Speaking Bureau
Bob Hoban — Cannabis-Law Speaker for Industry Events
Robert Hoban speaks at conferences, association events, MSO industry summits, and CLE programs. 20+ years. 30+ countries. The foremost cannabis law practitioner available for your stage — on federal rescheduling, M&A, 280E, social equity, and regulatory strategy.
20+
Years cannabis law practice
30+
Countries advised
100+
Speaking appearances
All Speaking Topics
Filter by audience to find the right topic for your event.
Cannabis M&A Diligence — What Buyers Miss
The Regulatory, Tax, and License Risk Hidden in Every Cannabis Deal
Cannabis M&A transactions carry layers of hidden risk that standard corporate diligence frameworks miss: license transferability restrictions, regulatory approval timelines that can kill deals mid-close, 280E tax exposure that rewrites the cap table, and state-specific change-of-control rules that vary wildly. Robert Hoban draws on 20+ years of cannabis M&A deal experience to give buyers, sellers, and their counsel a practical diligence checklist they can use immediately.
Federal Cannabis Rescheduling: Where We Are Now
DEA, FDA, and the Road from Schedule I to Schedule III
The DEA's proposed reclassification of cannabis to Schedule III marks the most consequential federal shift in 50 years of U.S. drug policy. Robert Hoban unpacks the rulemaking timeline, what rescheduling does — and critically does not — change for operators, the IRC §280E tax survival path, and what the industry should expect next from DEA, FDA, and Congress. This session separates signal from noise for counsel, operators, and investors navigating the transition.
MSO Tax Strategy in a §280E World
Structuring, IRC §471(c), and Surviving IRS Scrutiny
Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code prohibits cannabis businesses from deducting ordinary business expenses, creating effective tax rates of 60–80% for plant-touching entities. Robert Hoban walks through the legal structuring strategies that reduce 280E exposure — including the IRC §471(c) small business inventory election, management company bifurcation, and ancillary income streams — while addressing the IRS audit trends every multi-state operator should understand.
Multi-State Operator Diligence Lessons
What 20 Years of Cannabis Transactions Taught Us About MSO Risk
Robert Hoban has represented buyers, sellers, and investors in multi-state cannabis transactions across more than 25 states. Drawing on two decades of deal experience, this session shares the recurring due diligence failures that cost acquirers millions — from license conditions they didn't read to state-specific regulatory surprises that extended closes by 18 months. A candid, case-study-driven session for M&A practitioners and investors entering or scaling in cannabis.
Cannabis Banking Reality Check
SAFE Banking, FinCEN, and What Actually Works for Cannabis Operators Today
Cannabis remains federally illegal, yet thousands of banks and credit unions serve the industry today under FinCEN's 2014 guidance. The SAFER Banking Act has passed the Senate but stalled in the House repeatedly. Robert Hoban explains what cannabis banking actually looks like in 2025 — which institutions participate, what compliance costs, how payment rails work, and what rescheduling changes (and doesn't change) for cannabis financial services.
Social Equity Programs — Compliance Without Catastrophe
Meeting Social Equity Obligations Without Losing Your License
Social equity conditions attached to cannabis licenses are among the most frequently misunderstood and misapplied obligations in the industry. Operators who win licenses based on social equity status often face post-award compliance failures that cost them their licenses — not because of bad intent, but because the requirements are opaque, state-specific, and enforced unevenly. Robert Hoban provides a compliance framework for social equity licensees and the MSOs and investors who partner with them.
State Licensing Windows: How to Win
Application Strategy, Scoring Systems, and the Mistakes That Eliminate Qualified Applicants
Cannabis license application windows are among the highest-stakes legal exercises in modern commercial law. States score applicants on business plan quality, community impact, social equity, security, financial capitalization, and a dozen other criteria — then award a finite number of licenses. Robert Hoban has helped applicants win licenses in more than 25 states and shares the strategies, common disqualifiers, and scoring-system insights that separate successful applications from expensive rejections.
Federal Comment Periods — How to File
Participating Effectively in DEA, FDA, and USDA Cannabis Rulemaking
Every major federal cannabis rule — from DEA scheduling decisions to FDA food additive determinations to USDA hemp production rules — goes through a public comment period. Well-crafted comments from industry stakeholders influence agency reasoning and create a record for judicial review. Robert Hoban walks through the mechanics of the federal comment process, how to write comments that agencies actually read, and how to mobilize industry coalitions for collective comment campaigns.
Hemp/Cannabinoid Regulatory Risk
Delta-8, THCa, THCP, and the Farm Bill Gray Zone
The 2018 Farm Bill's definition of hemp — cannabis with less than 0.3% delta-9 THC by dry weight — created a regulatory gray zone that spawned an entire market: delta-8 THC, THCa flower, THCP, HHC, and dozens of other intoxicating cannabinoids sold in gas stations and convenience stores nationwide. The 2024 Farm Bill reauthorization is rewriting these rules. Robert Hoban explains the evolving legal framework, state-by-state enforcement variance, and the compliance posture that protects hemp brands from FDA, FTC, and DEA action.
What to Expect
Keynote (45 min)
A focused, research-backed address with current regulatory data, practitioner insight, and audience Q&A. Ideal for conference main stage and plenary sessions.
Panel (60 min)
Moderated or co-panelist format covering multiple perspectives on a regulatory or industry topic. Works well for association conferences and trade events.
Workshop (2 hr)
Deep-dive working session with case studies, interactive exercises, and participant Q&A. Ideal for legal and compliance teams or CLE credit programs.
Fireside Chat (30 min)
Conversational interview format with a moderator. High audience engagement, flexible topic. Perfect for investor summits and executive forums.
Bob Hoban — Authority Triad
For Event Organizers
Book Bob to Speak at Your Event
Keynotes, panels, fireside chats, and workshops on cannabis law, federal rescheduling, M&A, 280E, and regulatory compliance. Virtual, in-person, and hybrid formats available.