Matthew Abel has been a lawyer in Michigan for over 35 years. Matthew founded Cannabis Counsel®, a five-attorney Detroit, Michigan law firm entirely devoted to cannabis clients and cases, providing both business advice and legal counseling as well as criminal defense in marijuana cases throughout Michigan. Since passage of the Michigan Medical Marihuana Act in 2008, the practice has rapidly grown to include not only business clients and issues, but also employment, drug testing, family law, contract, real estate, landlord-tenant, and other issues surrounding cannabis.
Mr. Abel is a lifetime member of the NORML Legal Committee and the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, and a member of the National Lawyers Guild. He is a founding member of the International Cannabis Bar Association. He has lectured on Michigan Medical Marihuana Law for Oaksterdam University in Michigan, the Michigan Cannabis College, MedGrow Cannabis College, the Michigan Institute for Continuing Legal Education, the Cannabis Career Institute, and to local bar associations throughout Michigan.
Matt holds four college degrees including Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School, Master of Science in Public Administration from Central Michigan University, Bachelor in Philosophy from Central Michigan University, and Associate in Criminal Justice from Castleton State University. Mr. Abel is an Eagle Scout.
Mr. Abel co-authored an article in Volume 58 of the Wayne Law Review THE FEDERAL CONTROLLED SUBSTANCES ACT DOES NOT PREEMPT THE MICHIGAN MEDICAL MARIHUANA ACT. http://www.scribd.com/doc/125806074/58-Wayne-l-Rev-1-The-Federal-Controlled-Substances-Act-Does-Not-Alan-l-Kaufman-Matthew-r-Abel He was a member of the drafting committee for the Michigan Regulation and Taxation of Marijuana Act, which was passed by the voters in 2018.