Overview

Michelle Bodian is a partner in Vicente LLP’s Boston and New York offices, where she is co-chair of the firm’s Hemp and Cannabinoids Department and is a leading member of the firm’s cannabis licensing and regulatory compliance efforts in Connecticut and New York. In addition, Michelle leads the firm’s Environment, Health & Safety practice group.

She advises hemp and cannabinoid clients on how to navigate through the complex and interconnected federal, state, and local regulatory frameworks. In addition, she counsels tri-state (Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey) clients on all aspects of cannabis licensing and regulatory matters. Her clients include existing medical operators throughout the tri-state, as well as businesses and individuals seeking new adult-use, medical, and cannabinoid hemp licenses.

Michelle also advises cannabis and hemp clients on environmental, health, and safety laws, both federal and state, through identification, prevention, mitigation, and resolution of relevant issues.

Before joining Vicente LLP, Michelle served as the land use counsel for the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources and was an associate at an environmental and real estate law firm in Milford, Connecticut before that.

Michelle is recognized as one of Boston's top lawyers by Boston magazine and made the Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch list for her Administrative / Regulatory Law work in Massachusetts. She is a member of the American Herbal Products Association Cannabis Committee and has spoken at many cannabis industry events. Michelle is often quoted in media publications related to the tri-state markets and has authored numerous articles on cannabis, hemp- and CBD-related topics. She also volunteers on her town's Zoning Board of Appeals.

She received her Juris Doctor from the University of Pittsburgh School of Law with an Environmental Law, Science, and Policy Certificate and received her Bachelor of Arts from Brandeis University. During law school, Michelle served as a legal intern for the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office in the Environmental Protection Division.

Experience

Leadership & Community Involvement

• Member, Cannabis Committee, American Herbal Products Association

Recognition

• Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, 2024-2025
• Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America®, Administrative / Regulatory Law, 2025
• Boston magazine, Boston's Top Lawyers, 2022

Publications

Insights

• Author, "Key Takeaways for the Hemp Industry from the House's Draft Text for 2023 Farm Bill and DEA's Proposed Rules to Reschedule Marijuana," May 17, 2024

• Co-author, "Can New York’s Illegal Cannabis Dispensaries Be Stopped? Governor Hochul Proposes a Solution," May 12, 2023

• Co-author, "Revised New York Adult-Use Cannabis Regulations: What You Need to Know," May 11, 2023

• Co-author, "DEA Proposes to Reschedule Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids," May 11, 2023

• Author, "Connecticut Adult Use Sales Open: How Much Will Customers Pay in Taxes?" January 10, 2023

• Co-author, "Tax Credits Available for Investing in Connecticut Cannabis Companies," November 15, 2022

• Co-author, "How to Run a Cannabis Dispensary in New York: Guidance for New York Adult-Use Retail Dispensaries," November 3, 2022

• Co-author, "How to Prepare for New York Cannabis License Applications: Helpful Tips and Lessons Learned from the Conditional License Application Process," October 18, 2022

• Co-author, "New York Cannabis Regulators Make the Environment a Top Priority for All Licenses," August 24, 2022

• Co-author, "New York Conditional Adult-use Cannabis Retail Dispensary Regulations Will Fast-track Licensing and Prioritize Justice Involved Individuals," August 16, 2022

• Co-author, "New York Adult-Use Retail Dispensary License Fortune Telling: Insights Gleaned from DASNY’s RFP," June 23, 2022

• Author, "CBD Cos. Must Beware COVID Claims Amid Gov't Scrutiny," June 15, 2022

• Co-author, "What Will Adult-Use Cannabis Products Look Like In New York? Draft Regulations Approved for Packaging, Labeling, Marketing and Advertising," June 2, 2022

• Co-author, "FDA Enforcement Action Targeted at Hemp-Derived Delta-8 Products," May 5, 2022

• Co-author, "Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Audit: What Cannabis Businesses Should Do After the Audit," May 2, 2022

• Co-author, "Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Audit: Tips for Cannabis Businesses on Audit Day," April 14, 2022

• Co-author, "Environment, Health & Safety (EHS) Audit: How Cannabis Businesses Can Prepare," April 7, 2022

• Co-author, "FDA Warns CBD Companies Making COVID-19 Claims: 7 Key Takeaways from the Latest CBD Product Warning Letters," March 30, 2022

• Co-author, "Connecticut Cannabis License Application Tips," March 18, 2022

• Co-author, "New York Conditional Adult-use Cannabis Retail Dispensary Regulations Will Fast-track Licensing and Prioritize Justice Involved Individuals," March 10, 2022

