Overview

Lauren Mendelsohn is a partner at Vicente LLP's California office, where she advises clients on transactional matters, civil disputes, and complex regulatory frameworks. Known for her passion for social justice and policy reform, Lauren brings a thoughtful and advocacy-driven approach to her work across the cannabis industry and beyond.

Before joining Vicente, Lauren worked at the Law Offices of Omar Figueroa in Sebastopol, California, where she represented a wide range of businesses and individuals navigating legal issues in the emerging cannabis market.

Lauren earned her B.S. in Psychology from the University of Maryland – College Park, where she made the Dean’s List, joined the honors fraternity Phi Sigma Pi, and became active in drug policy reform through Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP). She received her J.D. from the University of California – Irvine School of Law, where her dedication to justice and equity shaped her legal foundation.

Deeply engaged in her community, Lauren currently serves on the Boards of Directors for the Petaluma People Services Center and California NORML, and volunteers with her local ACLU chapter. She has previously served as a board member for the Sonoma County Cannabis Alliance, SSDP, and the Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey.

Lauren is a certified Ganjier and mediator, a proud Emerald Cup judge, and an enthusiastic supporter of the arts and outdoor adventure. 

Experience

Leadership & Community Involvement

• Board Member, Petaluma People Services Center, 2024 – Present
• Board Member, California NORML, 2022 – Present
• Board Member, Círculos, Inc., 2022 – Present
• Advisory Committee Member, Americans for Safe Access (California), 2022 – Present
• Chapter Leader, American Civil Liberties Union of Sonoma County, 2021 – Present
• Board Member, International Cannabis Bar Association, 2020 – 2022
• Member, National Cannabis Industry Association, 2016 – Present
• Committee Member, DEIC Committee, National Cannabis Industry Association, 2019 – 2020
• Board Member, Sonoma County Cannabis Alliance, 2018 – Present
• Board Member, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, 2014 – 2017
• Ex Officio Trustee, Board of Trustees, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, 2014 – 2017
• Girl Liaison, Board of Directors, Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey, 2007 – 2008

Recognition

• Certified Ganjier (2024 - present)
• “40 Under Forty” - North Bay Business Journal (2024)
• SuperLawyers® Northern California Rising Star (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024)
• Sonoma Magazine Lawyer of Distinction, Intellectual Property (2021, 2022)
• North Bay Bohemian “Best of” Reader’s Choice Awards, Member of Winning Law Firm (multiple years)
• Official Judge for The Emerald Cup (2021, 2022, 2024)
• Certified Mediator (2017 - present)
• Girl Scout Gold Award (2009)

Publications

External Publications

• Author, "Cannabis Consumption Lounges Face Unique Liability Risks", Law360, August 11, 2023
• Author, "How Cannabis Companies Can Prepare for Disasters", California NORML Blog, November 9, 2020
• Author, "Cannabis Operators are Community Members Too", Sonoma County Gazette, March 27, 2018
• Op-Ed, "California is Finally Going to Legalize: Here Are Seven Reasons Why Prop. 64 Is a Great Way to Do It", The Influence, November 3, 2016
• Op-Ed, "Federal Marijuana Laws Keep Medical Pot From The Veterans Who Need It", Long Beach Gazette Newspapers, November 13, 2015
• Op-Ed, "Repeal the Federal Ban on Funding Needle Exchanges", UCI Law’s The Voice, 2015
• Op-Ed, "Why I Fight Against the Drug War", UCI Law’s The Voice, 2014
• Op-Ed, "The Need for Action with Marijuana Reform", The Diamondback, December 5, 2012
• Op-Ed, "Reclassifying Marijuana", The Diamondback, October 23, 2012
• Op-Ed, "‘Rape is no excuse,’ Republican Party Says", The Diamondback, August 28, 2012
• Op-Ed, "Drugs and Crime: A Visit to the United Nations", The Diamondback, July 3, 2012
• Op-Ed, "Naloxone: The Underrated Lifesaver", The Diamondback, April 1, 2012
• Op-Ed, "NYPD Surveillance of Muslims: Simply Unethical", The Diamondback, March 4, 2012
• Op-Ed, "Human Rights vs. Personhood", The Diamondback, November 13, 2011
• Op-Ed, "A Curious Crackdown on Medical Marijuana", The Diamondback, October 16, 2011
• Op-Ed, "It’s Time to Expand the Good Samaritan Policy", The Diamondback, August 30, 2011
• Op-Ed, "The War on Drugs Hits Home", The Diamondback, January 7, 2011

