Jason Adelstone Partner
Contact JasonAbout Jason
Jason Adelstone is a seasoned business lawyer, international policy advisor, and problem solver. Based in Denver, Colorado, he provides domestic and international legal counsel to a diverse clientele, including entrepreneurs, corporations, religious organizations, and federal and international cannabis operators. His practice spans corporate law, international policy, and cannabis regulatory compliance, helping clients navigate the complexities of the global cannabis industry and beyond.
A recognized authority in the U.S. on international drug treaties, Jason has collaborated with legal and policy experts worldwide to address evolving cannabis laws, U.S. and EU regulatory challenges, and treaty obligations. His expertise includes corporate governance, mergers and acquisitions, business formation, contract negotiation and drafting, restaurant and franchise law, and state and federal conflicts of law.
Jason’s professional journey is as unique as it is diverse. Before becoming a lawyer, he served as a logistics supervisor for the U.S. Antarctic Program at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, and spent 18 years in the restaurant industry, managing both front- and back-of-house operations. These experiences instilled in him a practical, results-driven approach to solving complex legal and regulatory challenges.
He advises clients on a wide range of corporate and regulatory matters, including:
- Corporate governance and compliance.
- Mergers, acquisitions, and business restructuring.
- Drafting and negotiating commercial contracts.
- Market entry strategies for U.S. and international operators.
- International policy reforms, particularly concerning obligations under the three international drug treaties.
- Cannabis rescheduling and regulatory compliance under the Controlled Substances Act and DEA regulations.
International Legal Strategist
Jason began his legal career as a law clerk for the Onondaga County Attorney’s Office in New York. He earned his Juris Doctorate, magna cum laude, and Master of Business Administration from Syracuse University College of Law.
His multifaceted expertise and innovative approach make him an invaluable resource for clients navigating the intricate intersection of law, business, and international policy.
Fast Facts
Education
- J.D., Syracuse University, magna cum laude
- M.B.A., Whitman School of Management, Syracuse University
- B.S., Business Management, Arizona State University
Languages
- Spanish (Basic)
Bar & Court Admissions
- Colorado State Bar
- Arizona State Bar
- New Mexico State Bar
More About Jason
- Bright Green Exits Cannabis Business, CRB Monitor News, March 19, 2025
- World Leaders Vote to Ban HHC, List as Schedule II Drug, Cannabis Business Times, March 15, 2025
- U.S. International Treaty Obligations and Marijuana Rescheduling – Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform.
- Republican Senators Say Cannabis Rescheduling Violates International Treaties, High Times, March 29, 2024.
- Amsterdam Left Out of Netherlands Legal Weed Experiment, High Times, March 11, 2024.
- German Lawmakers Vote To Legalize Cannabis, High Times, February 27, 2024.
- Cannabis stocks rise as Germany takes ‘first big step’ toward broader legalization in Europe, MarketWatch, February 23, 2024.
- Germany’s Parliament Votes To Legalize Limited Adult-Use Cannabis, Forbes, February 23, 2024.
- Germany Set to Vote on Cannabis Legalization, Green Market Report, February 23, 2024.
- Identifying International Cannabis Opportunities in Europe 26 October [Webinar], Cannabis Law Report, October 16, 2023.
- Why Germany is Scaling Back Plans to Legalize Cannabis, Forbes, April 11, 2023.
- UN Warns Adult-Use Cannabis in US States Violates International Treaty, Cannabis Now, March 24, 2023
- Washington State Lawmakers Approve Interstate Cannabis Commerce Bill, Cannabis Now, February 26, 2023.
- International Cannabis Reform Ramps Up in Europe, South America, Green Market Report, November 30, 2022.
- Conversations with Leading Executives and Investors in the Cannabis Industry, Highly Objective, October 13, 2022.
- Here Weed Go Podcast Has a New Episode, Arizona Daily Star, May 18, 2022.
- Which Countries Will Likely Legalize Cannabis In 2022 And Why Isn’t The US Among Them?, Benzinga, December 23, 2021.
- Coloradans Convicted of Marijuana Possession Could Easily Get Their Record Sealed under New Bill, The Colorado Sun, April 5, 2021.
- Status Update: Arizona, WeedWeek, January 21, 2021.
- Legal Reality Check: Cannabinoids, Compliance, and Enforcement in a Shifting U.S. Landscape, Industrial Hemp International, March 26, 2026.
- Sesh 3: Deeply Seeded, CannaGen Webinar, January 22, 2026.
- Global Cannabis Outlook: Trends, Policy Shifts & Market Opportunities Around the World, MJBizCon, December 3, 2025.
- Market Access & Import Requirements for Thai Medical Cannabis: Regulatory Updates Across Key Regions, Asia International Hemp Expo & Forum, November 5, 2025.
