Jonathan S. Robbins

Jonathan Robbins chairs Akerman’s Cannabis Practice, counseling companies with interests in regulated substances industries on evolving legal and business issues. His work includes representing public and private companies and individuals in complex regulatory and litigation matters involving regulated substances. He is a founding board member of the National Cannabis Bar Association and an active member of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Jonathan’s experience also extends to financial services. He represents clients in investigations and administrative and enforcement proceedings brought by federal, state and self-regulatory bodies, including the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Florida Attorney General’s Office, the Florida Department of Financial Services and the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation. In securities matters, he represents broker-dealers and registered persons in federal and state court cases and FINRA arbitrations involving customer and industry disputes.

His broker-dealer clients have ranged from smaller regional firms and investment advisory firms to major national wirehouses; he has also represented clearing firms. Jonathan serves as an arbitrator in securities disputes between customers and members, as well as between associated persons and members. He represents clients in matters adverse to the SEC and has worked with the agency as counsel to receivers appointed by U.S. District Courts.

Chambers USA has ranked Jonathan in Cannabis Law, and the National Law Journal named him one of its “Cannabis Law Trailblazers” in 2018. His commentary has appeared in national outlets including U.S. News & World Report, The American Lawyer, Politico, The Washington Post, Bloomberg News and Law360.

• J.D., University of Florida Levin College of Law, 1993
• B.A., University of Michigan, 1990, with honors

Bars

• Florida

Courts

• U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida
• U.S. District Court, Southern District of Florida

• Benchmark Litigation 2014-2026, Listed in Florida as a “Litigation Star” for Commercial and Securities
• Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers, 2021-2022
• Chambers USA, 2019-2026, Ranked in Top Tier Eastern United States: Nationwide for Cannabis Law
• The National Law Journal, Named in the Cannabis Law Trailblazers List, 2018-2019

• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Approved Arbitrator
• National Cannabis Bar Association, Founding Board Member, Ethics Committee Co-Chair
• National Cannabis Industry Association, Member; State Regulations Committee (SRC)
• International Cannabis Bar Association, Advisory Board, Member
• American Bar Association, Member
• Broward Bar Association, Business Litigation Committee, Member
• Dade County Bar Association, Securities Litigation Committee, Member
• The Florida Bar, Member
• Palm Beach County Bar Association, Securities Litigation Committee, Member
• Madison’s Who’s Who of Professionals, Member
• Phi Alpha Delta, Member

• BARBRI, Speaker, “Schedule III Classification of Cannabis: Banking, Capital, and Tax Planning for Medical Cannabis Businesses,” July 23, 2026
• International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA)’s 2026 Cannabis Law Institute, Speaker, “After the Reschedule: Navigating the New Federal Cannabis Landscape,” June 18, 2026
• Food & Wine, Quoted, “Can You Bring Cannabis on a Plane? The TSA’s New Guidance, Explained,” June 4, 2026
• Law360, Co-Author, “Sizing Up The Rescheduling Hurdles Medical Pot Cos. Face,” May 22, 2026
• CLAB 8th Annual Conference & Expo, Speaker, “Florida as a Gateway: The U.S. Launchpad for CALA Cannabis,” October 2, 2025
• Cannabis Lab (cLAB) Networking Event, Speaker, “What Does it Mean to be a Cannab*s Attorney?” May 22, 2025
• 2025 Florida Marijuana Policy Conference, Speaker, “Cannabis Banking, Legal, Finance & AI,” January 13, 2025
• 2024 Eleventh Circuit Judicial Conference, Speaker, “Legalization of Marijuana,” May 10, 2024
• Benzinga Cannabis Capital Conference, Speaker, “The Future of Cannabis: Integrating the Global Value Chain,” April 11, 2023
• Law360, Co-Author, “3rd Time May Be The Charm For Florida Cannabis Legalization,” September 16, 2022
• Bloomberg Law, Quoted, “Legal Cannabis Use Needs Workplace Protections, Some States Say,” August 11, 2022
• MJ Business Daily, Quoted, “Las Vegas Cannabis Industry Preps for Launch of Consumption Lounges,” August 5, 2022
• Cannabis Times, Quoted, “What Would Interstate Commerce Look Like Under the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act?” July 21, 2022
• Cannabis LAB, 6th Annual Canna Business & Wellness Conference and Expo, Speaker, “Meet the CEOs - What Does It Mean to Be an MMTC CEO,” June 3, 2022
• Law360, Co-Author, “The Rise of Cannabis Mobile Commerce,” April 18, 2022
• Cannabis Law Symposium, Speaker, “The Practice of Cannabis Law,” March 19, 2022
• Mycannabis.com, Quoted, “Interview Series,” March 13, 2022
• CREW Miami, Speaker, “Seeing Green - CBD Updates and Connection to Commercial Real Estate,” March 9, 2022
• Cannabis LAB, Webinar, Speaker, “Truth or Dare: Delta-8 & Novelty Cannabinoids,” January 27, 2022
• New York Law Journal, Quoted, “Law Firms See Promise in Psychedelic-Based Medicine as It Moves to the Market,” November 29, 2021
• Bloomberg News, Quoted, “Cannabis Practices Sprout as Big Law Firms Follow the Money,” September 21, 2021

