Jessica F. Gonzalez

Jessica Gonzalez, Esq. — Cannabis & Trademark Attorney | Trademark & IP Protection | NJ & NY Business Law

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Jessica is a New Jersey and New York attorney whose practice focuses on intellectual property and regulatory compliance, helping startups, small businesses, and mature companies secure the legal foundation they need to grow, from first registration through enforcement.

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With almost a decade of experience in cannabis law, Jessica advises cannabis businesses on state cannabis licensing applications, state licensing compliance, and regulatory risk management. Her work includes guidance through licensing applications, compliance audits, and municipal affairs, helping clients avoid the costly missteps that come with operating in a fast-changing regulatory environment.

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Trademark and intellectual property work sits at the center of Jessica's practice. She guides clients through trademark registration, brand protection strategy, licensing agreements, and enforcement, helping businesses at every stage, from a startup filing its first application to a mature company defending an established brand. In 2021, she made history delivering the first cannabis industry presentation to more than 400 USPTO trademark examiners, a milestone that reflects her standing as a trademark attorney trusted to bridge emerging industries with established IP law. 

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Beyond cannabis, Jessica has guided trademark and brand protection matters for clients across food and beverage, consumer packaged goods (CPG), cosmetics, apparel, entertainment, culinary, and fitness and wellness industries, helping businesses increase brand value, build goodwill, and strengthen their reputation in the marketplace.

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As a staunch advocate for cannabis legalization, Jessica's government affairs work spans legislative advocacy, regulatory drafting, and coalition-building for equitable cannabis policy. In 2020, she led the social impact committee for NJ CAN 2020, the coalition behind the most successful cannabis legalization campaign in the U.S., and has since helped shape cannabis policy at the statutory, regulatory, and municipal levels in New Jersey. Her consulting company, Veridis Quo, was selected by the New Jersey Business Action Center (NJBAC) as the inaugural consultant to develop and launch the New Jersey Cannabis Training Academy (NJCTA), and she has taught cannabis history and policy at Hudson County Community College and Rowan University at the graduate level.

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Jessica is also President of the Latino Cannabis Alliance, a national advocacy organization dedicated to equity and representation for Latino entrepreneurs, patients, and communities in the cannabis industry. Internationally, she serves as Advisor to Ecuador's REDCAN coalition and is a signatory to Ecuador's national cannabis legalization bill, and has represented the United States at international forums in Ecuador, Brazil, and the Czech Republic on corporate influence, social equity, and regulatory design in emerging markets. 

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Jessica is a frequent speaker and panelist at national and international industry events, regularly invited to speak on brand protection in cannabis, cannabis regulatory compliance and licensing, the intersection of cannabis policy and immigrant communities, and international cannabis regulatory design and social equity. Her audiences range from industry operators and legal practitioners to policymakers and advocacy organizations.