Minnesota
Wisconsin
South Dakota
North Dakota
J.D., University of California - Hastings College of the Law
B.A., University of Wisconsin - Madison
Overview
Jason Tarasek serves as counsel at Vicente LLP and manages the firm's Minnesota office. He assists hemp, cannabinoid, medical marijuana and adult-use cannabis clients throughout the Upper Midwest. With over 20 years of legal experience as a transactional attorney and litigator, he has handled hundreds of civil litigation matters and first-chaired several trials in state and federal courts throughout the Upper Midwest. Recently, Jason recovered nearly $2 million for cannabis entrepreneurs who had been defrauded by potential investors.
As a cannabis policy advocate, Jason has spent many hours at the Minnesota State Capitol. In 2022, Jason successfully lobbied in favor of Minnesota’s “hemp-derived THC” law, working closely with Majority Leader Ryan Winkler, Rep. Heather Edelson, Republican senators, and a team of other talented lobbyists to draft and negotiate the terms of the groundbreaking legislation. In 2023, he advocated for Minnesota’s passage of an adult-use cannabis bill. Over several months, Jason worked closely with chief bill authors Sen. Lindsey Port, Rep. Zack Stephenson and legislative staff to fine-tune the landmark legislation. In 2024, he has continued to advocate for sensible policy as the state implements the adult-use cannabis program while expanding Minnesota’s trailblazing hemp-derived THC beverage industry.
Previously, Jason served as Minnesota Political Director for the Marijuana Policy Project, where he helped draft legislation to legalize adult-use marijuana in Minnesota and helped guide the bill to the state’s first-ever legislative hearing on a cannabis legalization bill in 2019. He is also a former board member of the Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota.
Jason is a frequent speaker on legal issues related to hemp, cannabinoids, and marijuana, and has served as an adjunct professor at Mitchell Hamline Law School, where he co-taught a seminar titled “Marijuana and the Law.” He has been repeatedly named to the Super Lawyers list, an honor bestowed on only the top 5% of attorneys in Minnesota.
Jason received his J.D. from the University of California – Hastings College of the Law, and his B.A. from the University of Wisconsin – Madison. He is admitted to the state bar associations in Minnesota, Wisconsin, South Dakota, and North Dakota.
Experience
- Minnesota Cannabis Association, Board of Directors, 2019-2022
- Cannabis Industry Association of South Dakota, Board of Directors, 2020-2022
- Youth sports coach (basketball and baseball)
Recognition
- Super Lawyers: 2020-2024
- Named Twin Cities Business “100 to Watch” for 2023
Publications
Insights
- Co-author, "Minnesota’s Proposed Cannabis Legislation Would Provide Early-Mover Licensing Opportunities for Social Equity Business Applicants," March 12, 2024
- Author, "Minnesota Cannabis Regulators Announce Plans to Launch Adult-Use Dispensaries by Summer 2024," February 2, 2024
- Author, "Minnesota Cannabis Grant Programs Aim to Help Entrepreneurs Succeed and Promote Social Equity," October 23, 2023
Events
- Speaker, Cultivated Media, "Checking in on Minnesota's cannabis license lottery with Jason Tarasek,” Online, November 26, 2024
- Speaker, Minnesota Cannabis College, "S2:E6 - MN In the National Conversation with Jason Tarasek, Marcus's T-Break, and Bachelorette Chats,” Online, October 22, 2024
- Speaker, Northern Lights Podcast, "MN In the National Conversation with Jason Tarasek, Marcus's T-Break, and Bachelorette Chats,” Online, October 18, 2024
- Speaker, Chad Hartman Podcast, "Why are cannabis regulations so different between MN and WI?,” Online, October 15, 2024
- Speaker, The Great Midwest Hemp Fest 2024, "The Cost-Benefits of Cannabis Legalization in Wisconsin,” Madison, September 29, 2024
- Speaker, Cultivated Media, "Minnesota Cannabis: Understanding the market today and tomorrow,” Online, September 12, 2024
