner or later over this issue.

03152016 · Post by **03152016** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 3:11 am

if you decide to move forward after doing all the due diligence mentioned above...

i wonder what everyone thinks about the possibility of him spinning this as a positive
if he can make a case for it through the ps
writing about taking a principled stand
tie his interest in law to fighting what he believes is an unjust prohibition
speak to the growing demand for lawyers specializing in an emerging field

idk thoughts

sirstynkalot · Post by **sirstynkalot** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 5:02 am

I was basically assuming if I applied to places where medical marijuana was legal then most of them would toss me out the door but a couple would see it the way you do, Brut. I was intending to go into public interest and use the side business income to supplement the abysmal pay, but on the other hand marijuana is likely to be federally rescheduled early in my career. We all know it's coming. I don't have to bring it about but I'd like to see it regulated in a way that protects consumer health. Not many lawyers are in a position to give advice to that end.

That's all assuming I'll be able to take the bar though. You guys were right about that. I should check on it soon.

And you can bet I'm moving forward with this. Been planning on going to law school since I was 12. That's going to happen. I like plants and know these ones pretty well but this isn't my final destination. Right now I'm just helping out on the family farm, as it were.

NYSprague · Post by **NYSprague** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 5:55 am

Don't assume you will be the only lawyer who can advise on the laws and regulations on medical marijuana. It doesn't sound like you expect much of a legal career, so maybe this won't be an issue. But you don't have to be a farmer to understand the rules.

I wouldn't expect to find many jobs open to you. If you do get through school and get admitted, will this hurt you in finding work?
I would be more concerned about that. With your numbers a school will take you.

You don't have any criminal convictions do you?

Crowing · Post by **Crowing** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 9:29 am

I'm with the posters who think this will be very bad for your chances. Somewhat relatedly, I know of somebody who lost all chances of an offer from MBB consulting for just expressing an interest in doing something like this before he started working. I can't imagine the legal profession is going to be any more accepting of the idea of essentially flipping off the feds.

But idk your best bet is probably to get in touch with schools beforehand and get their direct views on the matter.

sirstynkalot · Post by **sirstynkalot** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 5:51 pm

Oh man, NY. Thinking like that is what got us the QA processes we have now. Clunky and full of holes. The QA position in larger facilities is usually a full time gig requiring a graduate degree in microbiology and the product isn't nearly as clean as it could and probably should be. I've been consulting for some guy with a shiny new soil science PhD running a competitor's op, and let's just say the guy's in serious trouble. They just don't teach what you need in a classroom. You get it from long hours alone studying and by knocking a couple years off your life every time you make a mistake. Been stabbed, burned, electrocuted, poisoned, and gassed - all alone in my grow room. It's a hard business to get in to.

You have to remember, whoever writes these bills (or funds massive grows) doesn't know the first thing about growing, and our crop is regulated differently and has vastly different production techniques compared to every other one on the planet. They need specialty advice and feedback and as it stands the only place in the entire country they can get that from is the people they're trying to regulate (or supervise). How well do you think that's working? Then, on the flip side, there are literally hundreds of people in Washington right now who are failing their applications just because they can't manage the licensing and regulatory paperwork. Mom and pop shops staking the family farm and getting pushed out because they never did well in school. It's sick. Finally, how much do you think big tobacco would pay for a lawyer who is already experienced in QA and every compliance related aspect of the business? There are huge opportunities both for profit and good works in private practice in this new industry too. It just requires someone with a LOT of knowledge that you can only obtain if you have a severe medical disability.

Either way, I just gotta try and get my foot in the door. This is getting sidetracked. Thanks for all the help guys! I just checked with the WA bar and I at least won't fail that C&F test because of my participation in this business as long as I gained my knowledge legally and have operated in full compliance with relevant state and local laws. I'll have to see about other states.

Mullens · Post by **Mullens** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 6:02 pm

If you know so much about growing, why not just start a consulting or growing business and get a part-time jd or pay someone else to do your legal work? Surely someone will pay for your knowledge.

HRomanus · Post by **HRomanus** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 11:00 pm

sirstynkalot wrote:I hadn't realized it was such a doom and gloom situation. Such silliness. I get the feeling the ACLU's going to have a field day sooner or later over this issue.

Yes, such silliness. How silly of law schools to care that your entire job is a violation of federal law.

The Dark Shepard · Post by **The Dark Shepard** » Mon Jul 07, 2014 11:51 pm

HRomanus wrote:
sirstynkalot wrote:I hadn't realized it was such a doom and gloom situation. Such silliness. I get the feeling the ACLU's going to have a field day sooner or later over this issue.
Yes, such silliness. How silly of law schools to care that your entire job is a violation of federal law.

For however long that lasts.

fratstar1 · Post by **fratstar1** » Tue Jul 08, 2014 12:02 am

I know lawyers who have moved to Colorado in order to facilitate the legal mj biz, I guess by helping them getting incorporated & stuff. I don't know how relevant this is, but i know they found some success.

criminaltheory · Post by **criminaltheory** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 6:06 pm

Since everyone else here seems to be basing their opinions on nothing substantial, so I'll do the same but say go for it and go hard. Check in ahead of time with the schools and the state bars, but I think they'll be way less obnoxious about it than folks seem to think. Be upfront with and confident about your past like you've been in this thread and you'll sound like a forward thinking entrepreneur/risk taker. The bars are worried about moral character, and with no convictions I think you have a strong argument for passing C&F requirements in spite of not obeying a law. I'm not saying it'll be a breeze, and you might have to actually make the argument to a committee. But I wouldn't freak out; just do what has to be done.

I bet all these other posters freaking out about federal law never brought back a cigar from Europe and don't roll through stop signs.

Tanicius · Post by **Tanicius** » Sun Jul 13, 2014 6:12 pm

HRomanus wrote:
sirstynkalot wrote:I hadn't realized it was such a doom and gloom situation. Such silliness. I get the feeling the ACLU's going to have a field day sooner or later over this issue.
Yes, such silliness. How silly of law schools to care that your entire job is a violation of federal law.

I'd say that's pretty silly. A ton of lawyers were involved in setting up the state medical system and assigning their names to it. I doubt any of them have had their licenses pulled for doing that.

Ti Malice · Post by **Ti Malice** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 12:41 am

criminaltheory wrote:I bet all these other posters freaking out about federal law never brought back a cigar from Europe and don't roll through stop signs.

The first thing isn't even illegal, and I'm pretty sure the second doesn't involve federal mandatory minimum sentences of five or more years. Stupid post.

MistakenGenius · Post by **MistakenGenius** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:03 am

Post removed.

A. Nony Mouse · Post by **A. Nony Mouse** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 1:10 am

I find the varying responses to this really interesting. I honestly forget that people think medical marijuana is a big deal (or even recreational).

Ti Malice · Post by **Ti Malice** » Mon Jul 14, 2014 2:01 am

A. Nony Mouse wrote:I find the varying responses to this really interesting. I honestly forget that people think medical marijuana is a big deal (or even recreational).

I don't think cultivation and responsible use of marijuana for recreational purposes (much less medical purposes) is a big deal at all, morally speaking. Just observing that the federal government has a very different view, as represented in current law, and that this might impact how law schools and state bars see things. (Not saying that you were directing that comment at me.)