Events

• Speaker, Bay Area MCLE Conference, "“Reclassification of Marijuana”,” Online , November 19, 2024
• Speaker, California State Fair, "“Cannabis Policy in California: Where Did We Come From, Where Are We Now and Where Are We Going?” ,” Sacramento , July 28, 2024
• Speaker, ADR Services, Inc. , "“Cannabis Crossover: How Cannabis Issues can Crop Up onto Civil Counsel's Caseload” ,” Online , May 22, 2024
• Presenter, California NORML Webinar, "“Cannabis Consumption Lounges and Events” ,” Online , January 20, 2024
• Presenter, California NORML Webinar, "“New Law (AB 1186) Requiring Local Jurisdictions to Allow Medical Deliveries” ,” Online , January 20, 2024
• Speaker, California State Fair Cannabis Exhibition , "“The Past, Present, and Future of Cannabis Reform in California” ,” Sacramento , July 23, 2023
• Presenter, California NORML Webinar, "“Leading Issues in California Cannabis Law and Policy”,” Online , August 25, 2022
• Presenter, 2022 Cannalaw Summit , "“Wine, Weed, and Terroir” ,” Online , May 05, 2022
• Speaker, International Cannabis Bar Association / NCIA Cannabis Business Summit, "“Cannabis Law Regulatory Rounds: Special Considerations in Licensing” ,” San Francisco, December 15, 2021
• Speaker, Marin County Bar Association Webinar, "“Cannabis Update: Current Issues and Laws”,” Online, November 18, 2021
• Speaker, MeetDelic Psychedelic Wellness Conference, "“How Big Money is (Already) Playing Psychedelics",” Las Vegas , November 07, 2021
• Presenter, Sonoma County Bar Association Webinar, "“Through the Weeds: An Update on Local, State and Federal Cannabis Laws” ,” Online , October 06, 2021
• Speaker, Cannabis Sustainability Symposium, "“A Window into the Future of Appellations” ,” Online , August 18, 2021
• Speaker, Wine & Weed Symposium, "“The Quantifiable Effect of Cannabis Tourism on Wine Country” ,” Santa Rosa , August 05, 2021
• Presenter, Sonoma County Bar Association Webinar, "“Hemp Law 101” ,” Online , May 28, 2020
• Speaker, Facebook Live Discussion, "“Women Empowered in Cannabis – Business Our Way: Conversation with Lauren Mendelsohn” ,” Online , April 09, 2020
• Speaker, International Cannabis Bar Association Webinar, "“COVID-19 and the Essential Business Designation”,” Online , March 31, 2020
• Presenter, NCIA California Cannabis Business Conference, "“Creating an Industry that Cares: Alternative Entity Types for Social Good",” Long Beach, October 08, 2019
• Speaker, International Cannabis Bar Association Cannabis Law Symposium, "“Getting Engaged: Influencing the Legislative and Regulatory Process” ,” New York , October 04, 2019
• Presenter, Sonoma County Growers Alliance Workshop, "“Proposition 65 Compliance for Cannabis Operators”,” Santa Rosa, August 29, 2019
• Speaker, 2019 Cannabis on the Coast, "“Cannabis Social Equity and Compassion Programs” ,” Mendocino, April 20, 2019
• Presenter, Marijuana Business Law in California NBI Seminar, " “Legal Best Practices for Marijuana Product Packaging and Testing”,” San Francisco, January 15, 2019
• Presenter, Sonoma County Bar Association Seminar, "“Cannabis Licensing and Regulatory Compliance” ,” Santa Rosa , December 12, 2018
• Presenter, Proposition 65 Educational Seminar & Cannabis Industry Mixer, "“Prop. 65: Occupational Exposure Warnings” ,” Santa Rosa , October 26, 2018
• Speaker, Local Sesh , "“Panel of Cannabis Industry Operators, Attorneys, and Other Professionals” ,” Santa Rosa, August 18, 2018
• Presenter, Mendocino Cannabis Resource Conference, "“Overview of License Types: Sourcing to Sale” ,” Mendocino, April 20, 2018
• Presenter, Women’s Cannabis Business Development Meeting, "“Current State of Cannabis Licensing in California and Sonoma County”,” Guerneville, March 27, 2018
• Presenter, “The Law of Cannabis” class, University of California, Irvine School of Law, "“Daily Life and Practice as a Cannabis Lawyer” ,” Irvine , February 20, 2018
• Presenter, 2018 California NORML Legal Seminar, "“MAUCRSA: California’s New Cannabis Law” ,” Oakland, February 17, 2018
• Speaker, Women Grow Leadership Conference, "“Know the Law Workshop” ,” Denver, February 02, 2018
• Presenter, CLE Seminar, "“Prop. 64 Relief for Marijuana Charges” ,” Sebastopol, January 25, 2018
• Presenter, Women’s Cannabis Business Development Meeting, "“Local and State Cannabis Overview”,” Santa Rosa, January 21, 2017
• Speaker, Students for Sensible Drug Policy Pacific Regional Conference, "“Beyond Legalization: Building an Inclusive Drug Policy Reform Movement”,” Santa Cruz, October 15, 2016
• Speaker, SSDP International Conference, "“Tools for Change: Using Strategic Litigation to Further Drug Policy Reform” ,” Portland, March 26, 2016
• Speaker, SSDP International Conference, " “Expungements, Sealing & Clemency: Learning the Options for Clearing Criminal Records” ,” Portland, March 26, 2016
• Presenter, Orange County NORML Meeting, "“The MMRSA: California’s New Medical Marijuana Regulations” ,” Huntington Beach, January 20, 2016
• Speaker, SSDP Pacific Regional Conference, "“Looking to the Future: Students’ Role in Legalization” ,” Fullerton, March 15, 2015
• Speaker, SSDP Conference, "“Getting the Word Out: Tips for Taking Over Campus Media” ,” Arlington, September 28, 2014
• Speaker, SSDP Conference, "“Alumni in the Cannabis Industry II: Building a Career Out of Your Reform Work” ,” Arlington, September 27, 2014