- Speaker, Minnesota CLE 2024 Cannabis Law Conference, "2024 Cannabis Legislative and Regulatory Update,” Online, July 31, 2024
- Speaker, Minnesota CLE 2024 Cannabis Law Conference, "How to Start a Cannabis Business - The Process, Overview and Applying for Licenses, Social Equity Applicants, Opening a Dispensary and More!,” Online, July 31, 2024
- Speaker, Minnesota CLE 2024 Cannabis Law Conference, "Everything You Need to Know About the Hemp Business in a Nutshell & Preparing Your Products for Regulatory Food and Safety Oversight,” Online, July 31, 2024
- Speaker, Minnesota CLE 2024 Cannabis Law Conference, "Ask the Experts: Cannabis Open Forum for Q&A,” Online, July 31, 2024
- Speaker, Minneapolis City of Lakes Rotary Club Women's Club, "Cannabis Law and Policy,” Minneapolis, June 12, 2024
- Speaker, Vicente LLP, "Minnesota Cannabis Business Licensing Opportunities and Updates to the Regulated Program,” Online, May 30, 2024
- Speaker, Lucky Leaf Expo Minnesota, "Budding Opportunities: Setting Up Your Cannabis Business in Minnesota,” Minneapolis, April 27, 2024
- Speaker, Minnesota Municipal Beverage Association (MMBA), "2024 MMBA Annual Conference,” Alexandria, April 21, 2024
- Speaker, Minnesota Festival and Events Association (MNFEA) 2024 Annual Conference, "The Legalization of Cannabis & Events,” St. Louis Park, March 22, 2024
- Speaker, 18th Annual Appellate Practice Institute, "What Appellate Attorneys Need to Know About Cannabis - Regulatory Framework, Issues on Appeals, Impact on Criminal Law and Expungements,” Minneapolis, February 23, 2024
- Speaker, 2024 Cannabis Law Update, "Cannabis Chronicles: Updates and Insights ,” Minneapolis, February 16, 2024
- Speaker, 2024 Cannabis Law Update, "Top 10 Questions to Ask a Cannabis Attorney,” Minneapolis, February 16, 2024
- Speaker, Vicente LLP Minnesota Hemp & Cannabis Seminar, "How to succeed in Minnesota’s current hemp-derived THC market while preparing for upcoming adult-use cannabis opportunities.,” Minneapolis, October 19, 2023
- Speaker, Annual Convention of the Wisconsin Land Title Association , "Cannabis around us –Wisconsin's neighbors are beginning to legalize cannabis. What does that mean for Wisconsin?,” Wisconsin, September 14, 2023
- Speaker, Ramsey County Law Library CLE, "Upcoming changes in the law with the Cannabis legalization,” , August 09, 2023
- Speaker, Minnesota Cannabis Law Conference 2023, "The ABCs of Cannabis – What You Need to Know About Cannabis, Marijuana, Hemp, and THC to Understand the Impact of the New Cannabis Legislation,” Minneapolis, July 31, 2023
- Speaker, Minnesota Board of Dentistry , "Public Board Meeting,” Online, July 14, 2023
- Speaker, Trail Magic Retailer Party, "Discussion of Minnesota's new adult-use cannabis legalization bill,” Minneapolis, June 12, 2023
In the Media
- CBS News Minnesota, "State regulators sue Twin Cities cannabis retailer for illegally selling marijuana without a license," November 15, 2024
- Cultivated Media, "What the 2024 elections results mean for cannabis | Cultivated Live [VIDEO]," November 6, 2024
- Minnesota Cannabis College, "S2:E6 - MN In the National Conversation with Jason Tarasek, Marcus's T-Break, and Bachelorette Chats," October 22, 2024
- Chad Hartman Podcast, "Why are cannabis regulations so different between MN and WI?," October 15, 2024
- Minnesota Star Tribune, "While Minnesota’s cannabis industry wades through regulations, Wisconsin’s accelerates without many," October 15, 2024
- Star Tribune, "Readers Write: Legal marijuana, guaranteed income, self-segregation in schools," August 17, 2024
- Minnesota Reformer, "Former Democratic operative settles $1.2 million debt with South Dakota cannabis growers," August 1, 2024
- CBS News, "What impact would reclassifying marijuana federally have on Minnesota cannabis businesses?," May 28, 2024
- MJBizDaily, "Minnesota lawmakers urged to approve adult-use marijuana cultivation," April 24, 2024
- CBS News Minnesota, "Will cannabis supply meet Minnesota's legal weed demand? Concerns are growing.," April 22, 2024