FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 23, 2011
Contact: Rick DeBruhl, Chief Communications Officer
Phone: (602) 340-7335, Mobile: (602) 513-6385
Email: rick.debruhl@staff.azbar.org
State Bar Issues Opinion on the Ethical Position of Lawyers Regarding Medical Marijuana Act
PHOENIX - The State Bar of Arizona's Committee
on the Rules of Professional Conduct has issued an opinion that
says lawyers may assist clients in complying with the state's new
Medical Marijuana Act.
The issue arose because of a conflict between state and federal
law, and that conflict's intersection with legal ethics. Although
Arizona's new law legalizes medical marijuana in the state, federal
law still prohibits the manufacture, distribution or possession
with intent to distribute. An ethical rule prohibits a lawyer from
counseling or assisting a client in conduct that the lawyer knows
is criminal or fraudulent.
However, the newly released ethics opinion says that Arizona
lawyers may assist clients under the following
circumstances:
- The client requests assistance for actions expressly permitted
by the Arizona Medical Marijuana Act;
- The lawyer advises the client about the potential implications
and consequences of federal law (or recommends client seek proper
guidance); and
- The client knowingly decides to move forward with full
knowledge of conflicting federal law.
The opinion notes that no court opinion has held that Arizona's
law is invalid or unenforceable and that the federal government has
essentially carved out a safe harbor for some conduct that is in
"clear and unambiguous compliance" with state law.
"In any potential conflict between state and federal authority,
such as may be presented by the interplay between the Act and
federal law, lawyers have a critical role to perform in the
activities that will lead to the proper resolution of the
controversy," according to the opinion.
The opinion is strictly limited to the unusual circumstances
created by the adoption of Arizona's new Medical Marijuana Act. Any
court ruling that affects the Act may also affect the opinion.
The full opinion is available at http://www.myazbar.org/Ethics/opinionview.cfm?id=710.
State Bar ethics opinions are advisory in nature only and are
not binding in any disciplinary or other legal proceedings.
About the State Bar
The State Bar of Arizona is a non-profit organization that operates under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court. The Bar includes approximately 16,000 active attorneys and provides education and development programs for the legal profession and the public. Since 1933 the Bar and its members have been committed to serving the public by making sure the voices of all people in Arizona are heard in our justice system.
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