Thomas MJ Lavigne is the sole attorney at Cannabis Counsel ®. Cannabis Counsel ® started in 1999 by Matthew Abel as a law firm focused on cannabis related legal matters, handling cannabis business law, mergers and acquisitions, regulatory compliance, regulatory complaint defense, license application and renewal processes. and the new Michigan Regulation & Taxation of Marihuana Act & the Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act. The firm often travels to cannabis law seminars from Colorado to Key West and now as a proud Lifetime member of the NORML National Legal Committee, Deputy Director of NORML of Michigan, and former Chairman of the Cannabis Law Section of the State Bar of Michigan.
Cannabis Counsel ® law firm hosted as headquarters of the cannabis movement in Michigan, often hosting large grassroots political action meetings, where initiatives were born.
Lavigne was Secretary of the Board of MILegalize formed to pass a ballot initiative to legalize industrial hemp and cannabis for adult use in Michigan, which was the grassroots coalition partner to Regulate Marijuana Like Alchohol. The hard part is accomplished as we won the Vote Yes campaign for the November 2018 election. Now we need to enforce the new law, and help society step into their new found freedoms.
Cannabis Counsel ® is a unique, niche law firm, one of the country’s oldest cannabis only law firm.
Lavigne often makes television appearances as a spokesperson for the cannabis movement for debates of senators and drug warriors. From Judges' chambers to media to public meetings, Lavigne has observed a softening on the issue over the years, and is proud to have helped contribute to a cultural, sociological, economic change that is happening necessarily alongside the change of the law which we had to take into our own hands, because of a dysfunctional legislature, gerrymandered to death and beholden to monied anti-cannabis/anti-herbal medicine interests.