Representation in Marijuana Industry Chilled by Ethics Rules

Lawyers seeking to do business in the marijuana industry need to consider State ethics rules before accepting representation. For example, Pennsylvania Rule of Professional Conduct 1.2(d) prohibits lawyers from counseling a client to engage, or assisting a client, in conduct that the lawyer knows is criminal or fraudulent. The Pennsylvania Bar has proposed a new subsection to one such rule that will, if adopted, guide lawyers who wish to represent clients in the growing marijuana industry.