When New York’s cannabis rollout sparked confusion and conflict, Mandelbaum Barrett’s Cannabis, Hemp and Psychedelics Practice stepped in, and Law360 took notice, naming the team a 2025 “Cannabis Group of the Year.”
With regulators turning up the heat and enforcement actions sparking industry-wide concern, our team has been on the front lines, helping clients stay compliant, stay open, and stand up for their rights when enforcement goes too far. As Joshua S. Bauchner, Chair of the Cannabis and Psychedelics Practice, put it, navigating this landscape takes both regulatory roots and litigation firepower. “What we’re seeing now is that intersection between having a real firm grip on the regulations, which are Byzantine, and being able to enforce our clients’ rights through litigation,” Bauchner told Law360. “More often than not… we have a better handle on the regulations than the regulators.”
Law360 highlighted several of the group’s standout matters, including our representation of Super Smoke N Save, where a New York judge ordered state and city officials to halt certain actions against hemp retailers after finding that warrantless, heavily armed raids “crossed a line.” Josh noted that a true regulated market doesn’t require unconstitutional tactics: “If you create a safe and regulated market, you’re going to ensure compliance in due course through lawful inspections. You don’t need to violate the First, Fourth, Fifth and 14th Amendments to get the job done.”
Mandelbaum Barrett PC also prevailed in the ROC It Out Wellness matter, where state regulators argued that constitutional challenges couldn’t be raised in administrative proceedings. The administrative law judge disagreed, affirming retailers’ rights to defend themselves fully and forcefully. This ruling, Josh explained, reshaped the enforcement landscape. “It allows us not only to defend these cases, but to punch back… which is essential to preserving issues for appeal.”
Beyond litigation, the practice continues to support entrepreneurs through licensing, regulatory counseling, and business guidance, all while advocating for a cannabis marketplace that operates fairly and lawfully. As Josh emphasized, “We all share the same goal, a safe and regulated market. They want that for the state. We want that for our clients.”
From calling out overreach to clearing the smoke around complex rules, Mandelbaum Barrett PC is honored to be recognized for standing with the businesses helping shape New York’s evolving cannabis economy.
See Cannabis Group of the Year: Mandelbaum Barrett for the entire article (subscription required).