Quinn Heath

Quinn Heath, Esq.

Since beginning practice in 2021, Quinn Heath has been an enthusiastic advocate for cannabis businesses and has assisted dozens of Massachusetts entrepreneurs engaging with the growing industry. Quinn also has a wealth of knowledge in technology and media law, with a particular focus on government transparency and access to public records.

Quinn specializes in helping cannabis businesses prepare for and navigate the actively developing local, state, and federal legal landscapes. Quinn has assisted Massachusetts businesses under investigation from two state agencies; advised cannabis businesses facing unfair infringement on their ability to place signage; applied for dozens of state cannabis licenses; represented an individual in a personal cannabis license suitability hearings, resulting in a dismissal of the enforcement action; prosecuted over 15 public records requests on state and federal governments, including working on two pieces of active Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) litigation in federal court.

In addition to business legal services, Quinn advises individuals on criminal record sealing and expungement and has successfully guided Massachusetts residents to sealing over 30 criminal charges and convictions.

Quinn is a Certified Information Privacy Professional (CIPP) with the International Association of Privacy Professionals.

Highlights

• Legal committee member for the National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
• Sued the Massachusetts State Police in a suit that is credited for pushing the needle in favor of legalization in Massachusetts.
• Commonwealth v. Overmyer – As amicus curiae in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, successfully argued that the odor unburnt marijuana alone does not constitute probable cause to search a vehicle.
• Commonwealth v. Canning – As amicus curiae in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, successfully argued that for purposes of obtaining a search warrant, police are required to ascertain that an individual suspected of cultivating marijuana does not have a lawful medical marijuana license and a “cultivation registration” that would authorize such activity, or must provide facts at least supporting an inference of the same.
• Commonwealth v. Gerhardt - As amicus curiae in the Supreme Judicial Court of Massachusetts, successfully argued that standard field sobriety tests, as used by a majority of police officers, was designed solely to indicate alcohol intoxication, not marijuana intoxication. The standard field sobriety tests were the result of studies done by the Department of Transportation in the 70’s and 80’s, and were designed to indicate level of alcohol intoxication fairly accurately, not marijuana.
• Downing v. DPH – Represented the plaintiff in his lawsuit against the Department of Health, arguing that until medical marijuana dispensaries open in Massachusetts, people such as the Plaintiff may distribute marijuana to unlimited qualified medical marijuana patients. This case received national attention.
• Commonwealth v. DOE – Successfully argued that once qualified medical marijuana patients present police required evidence of their status, police are not allowed to further investigate situation unless there is independent evidence of probable cause or reasonable of a crime or civil violation.
• Commonwealth v. DOE – In a district court case, successfully argued that hashish is covered under the medical marijuana law, because hashish is a derivative of marijuana, and the statute allows for derivatives of marijuana to be used.
• Forfeiture cases – represented multiple clients in cases involving marijuana seizure by the government.
• Medical marijuana dispensaries – represented applicants for medical marijuana dispensaries in Massachusetts.
• Medical marijuana caregivers – advised dozens of caregivers as their duties and responsibilities under the law, and helped caregivers implement plan of action.
• Legislative drafting – helped the draft the legislation that is now our cannabis law in Massachusetts.
• Speaker - Marvin regularly speaks on radio shows, rallies, and lectures, e.g., Bill Newman Show, Extravaganja, UMass - Know Your Rights.