• Florida Hemp Association’s Virtual Hemp Conference, Speaker, “Rules and Regulations for the Hemp Industry,” April 9, 2021

• Reuters Legal, Quoted, “Big Law’s Cannabis Practices Eye N.Y Expansion as State Revs Up for Recreational Sales,” April 7, 2021

• 5th Annual Canna Business & Wellness Conference and Expo (Cannabis LAB), Moderator, “Meet the CEOs,” February 6, 2021
• Law360, Quoted, “Fla. Pot Licensing Law Unconstitutional, State High Court Told,” June 29, 2020
• Law360, Quoted, “Product Liability Legislation And Regulation To Watch,” January 1, 2020
• 2019 Lex Mundi Healthcare and Life Sciences Industry Group Global Meeting, Speaker, “Medical Cannabis,” November 15, 2019
• Law360, Quoted, “4 Issues With Converting Warehouses to Cannabis Farms,” November 6, 2019
• Law360, Quoted, “4 Tips for Cannabis Companies Amid Lung Illness Outbreak,” November 1, 2019
• 4th Annual Cannabis Lab Conference and Expo (Cannabis LAB), Speaker, “Demystifying CBD & Hemp Regulations: What’s Really Legal,” October 29, 2019
• Law360, Quoted, “Top 5 Environmental Concerns for the Cannabis Industry,” October 29, 2019
• Lex Mundi, Regulatory Challenges for Investors, Webinar, Speaker, “The Business of Cannabis,” October 10, 2019
• Law360, Quoted, “Florida Powerhouse: Akerman,” September 3, 2019
• Law.com Interview, Quoted, “Akerman Q&A: Florida, Marijuana Litigation, and Credit Unions,” August 22, 2019
• Florida Bar News, Quoted, “Business Law Section Considers Creating a Cannabis Law Entity,” August 7, 2019
• The American Lawyer, Quoted, “Cannabis Has Big Law Seeing Green, But the Am Law 50 Are Skipping the Party,” July 28, 2019
• Legal Learning Series Cannabis LAB Seminar, Panelist, “Legislative Updates in Cannabis,” May 23, 2019
• Daily Business Review, Quoted, “Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Compete for Restricted Retail Space in South Florida,” April 15, 2019
• Daily Business Review, Quoted, “One State South of Georgia, Dispensaries Brace for Legal Impact of Smokable Medical Marijuana,” March 20, 2019
• Medical Marijuana Business Association of Florida, The Florida Medical Marijuana Policy Conference 2.0, Panelist, Acquisitions, Banking & Legal panel, March 12, 2019
• Law360, Quoted, “Will The FDA Bite On CBD Foods?” March 1, 2019
• National Business Institute CLE Seminar, Presenter, “Medical Marijuana Law in Florida,” February 19, 2019
• Business Insider, Quoted, “Meet the Top Lawyers Working on Some of the Biggest Deals in the Booming Marijuana Industry That’s Set to Skyrocket to $194 Billion,” January 11, 2019
• HB Litigation Conferences, Co-Presenter, “Medical Marijuana in Florida: Law, Litigation & Practical Considerations” Webinar, December 13, 2018

