Ariel Clark
Ariel Clark is one of California’s best and most dedicated cannabis business attorneys. For over a decade, Ariel has been in the trenches of cannabis law and policy in order to effectively advise legacy operators and entrepreneurs. Her clients are California born-and-bred farmers, cutting-edge manufacturers, multi-state operators, and highly successful investors and innovators. When the idea of cannabis business law was considered an oxymoron, she committed her practice exclusively to this emerging industry -- foresight that was recognized by Rolling Stone, which named her one of 18 “Women Shaping the Culture of Tomorrow.” Ariel’s hard-work, intelligence, and tenacity have earned her a national reputation as one of the industry’s fiercest lawyers.
Ariel works closely with her cannabis and hemp company clients on the myriad regulatory and legal challenges in her role as outside general counsel to the industry’s finest. Ariel’s clients look to her for her creative and effective advice to get a deal done, or to get their company up, running, and succeeding. As the world embraces hemp, the derivative cannabinoids, and its many uses of the plant, Ariel’s extensive legal and political expertise provide valuable counsel to other trailblazers as they build successful companies, brands, products and services.
Ariel has received many distinctions. Among others, she has been recognized as one of the top 75 “Most Important Women in Cannabis” by Cannabis Business Executive, as one of the “30 Most Powerful Cannabis Lawyers” by MG Magazine and was included in Entrepreneur’s “Top 100 Cannabis Leaders.”
Ariel is an active member of many associations, including the International Cannabis Bar Association, the California Native American Cannabis Association, the California and National Cannabis Industry Associations, and the Executive Committee of the Cannabis Law Section of the Los Angeles County Bar Association (VC). She is Co-General Counsel to Chacruna Institute for Psychedelic Plant Medicines and is a member of the Council for the Protection of Sacred Plants. She is co-founder of Cannaboss Womxn’s Circle, an active community of professionals collectively advancing feminine leadership in the industry.
Ariel’s policy commitment to the industry and community ecosystem and her ability to get to solutions is visible in the City of Los Angeles, by all accounts, the biggest cannabis market in the world. Ariel founded the Los Angeles Cannabis Task Force, which was instrumental in the passage of Measure M, authorizing the creation of a legal, regulated industry in LA. She also advised and co- founded many other key cannabis trade associations and policy reform organizations in California over the last decade of her career.