July 24 - Marijuana Law

Policy Updates 

The passage of California’s Proposition 64 was just the beginning.  Since its passage, lawmakers on the state and local levels have scrambled to enact legislation to regulate what has been hailed as the next great cash crop with the potential to change the state’s economy.  The presentation will provide an overview of the federal and state conflicts, an overview of state regulatory regulations, and an in-depth discussion of different flavors of regulation on a local level, and challenges to respective local regulation.

Speakers: Victor Ponto & Amanda Charne

Victor Ponto advises public agencies and private businesses on a variety of issues, including those related to cannabis legalization. Victor has drafted dozens of land use ordinances regulating cannabis and assists in creating commercial and residential cannabis permitting regulations. He also regularly leads workshops and lectures on regulatory options related to cannabis and conducts webinars on the legalities of the Medicinal and Adult-Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act, Medical Marijuana Regulation and Safety Act, Adult Use of Marijuana Act (Proposition 64), and the Medicinal and Adult Use Cannabis Regulation and Safety Act.

Victor also provides legal services to cities, school districts, municipal water agencies and other government entities throughout Southern California. An associate in the Municipal Law practice group at Best Best & Krieger LLP, his practice involves city attorney and general counsel services. Victor frequently advises public agency clients on general municipal law issues, with an emphasis on land use, public contracting, internal investigations and compliance with open government laws.

Victor currently serves as assistant city attorney for the cities of Fontana and Adelanto and assistant general counsel for the Elsinore Valley Municipal Water District and the Hi-Desert Water District. Victor also served as deputy city attorney for the cities of El Monte, Cudahy, Huntington Park and San Fernando. He also served as general counsel for the El Monte Union High School District and the Central Basin Municipal Water District.

Prior to joining BB&K, Victor worked at one of the largest law firms in the country and brings a wealth of practical legal experience in securities litigation, class action litigation and investigations by the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Victor is licensed to practice law in the states of California and Massachusetts.

Amanda L. Charne assists cities and special districts throughout the Northern California in transactional and advisory matters. She is an associate in the Municipal Law practice group of Best Best & Krieger LLP’s Walnut Creek office.

Amanda advises clients in a number of areas, with an emphasis on land use and planning laws, the Public Records Act, the Brown Act and conflicts of interest. She also advises clients on election matters, free speech regulations and public safety ordinances, such as those regulating massage parlors and marijuana businesses. She has experience in drafting and amending ordinances and resolutions; reviewing and advising on documents prepared for compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act and negotiating contracts and service agreements.

Prior to joining BB&K, Amanda was an associate at a public law firm and served as assistant city attorney for the cities of Fairfield, Mill Valley and the town of Ross. Prior to that, Amanda served as staff counsel for the California Energy Commission.

Amanda graduated magna cum laude from University of California, Hastings College of Law. She was a member of the Environmental Law Society and Consumer Law Association, and received CALI Awards for Excellence for achieving the highest grades in the state and local taxation and constitutional law courses. She is admitted to practice law in the State of California.