Although laws in many states regarding recreational and medical marijuana use are evolving, the federal government has yet to catch-up. What consequences will your clients face for marijuana use in states where marijuana is legalized? Can they still be denied benefits or deported? What tools and arguments can you use when your client has a history with marijuana use? The panelists will discuss this evolving area of law and provide practical tips for advising and advocating for clients.

Featured Topics:

• Do Marijuana "Infractions" Constitute a Conviction? Immigration Consequences Related to Infractions, Fines, and the Decriminalization of Marijuana
• As States Legalize Recreational Marijuana, How Are Immigration Authorities Responding to Post-Conviction Relief to Vacate a Prior Conviction?
• Is Medical Marijuana Use Okay? How to Advise and Advocate for Clients Regarding the Disconnect Between State and Federal Law and Policy
• Working at Lawful Dispensaries and Investing in the Marijuana Industry: Is It Possession, Possession with Intent to Distribute, Trafficking, Cultivating, and/or Conspiring?
• Practical Tips for Preparing Clients (and Attorneys): Medical Exams, Interviews, Sworn Statements, Social Media Investigations, and Testimony Before the Immigration Court

Free Seminar Recordings with AILA Membership Starting March 2021
Please note, all 2021 seminar recordings are free to AILA members starting in March 2021, as part of a new service provided with AILA membership. Recordings will be available approximately two weeks after the live event and are CLE eligible in most jurisdictions. A CLE administration fee will apply for AILA members interested in obtaining CLE credit. More details available [here].

CLE Credit

This web seminar is CLE eligible.

CLE processing is included with purchase for all nonmembers. Members receiving this recording as a free member benefit may also obtain CLE credit for the program. Detailed information on how to obtain CLE can be found on the AILA Seminar Recordings page.

AILA has filed for MCLE and specialized credit in appropriate jurisdictions. To receive CLE credit, attorneys must record seminar attendance and the CLE code provided via webCLE. Eligible participants can receive up to 1.8 CLE credit hours.

The OnDemand Recording format does not qualify for CLE credit in the following jurisdictions: AR, MO, PR, and TN.

Please note that your jurisdiction may limit OnDemand credit based on the date of the original presentation. Please view the OnDemand Downloadable Expiration Chart for more details. Your jurisdiction may also limit the amount of distance learning credit you can earn. To view details on your jurisdiction's credit restrictions and CLE requirements, please visit the CLE Center. For more information on specific approvals, email cle@aila.org.

About the Faculty

Mary E. Kramer (DL), AILA Author, Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity: A Guide to Representing Foreign-Born Defendants, 8th Ed., Miami, FL
Mary Kramer is the author of Immigration Consequences of Criminal Activity: A Guide to Representing Foreign Born Defendants (8th ed. agora.aila.org). She is the 2015 recipient of the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association’s Edith Lowenstein Award: the National Bar Association’s highest award for excellence in advancing the practice of immigration law. Ms. Kramer is a former chair of the AILA South Florida Chapter. She currently serves on AILA National’s Department of State Liaison Committee, and formerly served on the National ICE and EOIR Liaison Committees. She is ERO Past-Chair for South Florida AILA. Ms. Kramer serves on the Board of Trustees for the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota and serves on the Catholic Legal Services Board, of which she was previously president.

Leonard D.M. Saunders, Blaine, WA
Leonard D.M. Saunders achieved his Bachelor of Arts from The University of British Columbia and went on to earn his Juris Doctorate in California at Pepperdine School of Law in 1997. He was admitted to the Washington State Bar Association in 1998 and established The Immigration Law Firm where he has practiced near the Peace Arch and Pacific Hwy ports of entry in Blaine, Washington for almost 20 years. As an active member of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, Len regularly attends and often speaks at local and national conferences.

Ellen Sullivan, Cambridge, MA
Ellen Sullivan is a solo-practitioner and the founder of the Law Office of Ellen Sullivan, P.C. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is a member of AILA and the Massachusetts Women’s Bar Association. Ms. Sullivan received her law degree from Northeastern University School of Law and her undergraduate degree from Dartmouth College.

Leslie A. Holman, AILA Past President, Burlington, VT
Leslie A. Holman is the founder of Holman Immigration Law in Burlington, VT. She served as President of AILA from 2014-2015 and is currently a member of AILA’s Business Immigration Response Team. She also serves as local liaison to the Vermont USCIS district office and to local Ports of Entry. Ms. Holman was awarded the Sam Williamson Award for Excellence in Mentoring. She earned J.D. from Hofstra University School of Law and was a winner of its Law Review writing competition.