Overview

Since the inception of Colorado's state-regulated medical marijuana program in 2010, VS founding partner Christian Sederberg has been representing cannabis businesses and ancillary companies on a wide range of compliance, regulatory, corporate, and legislative issues. Christian is a widely recognized leader in the cannabis industry, and in addition to his client work, he also works closely with government officials, trade associations, members of the business community, and advocates to advance thoughtful cannabis policy at the local, state, and national level.

Christian played an integral role in the passage and implementation of Colorado’s historic cannabis legalization initiative in 2012, and was nominated by Gov. John Hickenlooper to represent the campaign on the Amendment 64 Implementation Task Force. He also sat on the executive committee of the Committee for Responsible Regulation, which coordinated the campaign to establish statewide excise and sales taxes on the sale of adult-use marijuana in Colorado.

Christian currently serves on the boards of the Cannabis Trade Federation and Colorado Leads, and he previously served as a board member for the National Cannabis Industry Association. He was included in the National Law Journal’s inaugural list of “Cannabis Law Trailblazers,” as well as the Cannabis Business Executive 100, a list of the 100 most influential people in the global cannabis industry and policy reform movement. He has been included in 5280’s list of “Denver’s Top Lawyers” every year since 2015.

Experience

Leadership & Community Involvement

• Member, International Cannabis Bar Association
• Board Member, Colorado Leads
• Board Member, Cannabis Trade Federation
• Member, California Cannabis Industry Association
• Board Member, Burnes Center on Poverty and Homelessness
• Advisory Board Member, Unlimited Sciences
• Advisory Board Member, Cannabis Voter Project
• Board Member, Simplifya
• Board Member, Apothecanna
• Board Member, Beboe
• Member, Colorado Bar Association
• Board Member, National Cannabis Industry Association, 2014-2016
• Member, Task Force on the Implementation of Amendment 64, 2012
• Member, Colorado Department of Revenue Medical Marijuana Workgroup, 2010
• Member, Denver Marijuana Advisory Board, 2010

Recognition

• Colorado Springs Gazette, "13 Key Colorado Capital Influencers," 2019
• 5280 magazine, "Denver's Top Lawyers," 2015-2019
• National Law Journal, "Cannabis Law Trailblazer," 2018
• Green Entrepreneur, "100 Cannabis Leaders," 2018
• Cannabis Business Awards, "Political Industry Representative of the Year," 2017
• The Cannabist, "Best Overall Company," 2017
• Law Week Colorado, "Barrister's Best," 2017
• Cannabis Business Awards, "Cannabis Business of the Year," 2014-2015
• 5280 Magazine, "Most Powerful People in Denver," 2014
• Denver Business Journal, "Power Book: Denver's Top Business Newsmakers," 2014
• Cannabis Business Executive, "100 Most Influential People in the Cannabis Industry," 2014
• Cannabis Business Awards, "Cannabis Industry Leader," 2013
• Cannabis Business Awards, "MVP," 2012

Events

• Speaker, Colorado Bar Association , "The SAFE Banking Act,” Denver, February 11, 2020
• Speaker, Colorado Bar Association, "CLE - The SAFE Banking Act: Will Cannabis Industry Businesses and Employees Soon Be Bank Customers?,” Denver, November 20, 2019
• Speaker, 2019 US District Court Conference, "Federal Issues Related to Legalized Marijuana,” Las Vegas, May 16, 2019
• Speaker, TEDxMileHigh, "Colorado's Cannabis Conversation,” Denver, April 18, 2018
• Speaker, Young Presidents Organization Annual Retreat, "The Cannabis industry- History, and What the Future Brings,” , October 06, 2017
• Speaker, National Council of Legislators from Gaming States (NCLGS), "Committee on Casinos: Casinos & Marijuana: Legal and Policy Issues,” Denver, June 09, 2017
• Speaker, Colorado Counties Inc. Foundation Conference, "Understanding and Updating Marijuana’s Impact on Your County,” Denver, June 07, 2017
• Speaker, CLE Committee Spring Symposium, "The Connection Between Marijuana and Real Estate Law,” Denver, April 21, 2017
• Speaker, Colorado Counties, Inc. Foundation Conference, "Emerging Marijuana Policy Issues,” Denver, June 08, 2016
• Speaker, AICPA/AAML National Conference on Divorce, "Divorce and Valuation Issues for Cannabis Business Owners,” New Orleans, May 20, 2016
• Speaker, The Cannabis Science & Policy Summit, "The Movement & Lobby: Ideology & Industry in the Legalization Process,” New York, April 18, 2016
• Speaker, Liberty on the Rocks, "Could Marijuana Open the Door to End the Drug War?,” Denver, March 02, 2016
• Presenter, American College of Medical Toxicology: A Legal 'PotPourri', "Overview of Recreational & Medical Marijuana Laws,” Denver, December 09, 2015
• Presenter, Colorado Bar Association CLE: The Colorado Marijuana Industry, "The State of the Law: Coats v. Dish Network and Beyond,” Denver, November 05, 2015
• Presenter, Rocky Mountain Young Professional's Summit, "Crafting Your Colorado,” Denver, October 16, 2015
• Presenter, Colorado Bar Association CLE: 2015 Consumer Bankruptcy Update, "Marijuana Issues (for Debtors and Creditors) in Bankruptcy Cases,” Denver, June 26, 2015
• Speaker, Colorado Bar Association CLE: Marijuana- The Colorado Model, "Banking Now and Tomorrow,” Denver, November 19, 2014
• Speaker, Colorado Bar Association CLE: Business Law Institute, "The Marijuana Biz: Where No Business Has Gone Before,” Denver, October 16, 2013