Law Office of Kelly M. Hayes
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Law Office of Kelly M. Hayes
  • Home
  • About Kelly
  • Practice Areas
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About Kelly M. Hayes

Practice Areas

  • Corporate & General Business Transactions
  • Cannabis, Hemp, & CBD Licensing & Regulatory Compliance
  • Zoning & Land Use 
  • Real Estate Transactions
  • Risk Management 
  • Civil Litigation & Disputes


Kelly is currently Of Counsel at Armada Law Corp: https://armadalawyers.com/


Kelly focuses her legal practice on Cannabis and Hemp Law. Since 2014, Kelly's been working with a wide range of cannabis and hemp clients from small farmers to large corporations. She handles a wide array of cannabis and hemp matters including, state and local licensing applications, regulatory compliance, zoning and land/use issues, corporate and business transactions, as well as business litigation. Kelly has successfully obtained commercial cannabis licenses for numerous clients throughout the state of California.


Kelly first became involved in drug policy reform as a student member of Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) during her undergraduate studies at the University of Rhode Island and while interning with SSDP’s national office located in Washington, D.C. She received her BA in Journalism from the University of Rhode Island before continuing onto Thomas Jefferson School of Law in San Diego. 


During law school, she was the President of the Public Interest Law Foundation and received a Certificate of Law and Social Justice. She worked with the City of San Diego's Primary Office of the Public Defender and Federal Defenders of San Diego.  She also researched and edited the caselaw book “Controlled Substances: Crime, Regulation and Policy” by Law Professor, Alex Kreit, a leading expert on illegal drugs and cannabis laws. Kelly is a frequent speaker at conferences and industry events.


Speaking Engagements and Events

October 29, 2022

Women in Cannabis Panel 

Panelist, San Diego Cannabis Business Expo


Fall of 2022

“Introduction to the Cannabis Industry - Business Law & Workforce” 

Instructor, Long Beach City College in conjunction with the Long Beach Collective Association


September 16, 2022

Overview of California Assembly Bill 2188

Speaker, San Diego Americans for Safe Access Monthly meeting


July 11, 2022

Comparative of Cannabis Law in Massachusetts, New York, and California 

Speaker, NY State Bar Association Young Lawyers Section Summer Meeting 2022


Spring of 2022 - 

“Business Law - Cannabis Legal Formation”

Instructor, Long Beach City College in conjunction with the Long Beach Collective Association


August 24, 2020

Updates to California Cannabis, Hemp, and CBD laws 

Speaker, San Diego Americans for Safe Access monthly meeting


April 28, 2020 

How to Ensure Hemp Farming Success

Presenter


March 21, 2019 

CBD & Hemp Panel 

Panelist, San Diego Cannabis Chamber of Commerce


January 25, 2019 

“Important things to look for when seeking a cannabis employer”

Panelist, San Diego Cannabis Hemp Job Fair Business Mixer


June 28, 2018 

“An Update on California’s Marijuana Laws”

Panelist, American Constitution Society for Law & Policy & Thomas Jefferson School of Law Alumni Association

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