
Administrative Law
Hemp & Cannabinoids
Licensing
Litigation & Arbitration
Regulatory Compliance
State and Local Government & Policy
New York
J.D., New York Law School
B.S., University of Vermont
Overview
Neil M. Willner is counsel in Vicente LLP’s New York office. He focuses his practice on the cannabis industry, with a particular emphasis on regulatory and compliance matters in New York, New Jersey and other jurisdictions across the country. Over the last several years, Neil has been on the forefront of regulatory challenges concerning the crossover of the hemp and regulated marijuana industries.
In addition to advising private clients, Neil is involved in a myriad of Bar Associations and Trade Associations. For the past several years, Neil has served on the Executive Committee of the New York State Bar Association’s Cannabis Section where he chairs the Regulatory Sub-Committee. He also serves on committees for the International Cannabis Bar Association, where he has been a frequent presenter on intoxicating hemp issues, and the American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH). Neil helps dictate policy at the state and federal levels and has engaged with Congressmen, FDA officials and state Attorneys General Offices to discuss federal legalization and the regulation of hemp products. Neil has been called upon by state regulators and state attorney generals to provide guidance on regulatory matters concerning intoxicating hemp.
Neil also serves as a trusted expert to media outlets and has been quoted in articles published by the New York Times, the Village Voice, Forbes, and Lawyer.com.
He received his Juris Doctor from New York Law School and received his Bachelor of Science from the University of Vermont.
Experience
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Executive Committee Member, New York State Bar Association Cannabis Section, 2022-Present
- Chair of Regulatory Sub-Committee, New York State Bar Association Cannabis Section, 2022-Present
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Policy Committee Member, Cannabis Association of New York, 2024-Present
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Member, International Cannabis Bar Association, 2018-Present
Recognition
- Chambers and Partners USA, "Cannabis Law: Eastern United States — Associate to Watch," 2022-2024
- Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, 2023-2024
Publications
Insights
- Author, "Virginia’s ‘Total THC’ Hemp Law Upheld by Fourth Circuit: What It Means for the Hemp Industry," January 14, 2025
External Publications
- Author, "The Wheel is Turning and You Can’t Slow Down: An Update on the Tri-State of Cannabis," Cannabis Business Executive, April 21, 2022
- Co-author, "The Tip of the Spear Piercing the Regulated Cannabis Industry: How Intoxicating Hemp Cannabinoids and the Illicit Market Pose Significant Challenges to the Emerging Industry," Cannabis Business Executive, April 18, 2022
- Author, "Minors Loophole: Ambiguity in the Controlled Substances Act Leaves a Pathway for Intoxicating Hemp-Derived Cannabinoids," MJBizDaily Digital Issue, February 2022
- Co-author, "Don’t Let Marijuana's Legal, Regulatory Burdens Burn Through Your Capital," Bloomberg Law, November 27, 2020
- Co-author, "Brief of Amici Curiae on behalf of The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) and The Arcview Group in support of petitioners in the Marvin Washington v. William P. Barr case," September 2020
- Author, "Medical Marijuana: State and Federal Law Thickets and Practical Implications," 2020 Edition of Thomson Reuters Health Law Handbook, May 2020
- Author, "As the Smoke Clears: How Will New York Regulate Weed? Proposed Legislation Holds Clues, Part 1 & 2," Beverage Media Magazine, January 2019
Events
- Speaker, Cannabis Regulators Association, "Hemp Legislation and Litigation: Review & Analysis,” Online, October 30, 2024
- Speaker, Presentation to the Attorney General Alliance’s Delta-8 THC Working Group, "Hemp Updates and Litigation Trends,” Online, July 09, 2024
- Speaker, Practicing Law Institute’s Cannabis: Legal and Business Fundamentals 2024, "Hot Topics-Hemp Cannabinoids: The Federal and State Schemes and All the Resulting Litigation,” Online, April 04, 2024
- Speaker, Congressional Briefing sponsored by Senator Fetterman’s office, "Hemp & the Farm Bill – From 2018’s Loophole to 2023’s Solution,” Washington DC, October 24, 2023
- Speaker, International Cannabis Bar Association's Cannabis Law Institute, "2nd Annual Summary of Precedential Rulings and Litigation Trends,” Washington D.C., June 08, 2023
- Moderator, New York State Bar Association CLE, "“(dis)Harmonization of marijuana and Hemp: Implications of USDA and DEA Hemp Rules on NY’s Hemp Program,” New York, January 27, 2021
- Speaker, 2025 NYSBA Annual Meeting, "Cannabis Law Section,” New York City,