• Co-author, "New York Law Will Authorize Hemp Farmers and Processors to Cultivate and Process Cannabis," February 16, 2022

• Co-author, "What You Need to Know Before Connecticut Adult-Use Cannabis Licensing Applications Open," January 19, 2022

• Co-author, "10 Updates on New York’s Cannabis Market," January 18, 2022

• Co-author, "2014 Farm Bill Expiration: What Does it Mean for State Hemp Programs?" December 17, 2021

• Co-author, "Guide for Shipping Hemp and Hemp-Derived CBD Products," October 18, 2021

• Co-author, "Summary of New Jersey’s Adult Use Cannabis Regulations," August 24, 2021

• Co-author, "Change Over at the New York Governor’s Mansion: What Does it Mean for Adult-Use Cannabis?" August 11, 2021

• Author, "Key Aspects of Connecticut’s Recently Passed Adult-Use Cannabis Law," June 24, 2021

• Co-author, "New Hemp CBD Laws, Regulations, and Policies: June 2021 Update," June 15, 2021

• Co-author, "Massachusetts Cannabis Retailers Can Now Sell Hemp Products: What Retailers Need to Know," May 24, 2021

• Author, "CBD Product Regulation: States to Watch in 2021," February 10, 2021

• Co-author, "What Efforts Are Underway to Include Cannabis Businesses in COVID-19 Relief Packages?" January 28, 2021

• Author, "Notable Provisions From the USDA Final Rule for the U.S. Domestic Hemp Production Program," January 19, 2021

• Co-author, "5 Key Takeaways from the FTC CBDeceit Crackdown on CBD Businesses," December 23, 2020

• Author, "New York Releases Proposed Hemp Cannabinoid Regulations," October 29, 2020

• Co-author, "The 2014 Farm Bill Extension: What Does it Mean for the Hemp Industry?" October 20, 2020

• Co-author, "10 Events That Shaped the Massachusetts Cannabis Industry," October 19, 2020

• Co-author, "Lessons Learned from Recent Hemp and CBD Litigation: They Went to Court so You Can Stay Home," July 13, 2020

• Author, "Protecting Your CBD Business from Product Liability Lawsuits," March 9, 2020

• Co-author, "New Jersey's Hemp Program Opens the Door to Applicants," February 6, 2020

• Co-author, "New Law Regulates Hemp and Hemp Extracts in New York," December 19, 2020

• Co-author, "Hemp M&A Transactions: Diving into the Transferability of USDA-Issued Licenses," November 15, 209

• Co-author, "USDA Hemp Regulations: What Was Expected, Unexpected and Unanswered," October 30, 2019

• Co-author, "Key Takeaways from the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill," August 23, 2019

