Jill G. Cohen

Name: Verrill
Price range: $$$

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Portland, ME

Jill is relentless in advocating for her clients by leveling the playing field and securing the best possible outcomes. She is detail-oriented, ahead of the curve, tenacious, and passionate about supporting her clients as they grow their cannabis and hemp businesses in Maine.

Jill started her legal career in 2001 when she first became licensed in Georgia. She started out as a public defender, then served as a felony prosecutor, then entered private criminal defense practice, before transitioning to cannabis and hemp law. She served as a Visiting Professional in the Office of the Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands. She co-founded a criminal justice non-profit, The Georgia Innocence Project, which over the past twenty years, has worked to exonerate the wrongfully convicted. Throughout her career she has been a zealous advocate for cannabis descheduling and legalization. In 2016, she became licensed in Maine with the goal of counseling and representing cannabis businesses as they grow their businesses and navigate complex statutory and regulatory requirements.

With over two decades of legal experience and a track record of success, Jill has repeatedly been peer-nominated to SuperLawyers for her work in criminal courts. She has earned a 10.0 rating on Avvo.com. She is a fierce advocate described by many as a “force of nature”.

Jill serves on the Board of Directors of the International Cannabis Bar Association. She serves as the Deputy Chair/Chair-Elect of the Cannabis & Hemp Law Section of the Maine State Bar Association and as Chair of the Cannabis & Hemp Law Section of the State Bar of Georgia. She serves as legislative counsel to the Maine Cannabis Industry Association. She is a Member of Americans for Safe Access, a Supporting Member of the Maine Municipal Association, and a member of the Cumberland Bar Association. She provides pro bono counsel to several cannabis industry organizations in Maine. She works diligently to stay current on the ever-evolving changes in Federal and State cannabis law. She strives to be a resource for her clients, understanding that they must operate at all times in a compliance-first environment. She partners with her clients to assure compliance in a complex, uncertain regulatory environment. When it comes time to secure state and local licenses for your business, Jill has the knowledge, experience, and patience to work through the rigorous licensing process and in resolving regulatory enforcement issues.

Services/Industries

Education

Georgia State University College of Law (J.D.)
Ithaca College (B.A.)

Bar Admissions

Maine
Georgia

Memberships

International Cannabis Bar Association, Board of Directors
Cumberland Bar Association
Maine Municipal Association, Patron Member
State Bar of Georgia Cannabis & Hemp Law Section, Chair
Georgia Innocence Project, Co-Founder, Past President, Emeritus Board Member
Maine State Bar Association, Cannabis & Hemp Law Section, Deputy Chair/Chair-Elect