Ann Cisco has been a partner with the Cannabis Counsel law firm since its inception in 1999. Beginning in 1985, Cisco has been practicing law for more than 25 years and is dedicated to providing legal services to cannabis businesses pursuing State licenses under the Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act (MMFLA). 

 

Cisco stays on the cutting edge of new industry laws, regulations and business know-how. She guides clients through the complex process of obtaining state licenses to operate Marihuana Businesses under the MMFLA. 

 

Accumulating wisdom over her long career, Cisco developed a diverse set of legal skills particularly useful in license application and the success of your business in this new and exciting industry.  

 

Cisco concentrates in drafting the various plans required by the State including: 

• Security

• Technology

• Inventory and Record Keeping

• Marketing and Staffing Plans for all MMFLA marijuana facilities and MRTMA marijunana establishments

  • Provisioning/Retailers, Growers, Processing, Secure Transporters, Safety Compliance Facilities, Designated Consumption Lounges, Microbusinesses, Micro-grows of 100 plants, temporary event organizer licenses and temporary event licenses. 

 

Cisco has considerable experience as an appellate attorney and as counsel in other civil litigation matters in the federal and state courts in three different states. This provides her with an expertise in analyzing complex legal matters and successfully communicating information to assist her clients in achieving their varied goals. 

 

Cisco has had success in navigating other state and federal agencies including the State Civil Rights Commission and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) during the 7 years she’s been practicing employment law. 

 

Cisco believes that practicing Cannabis Law has been the most satisfying experiences in her career. She is very proud to belong to the oldest Marihuana Firm in the state where her two partners have been tireless leaders in obtaining Legalization finally during December of 2018.

 

Cisco also has 25 years of experience in the federal and state trial and appellate courts in Michigan, California and Iowa, including the 6th Circuit, the 8th Circuit and the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. 

 

In 1985, she graduated cum laude from Wayne State University Law School. While attending law school, she clerked at the Senior Citizens Legal Aid Clinic and the business firm of Kramer, Mellon, Wagner, & Ishbia. Following graduation, she was admitted into the federal and state appellate courts of Michigan (and later California and Iowa) and was employed as a law clerk for the Michigan Court of Appeals and then as an associate attorney at Garan, Lucow, & Miller, developing immense expertise as an appellate attorney. Later, she practiced law in Los Angeles,California at Millard, Stack & Stevens focusing on contract law litigated via declaratory judgments in the federal courts.

 

Seeking a life not dominated by the hustle and bustle of the 101 freeway, Cisco later became a partner at White & Johnson, P.C. in Cedar Rapids, IA. She handled the majority of the firm’s appeals, and concentrated in employment law litigation, including the ADA, FMLA and state and federal civil rights laws (race, sex, disability discrimination) and also advised employers how to create a just work place. After returning to Michigan, Cisco served as an advocate for students with learning and other disabilities. During this time, she fought the practice in certain school administrations of labeling students as “troublemakers” rather than recognizing and accommodating the student’s learning disabilities.

 

Beginning in 1999 Cisco, as a Partner of the law firm, was a criminal defense lawyer serving to defend the rights of medical marijuana patients, caregivers, and others whose only “crime” was to use marijuana.