• Co-author, "Reflections on the 2018 Farm Bill," July 17, 2019

Events

• Speaker, Wine, Beer and Spirits Conference, "Cannabis and Hemp: Rescheduling, Further Legalization, Intoxicating Hemp Beverages, and More,” Denver, October 09, 2024
• Speaker, Hemp Beverage Conference, "National regulatory landscape—State updates, Farm Bill & more,” Minneapolis, June 07, 2024
• Speaker, Vicente LLP, "Licensing Opportunities in Kentucky: Medical Cannabis and Hemp,” Online, April 30, 2024
• Speaker, New England Cannabis Convention Boston 2024, "Blink and You’ll Miss It! The Evolution of Hemp Cannabinoids,” Boston, March 22, 2024
• Speaker, Vicente LLP, "Update on Cannabis and Hemp,” Online, November 02, 2023
• 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, New York Cannabis & Hemp Convention , "So, You Want to Apply for a NY Cannabis License? Start Here!,” Albany, September 29, 2023
• Speaker, The Business of Cannabis: CT Cannabis Conference, "Building an Industry in Connecticut,” Hartford, September 21, 2023
• Speaker, Vicente LLP, "Preparing for New York Cannabis Business Licensing,” Online, September 14, 2023
• Speaker, Vicente LLP, "Connecticut Cannabis Compliance Essentials for Operators,” Online, August 17, 2023
• Speaker, Vicente LLP, "Intoxicating and Synthetic Hemp Regulations: State Legislative Session Updates and Federal Predictions,” Online, June 15, 2023
• Speaker, Vicente LLP, "New York’s Revised Cannabis Regulations: What you need to know now to plan ahead and structure deals,” Online, May 17, 2023
• Speaker, Xpocanna Connecticut Cannabis Expo, "Preparing Your Cannabusiness for Connecticut’s Market in 2023,” Uncasville, March 25, 2023
• Speaker, Vicente LLP, "[Webinar] New York Tri-state Cannabis Transactions: M&A, Financings, and New Licenses,” Online, March 09, 2023
• Speaker, Vicente LLP, "[Webinar] FDA Punts CBD Regulation: What Does that Mean for Hemp Businesses?,” Webinar, February 09, 2023
• Speaker, INCBA, "Connecticut State Licensing: Cultivating an Industry in the Land of Steady Habits,” Online, February 08, 2023
• Speaker, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "[Webinar] Intoxicating Hemp Regulations - Where We Are and What's to Come,” Online, December 15, 2022
• Speaker, American Herbal Products Association Regulatory Congress, "50 Shades of Hemp: Compliance at the State-by-State Level,” Online, November 15, 2022
• Speaker, Arcview Access Cannabis Investment Summit, "How to Play Tri-State: NY, NJ & CT License Opportunities,” New York, October 20, 2022
• Speaker, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "[Webinar] New York Cannabis: By the Numbers,” Online, October 19, 2022
• Speaker, HBJ Connecticut Conference, "Where Are We Now and What's Next for CT's Emerging Cannabis Industry?,” Plantsville, September 14, 2022
• Speaker, New York Cannabis & Hemp Convention 2022, "New York Licensing: What You NEED to Prepare Your Conditional Adult Use Retail Application,” Albany, August 26, 2022
• Speaker, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "Session 1: New York Cannabis Update & CAURD Overview,” Online, August 18, 2022
• Speaker, Xpocanna Connecticut Cannabis Expo, "What To Do (And Not To Do) When Applying For A Connecticut Cannabis Business License,” Uncasville, May 22, 2022
• Speaker, International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA), "In the Weeds in the Empire State: Cannabis Licensing in New York,” Online, May 19, 2022
• Speaker, National Hispanic Cannabis Council (NHCC), "New York Spotlight: State of Play in the Empire State,” Online, May 12, 2022
• Speaker, Arcview, "Cannabis Town Hall: Connecticut,” Online, April 28, 2022
• Speaker, GTI LEAP Social Equity Cannabis Licensing Series, "How to Navigate the CT Cannabis License Portal,” Online, March 22, 2022
• Speaker, NECANN Boston, "Who Regulates Minor Cannabinoids... and Are They Lawful?,” Massachusetts, March 19, 2022
• Speaker, GTI LEAP Social Equity Cannabis Licensing Series, "Qualifying as a Connecticut Cannabis Social Equity Applicant,” Online, March 08, 2022
• Speaker, GTI LEAP Social Equity Cannabis Licensing Series, "Connecticut Adult-Use Cannabis Licenses 101,” Online, February 22, 2022
• Moderator, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "Achieving Compliance: Cannabis Facility EHS Compliance Audits,” Online, February 16, 2022
• Speaker, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "EHS in the Cannabis Industry: What Happens When the E Stands for Enforcement?,” Webinar, November 16, 2021
• Speaker, CWCB Expo, "Opportunities at the Intersection of Hemp and Marijuana,” New York, November 05, 2021
• Speaker, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "Growing Greener: Navigating Environmental Laws,” Webinar, September 22, 2021
• Speaker, NECANN Boston, "E is for Environment: Exploring Environment-Related Responsibilities and Opportunities in ESG for Cannabis,” Boston, September 11, 2021
• Speaker, INCBA, "Hemp 301 - Hemp and Climate/Environment: Challenges and Opportunities,” Webinar, July 15, 2021
• Speaker, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "Tri-State Cannabis Update,” Webinar, June 29, 2021
• Speaker, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "Cannabis Legalization in New York: Implementation and Opportunities,” Webinar, April 07, 2021
• Speaker, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "Exploring Cannabis Legalization in the Tri-State Area,” Webinar, February 04, 2021
• Speaker, Vicente Sederberg LLP, "Hemportunities: State and Federal Funding Opportunities for Hemp Businesses,” Webinar, August 05, 2020
• Speaker, Cannabis Business Minds, "The Legalities of CBD,” Online, July 22, 2020
• Speaker, CWCB Expo, "Know Before You Grow: Federal & State Laws for Selling Hemp & CBD Products ,” Boston, October 24, 2019
• Speaker, INCBA Cannabis Law Institute 2019, "Farm Bill Update and Overview ,” New York , October 03, 2019
• Speaker, NECANN Springfield Cannabis Convention, "Hemp & CBD Law Update,” Springfield, June 22, 2019