Joe Rogoway​

managing partner

Joe Rogoway founded Rogoway Law Group in 2011 with a vision to help his clients through expert legal representation and he focuses his practice on representing businesses in the wine, cannabis, and other regulated industries

Joe Rogoway Cannabis Law Attorney California

Joe is the Founder and Managing Partner of Rogoway Law Group where he heads the firm’s regulatory compliance practice and also assists his clients with disputes, labor and employment matters, and enforcement actions. His substantial litigation experience includes conducting dozens of jury, bench, and administrative trials. He has argued cases before the California Court of Appeal, and has represented clients in numerous mediations and arbitrations.

Joe’s passion for the wine industry comes from his personal experience in developing, managing, and working his Sonoma County vineyard and custom crush winemaking. To Joe, the legal issues involved in licensing, commercial agreements, labeling requirements, and geographic indicators are not abstract and the legal work he does for his wine industry clients is informed by these experiences outside of the office.

His long-time advocacy in the cannabis industry arose out of the sports injuries he received while playing Division 1 football at Los Alamitos and seeing the injustice of criminalizing medicine that can be more effective than other, often over-prescribed, prescription medications. In 2001, while he was an undergraduate at the University of California at Santa Cruz, Joe studied abroad at Leiden University, the Netherlands. In 2003, while in law school at the University of San Francisco, Joe studied abroad at Pazmany University in Budapest and Charles University in Prague. During law school, Joe was a member of the Wine Law Society which included the study of Tokaji and other Hungarian wines while in Budapest.

In 2004, Joe clerked at Americans for Safe Access where he assisted the nonprofit in advocating for patients, caregivers, collectives, and cooperatives. From 2006 – 2008, he started working at the Mendocino County Public Defender’s office where he represented many accused growers and sellers charged with cannabis related crimes. This continued during Joe’s tenure at the Sonoma County Public Defender’s office from 2008-2011 and through his founding of the firm that became Rogoway Law Group, P.C.

Joe’s policy work includes representing winegrowers to petition the TTB for AVA rulemaking as well as being a co-author and co-proponent of several state ballot initiatives to legalize cannabis. His pro bono efforts include assisting families who have disabled children that have been prevented from accessing education because of their medical cannabis use, working with social equity applicants to avail themselves of the benefits of cannabis legalization, and in working with industry trade associations seeking better local regulations.

Awards & Recognition

  • Association Internationale des Juristes du Droit de la Vigne et du Vin (AIDV) / International Wine Law Association
  • Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, Board of Directors (2015)
  • National Cannabis Industry Association, Member (2014 – Present)
  • California Cannabis Industry Association, Member (2014 – Present)
  • NORML Legal Committee, Attorney Member (2013 – Present)
  • Sonoma County Bar Association, Member (2011 – Present)
  • International Cannabis Business Conference, Barcelona, “Evolving Cannabis Policy Within The European Union.” March 9, 2023.
  • Long Beach City College, “Introduction to the Cannabis Industry (8-Week Course), Lead Instructor.” 2020 – 2021.
  • Meadowlands Digital: Essential Conversations for the California Cannabis Community, “Creating Cannabis Friendly Cities In California and Beyond.” October 2, 2020.
  • Americans for Safe Access (ASA) 2020 Medical Cannabis for Neurological Conditions Symposium, “School Cannabis Policies & Legal Support.” September 26, 2020.
  • DEA Interim Final Rules: Implications On CBD Industry, September 23, 2020.
  • Medical Cannabiz World, Malta. November 4-5, 2019.
  • Infused Products Conference, “Money, Money, Money: Acquisition, Merger, Divestiture and Financing Extraction and Infused Products Operations.” September 24, 2019.
  • CalCPA California Cannabis Industry Symposium, August 9, 2019.
  • Wine & Weed Symposium, “Panel: The Beverage Industry’s Investment in Cannabis; What Does It Mean Long Term?” August 8, 2019.
  • Museum of Sonoma County, “Panel: The Future of Cannabis in California.” August 7, 2019.
  • ARMA Golden Gate Chapter, “Medicinal and Recreational Marijuana The Law, Ethics, and What you Need to Know.” 2019.
  • Canna West 2019, “Panel: Aligning Public Health and Social Outcomes with State and Local Economic and Tax Benefits.” 2019.
  • 2019 California Cannabis Control Summit, Panel: Big States and Big Urban Markets: Aligning Public Health and Social Outcomes with State and Local Economic and Tax Benefits.” 2019.
  • Annual Cannabis Private Investment Summit West, “Panel: Legal State of the Cannabis Industry.” 2018.
  • ARMA Greater Los Angeles Annual Conference, “Keynote: Compliance in the Cannabis Industry: Managing Risk in the Midst of the Green Rush.” 2018.
  • Spannabis Barcelona XV (Spain), “The Future of Cannabis in the United States & How it is Similar to Spain.” 2017.
  • ARMA Seattle 2017, “California Scenarios.” 2017.
  • Cannabis Business Summit, “What an Investor Wants: Insights from Investors for Securing Financing and Avoiding Risk.” 2016.
  • Cannabis Business Summit, “Mergers and Acquisitions in the Cannabis Industry.” 2016.
  • Elevated Cannabis Compliance Conference, 2016.
  • SCGA First Fundraiser, “Emerging Issues in the Cannabis Industry,” 2015.
  • Marijuana DUI, “Marijuana DUI: Does Cannabis Impair Driving?” 2015.
  • Cannabis Tax and Law Symposium, “Running a Cannabis Centric Practice,” 2015.
  • Cannabis Business Summit, “Litigation Issues Within the Cannabis Industry,” 2015.
  • 2015 Spring Seminar, “Marijuana Cases, Medical Collectives and Cooperatives,” 2015.
  • Aspen Legal Seminar, “Crossing the Narc: Techniques in Cross-Examining the Narcotics Expert,” 2014.
  • Cannabis in California, Ending the 100 Year War, “Cannabis Legalization,” 2013.
  • West Coast Cannabis Expo and Music Festival, “Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012,” 2011.
  • Reform Conference,”Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012,” 2011.
  • Next Steps Conference, “Cannabis Policy Reform,” 2010.
  • LexisNexis Practical Guidance® Practice Note, “The Interplay Between MAUCRSA and CEQA for Commercial Cannabis Licensees (CA),” 2023
  • Lexis Nexis Practical Guidance® Practice Note, “Cannabis Retail License Application Process (CA),” 2022
  • Cal Bar Journal, Criminal Law Section, “Effectuating the Medical Cannabis Defense in California,” 2015
  • Kush Magazine, “Legalization and How California will Lead in Cannabis Centric Innovation,” 2011
  • West Coast Leaf, “The Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012” 2011