• The Seminar Group, The Business of Marijuana in Florida, Program Chair and Speaker, “Status of Implementation of Amendment 2 in Florida,” and “Regulatory Issues for Medical Marijuana Treatment Centers, Physicians and Patients/Caregivers,” October 2-3, 2018

• Law360, Quoted, “Setbacks Shake Up Fla.’s Medical Marijuana Rollout,” August 17, 2018
• Daily Business Review, Quoted, “Ruling Rejects Limits on Medical Marijuana Businesses,” August 7, 2018
• National Business Institute CLE Seminar, Co-Presenter, “Marijuana Businesses Law in Florida,” June 25, 2018
• Law360, Co-Author, “DEA Hemp Rule Is Safe For Now, But That May Change,” June 15, 2018
• Law360, Quoted, “A Primer on Insurance for the Legal Cannabis Biz,” May 3, 2018
• Law360, Quoted, “Lawyers Needed to Cut through the Weeds of Pot M&A,” March 2, 2018
• South Palm Beach County Bar Association, Civil Committee’s Cannabis Law CLE Seminar, Speaker, February 27, 2018 
• Alliance 2018 Winter Conference: Fueling Growth, Redefining Potential, Co-Presenter, “Legal Considerations in Cannabis Industry Investments,” January 18, 2018
• Law360, Co-Author, “America’s Shifting Views on Marijuana Post-Cole Memo,” January 16, 2018
• Washington Post, Quoted, ”’Is This Stuff Legal?′ Federal Position on Pot Makes Situation Foggy, Draws Pushback,” January 5, 2018
• Rocket Matter CLE Presentation, Speaker, “A Florida Lawyer’s Guide to the Medical Cannabis Program,” December 6, 2017
• National Business Institute CLE Seminar, Panelist, “Medical Marijuana Law in Florida,” December 4, 2017
• PilotLegis Annual Member Conference, Panelist, “Starting a Marijuana Law Practice? The Regulatory and Ethical Issues to Consider,” October 30, 2017
• Cannabis Law Institute, Speaker, “The Laws and Regulatory Systems of the East,” July 28, 2017
• The Seminar Group Marijuana in Florida Conference, Speaker, “Amendment 2 Rules Update,” June 29, 2017
• Legal Learning Series Cannabis LAB Seminar, Speaker, “Critical Legal Issues in the Emerging, Legal Florida Cannabis Market,” May 25, 2017
• Canna Holdings South Florida Medical Marijuana Symposium, Speaker, “Amendment 2,” March 11, 2017
• Law360, Quoted, “Smoke Point: How BigLaw Finally Learned to Try Pot,” December 19, 2016
• Law360, Co-Author, “Marijuana Tipping Point: California and Florida Lead The Way,” November 10, 2016
• Politico, Quoted, “California Voters Vote to Legalize Recreational Marijuana in Nation’s Largest Market,” November 9, 2016 
• Legal Learning Series CannaLaw Conference, Speaker, “Rules for Ganjapreneurs,” November 4, 2016
• Law360, Quoted, “Fla. Medical Marijuana Measure May Boost Business for Firms,” October 25, 2016
• Tampa Bay Business Journal, Quoted, “Why Major Law Firms See Potential for Medical Marijuana in Florida,” October 21, 2016
• South Florida Legal Guide, Quoted, “Medical Marijuana: What Lies Ahead for the Sunshine State?,” October 11, 2016
• Legal Learning Series Critical Issues in Marijuana Law Seminar, Speaker, “Marijuana Law 101: Entering the Marijuana/Cannabis Legal Field,” July 11, 2016