Cannabis and Psychedelics Attorney Joshua Kappel Named a 2025 Lawyer of the Year by Law Week Colorado
Feb 21, 2025
Vicente LLP is proud to announce that founding partner Joshua Kappel has been recognized as a 2025 Lawyer of the Year by Law Week Colorado. This distinguished honor highlights his outstanding leadership in cannabis and psychedelics law, where he has played a pivotal role in shaping policy, advocating for reform, and guiding businesses in these evolving sectors.
As a pioneer in cannabis and psychedelics law, Joshua has been instrumental in co-authoring groundbreaking legislation, including Colorado’s Proposition 122, the Natural Medicine Health Act, which established a regulated framework for natural psychedelic medicines while decriminalizing personal and communal use. His extensive work as Senior Policy Advisor for the Healing Advocacy Fund has played a key role in the program’s successful implementation, ensuring that psychedelic care is accessible, equitable, and safely regulated.
Joshua’s legal career is defined by his dedication to creating just and transformative policies. His journey into law was shaped by a personal exploration of moral and societal norms, leading him to recognize the injustices in drug prohibition laws.
“There were many factors that brought me to this edge of the law, but underneath all of them is a fundamental belief that every human has a right to explore their consciousness in a manner that doesn’t harm others.” – Joshua Kappel
Over the past year, Joshua has made significant strides in ensuring the Natural Medicine Program’s successful launch on January 1, 2025. He has testified at every public rulemaking meeting related to natural medicine, provided legal and policy guidance that influenced key regulations, and helped structure facilitator training programs. His advocacy has been important in developing a regulatory framework that balances public safety, equitable access, and Indigenous knowledge preservation.
“It’s also important that as we create access to natural medicines and psychedelic care, we do not forget the Indigenous communities that have stewarded this knowledge and these medicines. It’s vital for people operating in this space to engage in some form of benefit sharing or benefit honoring, where they give back to the communities that have traditionally held these medicines sacred.” – Joshua Kappel
Beyond legislative and regulatory work, Joshua has helped clients navigate the complexities of psychedelics law, advising on corporate structuring, compliance, and state-federal law intersections. He has represented some of the first approved facilitator training programs in Colorado, ensuring that professionals in this field meet the highest safety and ethical standards.
“Operating in this area of law brings a lot of personal fulfillment because I get to use my creativity to shape brand-new industries. It’s especially fulfilling when I have the privilege of watching my client’s business grow from an idea in a boardroom to a life-changing exit.” – Joshua Kappel
Joshua’s influence extends beyond Colorado. He was a key architect of Denver’s Initiated Ordinance 301, the nation’s first psilocybin decriminalization measure, and has supported similar initiatives nationwide. As a founding board member of the Microdosing Collective, the only recognized nonprofit in the U.S. dedicated to legalizing microdosing, his impact on the psychedelics space continues to shape national conversations around responsible access and policy reform.
Joshua Kappel embodies legal excellence and unwavering dedication to advancing drug policy reform. Vicente LLP congratulates him on this well-deserved recognition as a Law Week Colorado 2025 Lawyer of the Year and looks forward to seeing his continued impact on the cannabis and psychedelics sectors.