PRO BONO & SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS.

  • International Cannabis Business Conference, Barcelona, “Evolving Cannabis Policy Within The European Union.” March 9, 2023.
  • Long Beach City College, “Introduction to the Cannabis Industry (8-Week Course), Lead Instructor.” 2020 – 2021.
  • Meadowlands Digital: Essential Conversations for the California Cannabis Community, “Creating Cannabis Friendly Cities In California and Beyond.” October 2, 2020.
  • Americans for Safe Access (ASA) 2020 Medical Cannabis for Neurological Conditions Symposium, “School Cannabis Policies & Legal Support.” September 26, 2020.
  • DEA Interim Final Rules: Implications On CBD Industry, September 23, 2020.
  • Medical Cannabiz World, Malta. November 4-5, 2019.
  • Infused Products Conference, “Money, Money, Money: Acquisition, Merger, Divestiture and Financing Extraction and Infused Products Operations.” September 24, 2019.
  • CalCPA California Cannabis Industry Symposium, August 9, 2019.
  • Wine & Weed Symposium, “Panel: The Beverage Industry’s Investment in Cannabis; What Does It Mean Long Term?” August 8, 2019.
  • Museum of Sonoma County, “Panel: The Future of Cannabis in California.” August 7, 2019.
  • ARMA Golden Gate Chapter, “Medicinal and Recreational Marijuana The Law, Ethics, and What you Need to Know.” 2019.
  • Canna West 2019, “Panel: Aligning Public Health and Social Outcomes with State and Local Economic and Tax Benefits.” 2019.
  • 2019 California Cannabis Control Summit, Panel: Big States and Big Urban Markets: Aligning Public Health and Social Outcomes with State and Local Economic and Tax Benefits.” 2019.
  • Annual Cannabis Private Investment Summit West, “Panel: Legal State of the Cannabis Industry.” 2018.
  • ARMA Greater Los Angeles Annual Conference, “Keynote: Compliance in the Cannabis Industry: Managing Risk in the Midst of the Green Rush.” 2018.
  • Spannabis Barcelona XV (Spain), “The Future of Cannabis in the United States & How it is Similar to Spain.” 2017.
  • ARMA Seattle 2017, “California Scenarios.” 2017.
  • Cannabis Business Summit, “What an Investor Wants: Insights from Investors for Securing Financing and Avoiding Risk.” 2016.
  • Cannabis Business Summit, “Mergers and Acquisitions in the Cannabis Industry.” 2016.
  • Elevated Cannabis Compliance Conference, 2016.
  • SCGA First Fundraiser, “Emerging Issues in the Cannabis Industry,” 2015.
  • Marijuana DUI, “Marijuana DUI: Does Cannabis Impair Driving?” 2015.
  • Cannabis Tax and Law Symposium, “Running a Cannabis Centric Practice,” 2015.
  • Cannabis Business Summit, “Litigation Issues Within the Cannabis Industry,” 2015.
  • 2015 Spring Seminar, “Marijuana Cases, Medical Collectives and Cooperatives,” 2015.
  • Aspen Legal Seminar, “Crossing the Narc: Techniques in Cross-Examining the Narcotics Expert,” 2014.
  • Cannabis in California, Ending the 100 Year War, “Cannabis Legalization,” 2013.
  • West Coast Cannabis Expo and Music Festival, “Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012,” 2011.
  • Reform Conference,”Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012,” 2011.
  • Next Steps Conference, “Cannabis Policy Reform,” 2010.

Memberships & Associations

  • Association Internationale des Juristes du Droit de la Vigne et du Vin (AIDV) / International Wine Law Association
  • Coalition for Cannabis Policy Reform, Board of Directors (2015)
  • National Cannabis Industry Association, Member (2014 – Present)
  • California Cannabis Industry Association, Member (2014 – Present)
  • NORML Legal Committee, Attorney Member (2013 – Present)
  • Sonoma County Bar Association, Member (2011 – Present)

Published Articles

  • Lexis Nexis Practical Guidance® Practice Note, “The Interplay Between MAUCRSA and CEQA for Commercial Cannabis Licensees (CA),” 2023
  • Lexis Nexis Practical Guidance® Practice Note, “Cannabis Retail License Application Process (CA),” 2022
  • Cal Bar Journal, Criminal Law Section, “Effectuating the Medical Cannabis Defense in California,” 2015
  • Kush Magazine, “Legalization and How California will Lead in Cannabis Centric Innovation,” 2011
  • West Coast Leaf, “The Repeal Cannabis Prohibition Act of 2012” 2011