Aaron C. Lachant

• After the Los Angeles Office of Finance wrongfully cancelled a medical marijuana dispensary’s business tax certificate, the client hired Aaron to handle this matter and the Office quickly determined that the dispensary was compliant and reinstated their certificate, enabling the client to re-open their business.
• Prepared operating plan and compliance program for a medical marijuana dispensary in connection with their license application.
• Obtained favorable settlement and dismissal for a landlord in nuisance abatement action filed by the City of Los Angeles.
• Obtained permits for medical marijuana activity in Palm Springs, San Diego, Malibu, and San Luis Obispo.
• Successfully resolved a longstanding investigation by Operation Safe Medicine, a project of the Medical Board of California, allowing a doctor to avoid criminal prosecution by proactively addressing a physician compliance issue involving medical marijuana recommendations.
• Represented 40 medical marijuana dispensaries, obtaining favorable settlements in a multi-party lawsuit filed by the City of Los Angeles.
• Represented 20 medical marijuana dispensaries in a lawsuit filed against the City involving medical marijuana regulatory ordinance.
• Obtained preliminary injunction and stipulated judgment against an individual operating a copycat marijuana dispensary using client’s name.
• Obtained two complete dismissals against Prop D-compliant marijuana businesses, including a dismissal based on Kellett motion, as well as multiple settlements in which the City Attorney agreed not to prohibit the business from operating.
• Since Proposition D legislation was passed in May 2013 to regulate local medical marijuana businesses, the Los Angeles City Attorney has shut down more than 800 dispensaries. In March 2017, Aaron won a dismissal on the first day of trial by showing that the prosecution would be unable to meet the legal burden proving our client engaged in illegal activity.
• Drafted a municipal medical marijuana regulatory ordinance that qualified for the May 2013 ballot in the City of Los Angeles, providing limited immunity from enforcement to approximately 135 original cannabis dispensaries from a previous City ordinance.
• Represented eight medical marijuana dispensaries in an ongoing lawsuit related to the City of Los Angeles medical marijuana taxation ordinance.
• Obtained a permanent injunction on behalf of a Los Angeles medical marijuana dispensary as part of a global settlement with an illegal competitor business.
  Obtained a court order directing the Los Angeles Police Department to return client’s $100,000 bail payment that was unlawfully seized, as well as unlawfully seized medical marijuana.
• After the City of Malibu’s refusal to implement adult use cannabis regulations, Aaron drafted a ballot measure to overturn the cannabis ban. Measure G, which allows adult use cannabis and delivery in Malibu, not only qualified for the November 2018 election, but was also overwhelmingly passed by voters. As a result, a client received their adult use permit from the City of Malibu in January 2019.

California

J.D., Syracuse University

State Bar of California, Health Law Section
Healthcare Compliance Association
Greater Los Angeles Collective Alliance (GLACA)
Los Angeles County Advisory Working Group, Cannabis Regulation
MMLG

Best Lawyers
Best Lawyer, Best Lawyers Magazine (2020-2026)

Super Lawyers
Rising Star, Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, (2018-2025)
Lawyer of the Year, Litigation – Healthcare, Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine (2023)

Additional Accolades
Top 40 Attorney Under 40 (Los Angeles,) The Daily Journal

Chambers USA
Member of Leech Tishman’s Healthcare Practice Group, ranked Band 5 for Healthcare in California, Chambers USA Guide (2026)