- Cannabis Without Borders: Navigating International Opportunities and Regulatory Trends, Harris Sliwoski LLP Webinar, August 28, 2025.
- The Next Decade of Cannabis: Springboarding Forward from Initial State Regulatory Systems, INCBA Cannabis Law Institute, June 12, 2025
- Legal paths to Clinical & Spiritual Psychedelic Facilitation, Utah’s Annual 2025 Psychedelic Conference, March 7, 2025
- Cannabis Regulation, EU Drug Law, Trade Rules and the UN Drug Control Treaties, Transnational Institute, June 2024
- Schedule 3 Implications for the Caribbean Cannabis Industry- A roundtable, Ganjactivist.com Media and Events, May 9, 2024
- International Cannabis Policy and Regulation – Implications for Public Health, Consumer Safety, and Equity, Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) 2024 External Stakeholder Meeting, June 5, 2024.
- The Cannabis Business: Understanding Law, Finance, and Governance in America’s Newest Industry, Chapter 8 Introduction to Cannabis and Bankruptcy Law, December 30, 2020.
- Member Blog: A Summary Of Colorado’s Publicly Licensed Marijuana Companies Bill (HB19-1090), The National Cannabis Industry Association, June 3, 2019.
- Colorado Bar Association
- Arizona Bar Association
- New Mexico Bar Association
- Colorado Restaurant Association
- Mile High Chapter Board Member 2025-2026
- International Cannabis Bar Association
- Director on the Board 2026-2027
Proven Expertise for Challenging Legal Issues
“Zkittlez” originator Terphogz releases statement on settlement with “Skittles” candy maker Wrigley
Timothy Alger in Greenway Magazine
July 18th, 2023Timothy Alger stated, “It’s important to distinguish between my clients and unregulated pirates that Wrigley sued separately who sell adulterated candy or who use packaging identical to Wrigley’s including their registered trademarks.”
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What Does Rep. Mace’s States Reform Act Have to Do With Hemp?
Jesse Mondry in Hemp Grower
November 24th, 2021“The USDA has incorrectly, in my view, sought to impose this DEA certification program on hemp testing labs,” Mondry said “I think ending that requirement would help end the bottleneck at this testing level and allow the hemp CBD industry to scale up. That’s just one way to do that.”
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20 Best International Business Law Podcasts of 2021
Global Law and Business Podcast in Welp Magazine
June 19th, 2021Are you wanting to learn more about international business law ? Well you’ve come to the right place. This is a curated list of the best international business law podcasts of 2021.
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USDA Reopens Hemp Comment Period
Jesse Mondry in WeedWeek
September 14th, 2020“I think it also shows [that federal agencies] are working in good faith and want to make rules that work for the industry,” he said. “They actually want it to grow, and taking feedback from folks in the industry is a good way to help understand what needs to be done.”
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The Cannabis Recession Test
Harris Sliwoski in Comstock’s Magazine
August 18th, 2020Harris Sliwoski, an international law firm specializing in the cannabis industry, wrote in April that it was being contacted almost every week by a cannabis company looking for a white-knight investor to bail them out.
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“False and Misleading:” Suit Claims Select Vapes Contain Less THC Than Labelled
Jesse Mondry in WeedWeek
July 31st, 2020In a Thursday post at law firm Harris Sliwoski’s Canna Law Blog, attorney Jesse Mondry outlines problems Curaleaf and Cura have faced.
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As marijuana class action lawsuits surge, experts stress accurate, forthright disclosures
Jesse Mondry in Marijuana Business Daily
June 10th, 2020A U.S. Federal Food and Drug Administration warning letter against a CBD company for making an unfounded health claim, for example, “is almost an invitation to a plaintiff lawyer,” Mondry said.
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Hemp Lawsuits Rising: A Recent Suit’s Allegations ‘Are Disturbing for Growers’
Jesse Mondry in HempGrower
May 21st, 2020“The last year has seen a significant uptick in hemp-related litigation in nearly all phases of the industry,” from contract disputes to federal action against cannabidiol (CBD) health claims, Jesse Mondry, an attorney with international law firm Harris Sliwoski, tells Hemp Grower. Lawsuits involving hemp businesses have surfaced throughout the U.S. with hundreds of thousands to an excess of $1 billion at stake.
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Why the 0.3% THC limit for U.S. hemp might stop you from starting a CBD business
Jesse Mondry in RIV Capital
April 17th, 2020“The farmers for this growing season are going to have to abide by that 0.3 percent THC threshold and it is going to be very difficult for them to do so,” said Jesse Mondry, an attorney based in the Portland, Oregon offices of Harris Sliwoski who regularly does litigation work involving hemp and CBD.
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