Jean Elaine Smith-Gonnell

Jean E. Smith Gonnell is one of the nation's leading cannabis practitioners. She is an attorney at Messner Reeves LLP, where she practices cannabis commercial/administrative litigation, specializing in all facets of Colorado marijuana law. Ms. Smith Gonnell also routinely provides advice to cannabis industry businesses about medical/retail/recreational marijuana, licensing, regulatory compliance, general business transactional law, and the intersection of state and federal law.

Ms. Smith Gonnell's clients include a number of businesses both in and out of the marijuana industry, as well as individuals and those facing a variety of legal proceedings at the District level. She has served the cannabis industry full time since 2012. In November 2011, as a law clerk, Ms. Smith-Gonnell assisted in the development of an article for The Colorado Lawyer, a publication of the Colorado Bar Association, entitled "Colorado's Emerging Medical Marijuana Legal Framework and Constitutional Rights."

Because of her hard work and experience, Jean has an intimate understanding of the cannabis industry, its regulatory framework, and the prominent industry actors. Ms. Smith Gonnell's work has been highlighted in the Denver Post, Colorado Springs Independent, Westword, and Fox 31 News. She earned her J.D. degree from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law.