Everyone can agree—cannabis operates in a legal gray area.

For starters, anyone in the industry is technically breaking federal law, as cannabis remains federally illegal.

But for an in-house attorney at an MSO, the job isn’t just about navigating federal risk.

It’s about understanding where gray meets red, balancing state-by-state regulations, and ensuring compliance across an industry with ever-changing rules—especially for a publicly traded company.

This week, we sit down with Dan Shapiro, EVP of Ascend Wellness, to break down:

Understanding the legal gray areas in cannabis
Shifting regulations, the Farm Bill, and Schedule 3
Balancing legal risk and business strategy in a fragmented industry

About Ascend Wellness

AWH is a vertically integrated multistate cannabis operator with licenses and assets in Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. AWH owns and operates dispensaries and seven state-of-the-art cultivation facilities, growing award-winning strains and producing a curated selection of products for retail and wholesale customers. AWH produces and distributes its in-house Simply Herb, Ozone, Common Goods, Effin' and Royale branded products. AWH also produces and distributes products on behalf of its brand partners including Miss Grass, Lowell Smokes, Flower by Edie Parker, 1906, and AiroPro. For more information, visit www.awholdings.com.

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Dan Shapiro

Episodes with Dan Shapiro