Griffen Thorne is a corporate and transactional attorney and Chair of the Lewis Brisbois Cannabis, Hemp, and Regulated Substances Practice. Griffen guides businesses through the complexities of M&A and corporate transactions, as well as real estate leasing, acquisition, development, and finance transactions.

Griffen has years of experience representing entrepreneurs, investors, startups, financial institutions, and operating businesses in the cannabis and hemp industries in transactional, licensing, and regulatory matters. He has been designated as an expert in cannabis litigation, regularly contributes to legal and industry publications, leads panels, and provides insights to media outlets like the Washington Post, The Atlantic, The Guardian, MarketWatch, Bloomberg Law, and Law360.

Griffen also represents clients in a other domestic and international industries, including healthcare, franchising, cryptocurrency and technology, international manufacturing and sales, and beyond. 

Before beginning his legal career, Griffen studied music at the University of California, Berkeley. He studied law at Loyola University of Chicago, where he was Editor-in-Chief of the Loyola University Chicago Law Journal and graduated third in his class of 250 students.

In his free time, Griffen enjoys spending time with his two daughters, traveling, and fly fishing.

Publications

Media Appearances

Professional Presentations

• History and Regulation of Psychedelics: An In-Depth Look at Legal Issues Surrounding Ketamine, Psilocybin, MDMA, and More, The Hartford Producer Council Meeting, October 8, 2025.
• New Opportunities in a Changing Region: Türkiye & Central Asia, Houston District Export Council and Lewis Brisbois Webinar, Jan. 30, 2025.
• Distribution Agreements, NBI Seminars, January 14, 2025.
• Franchise Law, The Seminar Group, December 10, 2024.
• Cannabis Law and Business for Appraisers, International Association of Assessing Officers – Los Angeles County Chapter 2024 Fall Seminar, October 30, 2024
• Cross-Border Business Transactions 2024: Current Laws, Compliance, Risk Reduction Strategies, and More, NBI, June 18, 2024
• Navigating Real Estate Issues Impacting the Cannabis Industry, Los Angeles County Bar Association, January 9, 2024.
• Intellectual Property Law 2023-2024: SCOTUS Updates, ChatGPT, and More, NBI Seminars, November 1, 2023.
• Labeling and Marketing Vice Products, ABA-IPL Section of the American Bar Association, October 19, 2023.
• Cannabis and Firearms: How federal law strips cannabis users of Constitutional Rights, myLawCLE, September 20, 2023
• Unlocking the Secrets of Commercial Cannabis Leasing, National Association of Cannabis Accounting and Tax Professionals, August 8, 2023.
• Cannabis In 2023: Corporate & Regulatory Concerns, GGI North American Regional Conference, June 23, 2023.
• History and Regulation of Psychedelics: An In-Depth Look at Legal Issues Surrounding Ketamine, Psilocybin, MDMA, and More, LACBA webinar, June 15th, 2023.
• Key Real Estate Issues for Cannabis Businesses, LexVid, February 9, 2023.
• Legal and Regulatory Landscape for Psychedelics, The Seminar Group, January 12, 2023.
• Psychedelics Law for Lawyers, CEB, Feb. 6, 2023.
• Panelist, Cannabis Business Virtual Symposium, CalCPA, November 9, 2022.
• Entheogens, the Law, and Religious Freedom with Griffen Thorne, The Entheogenic Evolution, June 14, 2022.
• Program Chair, Legal and Regulatory Landscape for Psychedelics, The Seminar Group, January 26, 2022.
• Cannabis Intellectual Property: Patents and Trademarks, NBI CLE Webinar, January 18, 2022.
• Panelist, The Dos and Don’ts of Marketing in the Cannabis Industry, American Bar Association Section of Intellectual Property Law Advertising and Marketing Law Committee webinar, October 7, 2021.
• Psychedelic Law Presentation, UCLA CannaClub, April 21, 2021.
• Program Chair, Cannabis and Hemp Business Considerations, Seminar Group, April 7, 2021.
• CBD Considerations in the Pacific Northwest, Case Studies Panel, Seminar Group, March 30, 2021.
• Talking 2021/2020 in Review, MMLG Webinar, December 10, 2020.
• Guest Lecturer, California Medical Cannabis Law 101, University of San Francisco Pharmacy Course, An Overview of Medical Cannabis, December 8, 2020.
• Cannabis E-Commerce: Legal and Regulatory Problems and Solutions for Online Marketing and Sales, Lawline, November 10, 2020.
• Seeds of Change: How the Election Results Will Shape the Future of Cannabis, International Jewish Cannabis Association, November 9, 2020.
• Cannabis and CBD Business Basics, UCLA CannaClub Webinar, October 28, 2020.
• Guest Lecturer, Santa Clara University School of Law, Cannabis Law and Policy Class, October 21, 2020.
• Guest Lecturer, California Medical Cannabis Law 101, University of San Francisco Pharmacy Course, An Overview of Medical Cannabis, October 20, 2020.
• Trends in Enforcement and Violations, MMLG Webinar, October 8, 2020.
• Cannabis Law For Attorneys, ABA GPSolo Roundtable, October 8, 2020.
• Panel Moderator Cannabis Industry Virtual Symposium, CalCPA , August 7, 2020.
• Cannabis Quarterly Salon, LACBA webinar, May 26, 2020.
• COVID-19, Companies Making Culture Podcast, April 7, 2020.
• Industrial Hemp and Cultivation Laws, The Seminar Group, April 2, 2020.
• Cannabis Law for Attorneys, Presentation at Lewitt Hackman, March 9, 2020.
• Business & Environmental Issues in Cannabis & Industrial Hemp, The Seminar Group, Oakland, CA, February 28, 2020.
• Legal Trends and the Expected Role of Cannabis Lawyers, USA CBD Expo, Las Vegas, NV, February 14, 2020.
• Compliant Cannabis Framework & Strategies, Outdoor Retailer Snow Show, Denver, CO, January 29-30, 2020.
• Hemp & CBD Law: The Future of a Booming But Largely Unregulated Industry, HB Litigation Conferences, July 25, 2019.
• The Business of Marijuana in Southern California, The Seminar Group, March 28, 2019.

