Malina Dumas, a partner on the Dentons Cannabis and Corporate teams, provides experienced legal counsel to businesses on the complex and constantly evolving regulations and laws that impact medical and adult-use cannabis markets nationwide. She assists industry clients with day-to-day licensing and regulatory matters in Maine, Kentucky, New Jersey, New York, Minnesota, Vermont, and other states where cannabis has been legalized, working with regulators and colleagues across the country on a daily basis.

Malina provides licensing and regulatory compliance support for complex M&A and ESOP transactions that require coordinated approvals across multiple jurisdictions. She also leads government relations efforts, advocating for sensible regulation at both the state and local levels.

Malina’s deep experience includes advising clients on many aspects of the business cycle, from quickly and efficiently obtaining licenses from state and local authorities to ongoing compliance with ever-evolving regulatory frameworks. She serves as outside general counsel to many licensed companies and thrives on the challenge of maintaining current knowledge of a patchwork of laws.

Malina was first introduced to this emerging field through her work with tribal nations that were exploring business opportunities in the hemp and cannabis space. While at the University of Washington School of Law, Malina participated in the law school’s Tribal Court Public Defense Clinic, where she represented tribal members charged with criminal offenses. Malina also served as a summer clerk at the Navajo Nation Department of Justice in Window Rock, Arizona.