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Dan Viets is an attorney in private practice in Columbia, MO, concentrating on the defense of marijuana cases. He has served for many years as the Missouri State Coordinator for NORML. He is a former president of the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, former chair of the board of the Mid-Missouri ACLU, former president of the University of Missouri student body and former chair of the City of Columbia Human Rights Commission.
Dan was the recipient of the 1993 Martin Luther King Association's "Keeping the Dream Alive" award and the 1995 Mid-Missouri "Civil Libertarian of the Year." Dan was named High Times Freedom Fighter of the Month in March, 2005 for his work helping to pass both a marijuana decriminalization initiative and a medical marijuana initiative in the November, 2004 election in Columbia.
He received the 2005 Atticus Finch Outstanding Criminal Defense Lawyer award from the Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers. In January, 2006 he received the Trailblazer award from the Mid-Missouri NAACP.
He received the "Audiencey Award" from Conan O'Brien on the Tonight Show for looking most like the college professor who could always get you weed. Dan hosts a weekly radio program, called "Sex, Drugs and Civil Liberties", on a community station affiliated with National Public Radio.
Dan co-authored Missouri's medical marijuana law and Chaired the Board of the 2018 campaign which passed that law, now Article XIV, Section 1 of Missouri's Constitution. He co-authored Missouri's law legalizing adult use, cultivation and sales of marijuana and Chaired the Advisory Board of the 2022 campaign which passed that law, now Article XIV, Section 2 of Missouri's Constitution.
Dan is President of the national NORML Foundation, Secretary of the national NORML Board, and a Lifetime member of the NORML Legal Committee.
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Chat withState: Missouri
Acquired: 1986
Lawyer disciplined by state licensing authority in 2021
15 N. 10th Street, Columbia, MO, 65201
31 Client Reviews
Showing 1 - 5 of 10 reviews | Recommendation
Posted by anonymous | August 13, 2023 | Hired Attorney
Anonymous
Dan is the best lawyer ever! He is so on point from the beginning! He is a very smart, caring, and intelligent man with great compassion for people. I’m so pleased with his service and will forever be thankful and grateful how he helped my son with his case. Dan is the man to call if you need a great...
Posted by Anonymous | January 15, 2021 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
Best lawyer in MO
I got into some serious trouble in Booneville, MO. After getting caught with a large amount of marijuana on the I-70, I was facing a felony charge that carried up to 7-10 years in prison. Hiring Dan was the best decision I could have made. He ultimately got me off with an SIS probation which kept the...
Posted by Samuel schaben | December 09, 2020 | Hired Attorney | Criminal Defense
The best!!!!!!!!
Dan and his hard working team are amazing! These are the kind of people that are out there protecting your rights! I was charged with three felonies involving cannabis. I suffered from chronic knee pains from surgery and chose cannabis as my primary pain relief medication. I obtained my mmj medical c...
Posted by Lisa | January 07, 2019 | Hired Attorney | Expungement
He helped turn my life around !!
I hired Mr Viets almost 20 yrs ago on a drug charge where I was looking at 65 yrs in prison. I had never been in any trouble before and I was from a different state, alone and scared!! He pleaded my case to where I was sentenced to 5 yrs probation!! I couldn’t believe it !! I came home to Indiana fo...
Posted by anonymous | November 26, 2018 | Hired Attorney | Drug Crime
Reputation Saver
Dan represented me when my license was on the line. I was charged with a felony possession charge that I was not willing to plea guilty to or even have any type of drug possession on my record. Dan helped me to get the information that showed a shadow of doubt to the right people and was able to get...
"Dan Viets is one of the best, if not the best, criminal defense lawyers in Missouri. He's been leading the charge to legalize marijuana in Missouri for longer than I can remember as the president of Missouri NORML, and is a fierce litigator and trial lawyer."
DUI and DWI lawyer
This lawyer was disciplined by a state licensing authority in 2021.
Suspension issued in MO, 2021
updated on 06/12/2023This sanction means the attorney lost his or her license to practice law for a period of time. The attorney typically returns to practicing law when the suspension expires.
2018
Peer Review Rated, Martindale-Hubbell
2018
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2017
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2016
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2015
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2014
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2013
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2012
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2011
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2010
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2010
Atticus Finch Award, Missouri Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers
2009
Super Lawyer, Super Lawyers
2006
Trailblazer, NAACP
2006
Lifetime Achievement Award, NORML
2005
Freedom Fighter of the Month, High Times
1995
Civil Libertarian of the Year, ACLU
1993
"Keeping the Dream Alive" Award, Martin Luther King Association
1986 - 2021
Owner, Dan Viets Attorney and Counselor At Law
2015 - Present
NORML National Legal CommitteeDirector
2014 - Present
New Approach MissouriPresident
1986 - Present
Missouri Association of Criminal Defense LawyersBoard Member
1986 - Present
Missouri Affiliate of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws NORMLState Coordinator
Board Member
President
1994 - 1995
Missouri Association of Criminal Defense LawyersPresident
1985
JD - Juris Doctor
1981
BA - Bachelor of Arts
2015
MIssouri NORML Coordinator
English
Legal Answers
Legal Guides
Can police search my car based on the smell of marijuana alone after being told they can't search the car?
24 Oct 2021
My son has his probation suspended,he missed his drug court class or session,he is hiding cause he does not want to do a 5 year?
23 Oct 2021
Would bringing up my Marijuana card in cart get the case dismissed ?
14 Oct 2021