Admissions

• State Bar Admissions
  • California
  • Washington

Associations

• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Cannabis Section – Vice Chair, Membership (2020-2021)
• Temple Beth Israel of Highland Park and Eagle Rock, Member – Board of Directors (2020-2021)
• Los Angeles County Bar Association, Cannabis Section, Policy Subcommittee Member (2024)
• International Cannabis Bar Association, Legislative Advisement Committee Member (2024)

Awards & Honors

• Super Lawyer, Rising Star (2022 – 2024)
• Top 200 Global Psychedelic Lawyers and Policy & Regulatory Experts (2022-2023, 2023-2024, 2024-2025)

Education

Loyola University Chicago

Juris Doctor, magna cum laude, 2015

University of California, Berkeley

Bachelor of Arts in Music, 2012

Representative Matters

Mergers and Acquisitions

• Represented seller of healthcare practice in California.
• Represented buyer in acquisition of substantial majority stake of Florida healthcare clinics.
• Represented seller of cannabis distributor and manufacturer in California.
• Represented buyer in acquisition of substantial majority stake of California consumer goods company.
• Represented buyer in acquisition of substantial majority stake of California sports park operator.
• Represented buyer of multiple licensed cannabis companies in Oregon.
• Represented buyer of affiliated cannabis distributor and manufacturer entities in California.

Real Estate

• Represented lender of eight-figure real estate secured loan to cannabis company in California.
• Represented buyer in seven-figure acquisition of office building in California.
• Represented buyer in seven-figure acquisition of real property for lease to cannabis retailer in California.
• Represented lender of eight-figure real estate secured loan to cannabis company in Washington State.
• Represented owner of multi-tenant commercial building in Oregon in leasing multiple retail and office suits.
• Represented developer in negotiation of partnership and development agreements for acquisition, finance, and development of apartments in New York.
• Represented lender of seven-figure real estate secured loan to cannabis company in Maine.
• Represent lessor of nearly 30,000 square foot property for lease to cannabis cultivator in California.
• Represented lessee of nearly 50,000 square foot commercial property for mixed cannabis uses in California.