William J. Caruso

Bill chairs Archer’s Cannabis Group and represents businesses in New Jersey’s medical and adult-use cannabis industries. His clients include retailers, processors, growers and ancillary businesses, ranging from established operators to newer entrants. He advises on business issues involving strategic planning and transactions, banking and finance, taxation, labor and employment, land use and zoning, real estate, municipal law, and healthcare law.

Bill’s cannabis work also includes a sustained role in New Jersey’s legalization movement. He co-founded New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform, a group that helped lay the groundwork for legalization, and was a leader of NJ CAN 2020, which spearheaded the November 2020 ballot initiative to legalize cannabis for personal use.

Before joining Archer, Bill spent nearly five years as executive director of the New Jersey Assembly Majority Office. He developed and implemented the Assembly’s policy agenda and, as the Speaker’s top aide, served as lead staff negotiator on policy matters and liaison to the Governor’s office, the Senate and state departments. He managed a staff of approximately 30 policy research, communications and administrative professionals. During his tenure, he helped advance legislation including pension and health benefits reform.

Earlier, Bill spent more than 11 years as chief of staff to U.S. Representative Andrews, a Camden County Democrat. He oversaw the congressman’s policy and public relations agenda, with a focus on economic development, education and defense policy, and managed approximately 20 staff members in New Jersey and Washington, D.C. He also served for 11 years as Congressman Andrews’ campaign manager. In 2011, Bill was the Democratic legal and public relations advisor to the New Jersey Apportionment Commission, which redrew the state’s 40 legislative districts following the 2010 census.

• Rutgers University School of Law, JD
• Bucknell University, BA

• Recognized by Best Lawyers®: Government Relations Practice (2020-2027 Editions)

• “What Washington, D.C. is Signaling About Rescheduling Right Now,” MJ Unpacked (May 2026)
• “Main Street to State Street: Intergovernmental Partnership for Site Review, Permitting, & Approvals,” New Jersey Conference of Mayors (February 2026)
• “Spotlight: New Jersey,” IgniteIt (February 2026)

• “From Regulation to Opportunity: The Evolving Cannabis Landscape,” Chamber of Commerce Southern NJ Cannabis Council (February 2026)

• “C-Suite Panel Discussion,” New Jersey Business & Industry Association (January 2026)
• “Mid-Atlantic Summit,” Accelerate Cannabis (October 2025)
• “Mid-Atlantic Review,” NECANN (September 2025)
• “Cannabis Market Trends Impacting New Jersey Businesses,” New Jersey Business & Industry Association (May 2025)
• “Regulatory Updates at the State and Federal Levels,” MJ Unpacked (April 2025)
• “Navigating Growth and Investment in New Jersey’s Cannabis Market,” Tivity Labs (March 2025)
• “Cannabis Workshop,” Chamber of Commerce Southern New Jersey (February 2025)