Overview

Shawn Hauser is a partner and chair of the Hemp and Cannabinoids Department at Vicente Sederberg LLP. Shawn helps marijuana and hemp businesses navigate the intersections between state and federal law including hemp laws, food and drug laws, regulatory compliance, licensing, general business representation, investment, and general business matters. As chair of the VS Hemp and Cannabinoids Department, Shawn advises clients on the unique legal landscape governing cannabinoids and hemp, helping them form compliant business structures and develop innovative solutions that best position them for success at the state and national levels. She has been named one of "Denver's Top Lawyers" by 5280 magazine in each of the past five years (2016-2020).

With more than a decade of experience, Shawn is a go-to source for businesses, industry groups, governments, and reporters seeking opinions, analysis, and guidance on cannabis and hemp law and policy matters. She is a member of the Hemp Industries Association Legislative Review Committee and the steering committee for the American Hemp Campaign, which was instrumental in legalizing hemp in Texas in 2019.

Since directing Sensible Colorado's local government implementation team following the passage of Amendment 64, Shawn remains active with local and state governments in Colorado and Texas, and is passionate in supporting the development and implementation of marijuana and hemp regulations that advance the cannabis industry in a dynamic and responsible manner. After attending law school at the University of Denver, Shawn was an associate attorney at McAllister, Darnell & Gottlieb PC, one of the first marijuana-focused law firms in Colorado.

Experience

Leadership

• Co-founder, Hemp for Our Future, 2020
• Member, Steering Committee, American Hemp Campaign, 2019
• Member, Legislative Review Committee, Hemp Industries Association, 2019
• Member, Cannabis Committee, American Herbal Products Association
• Member, Education Committee, American Herbal Products Association
• Member, Speaking Committee, International Cannabis Bar Association, 2015-Present
• Member, Green Flower Steering Committee 
• Founding Member, Women Grow, 2014-Present
• Board Member, National Hemp Association, 2014
• Director, Local Government Implementation Team, Sensible Colorado

Recognition

• National Law Journal, "Cannabis Law Trailblazer," 2019
• 5280 Magazine, "Denver's Top Lawyers," 2016-2020

Publications

VS Insights

• Author, "Hemp for Our Future: A Social Responsibility Initiative," May 6, 2020

• Co-Author, "Yes, You Can Help Shape Federal and International Cannabis Policy," April 30, 2020

• Author, "FDA Issues Long-Awaited CBD Update in Report to Congress and Public Statement," March 12, 2020

• Author, "Getting to the Root of the Problem: The 0.3% THC Hemp Standard," February 27, 2020

• Co-Author, "What You Need to Know About the FDA Consumer Update on CBD," November 27, 2019

• Co-Author, "USDA Hemp Regulations: What Was Expected, Unexpected and Unanswered," October 30, 2019

• Co-Author, "Key Takeaways from the U.S. Senate Agriculture Committee Hearing on Hemp Production and the 2018 Farm Bill," August 23, 2019

• Co-Author, "Five Reasons Why Texas Could Be 'The Great Hemp State'," July 30, 2019

External Publications

• Author, "How to Find Government Assistance for Your Hemp Business." Hemp Industry Daily, April 28, 2020

• Co-author, "Massachusetts Cannabis Law Manual," MCLE New England, 2019 

• Lead Author, "2018 Farm Bill Policy Guide and Model Hemp Production Plan," American Hemp Campaign, February 28, 2019

• Author, "Opportunities and Obstacles: Intellectual Property in the Colorado Cannabis Industry," Culture Magazine, May 4, 2017

• Author, "The ABC's of CBD Claims," National Cannabis Industry Association, July 2, 2015

Events

• Speaker, NoCo Winter Hemp Summit, "2019 Year in Review and 2020/2021 Looking Forward ,” Boulder, January 16, 2020
• Speaker, INCBA Webinar, "Hemp Industry Update,” , December 18, 2019
• Speaker, Hemp Industry Daily, "Shawn Hauser Discusses the New USDA Hemp Rules with Hemp Industry Daily,” -, November 14, 2019
• Speaker, INCBA Cannabis Law Institute, "Ancillary Agencies ,” New York City, October 03, 2019
• Speaker, AHPA Hemp-CBD Supplement Congress, "A Primer on FDA Regulation of Hemp-CBD Supplements,” Denver, August 16, 2019
• Speaker, American Herbal Products Association , "Hemp-CBD Supplement Congress: Education Committee ,” Denver, August 15, 2019
• Speaker, International Cannabis Bar Association, "The New U.S. Hemp Economy: State and Federal Considerations,” New Orleans, June 11, 2019
• Presenter, United States Food and Drug Administration, "Hearing on Scientific Data and Information about Products Containing Cannabis or Cannabis-Derived Compounds,” Washington D.C., May 31, 2019
• Speaker, Hemp Business Day, "Regulations and Status of the Plant and Hemp Products,” Irun, Spain, April 25, 2019
• Speaker, NoCo Hemp Expo, "Legal Insight: Farm Bill, Policy, Regulation,” Denver, March 29, 2019
• Speaker, NoCo Hemp Expo, "Considerations When Investing in Hemp,” Denver, March 28, 2019
• Speaker, SXSW, "CBD: The Cannabis Trailblazer,” Austin, March 14, 2019
• Speaker, MJBizCon, "The Business of Hemp Forum: Legal & Regulatory Update,” Las Vegas, November 13, 2018
• Presenter, Southern Hemp Expo, "Federal and State Landscape - Hemp Policy and Regulations,” Nashville, September 28, 2018
• Speaker, NCIA Cannabis Business Summit, "The Other Side of Cannabis: Getting Ahead of the Rapidly Evolving U.S. Hemp and CBD Markets,” San Jose, July 26, 2018
• Speaker, National Cannabis Bar Association, "Making Health Claims Under FDA Scrutiny,” , July 25, 2018
• Speaker, INCBA Cannabis Law Institute, "Consumer Protection and Product Liability in the Cannabis Industry ,” Denver, July 28, 2017
• Speaker, SXSW, "Bringing Cannabis MMJ Out of the Shadows,” Austin, March 13, 2017
• Speaker, Cannabis World Congress & Business Expo, "Fundamental Business Issues for Cannabis Businesses,” New York, June 17, 2016
• Speaker, Denver University Marijuana Summit, "Marijuana Regulation at the Federal, State, and Local Levels,” Denver, April 20, 2016
• Speaker, Create Our Future Together Conference, "Medical Marijuana and Older Adults: What You Need to Know,” , October 30, 2015
• Speaker, City of Longmont, "Cannabis in Colorado,” Longmont, September 29, 2015