Publications have called Allison B. Margolin the premier marijuana lawyer in California, a distinction she earned through years of cannabis advocacy, academic work, and criminal defense victories that include getting charges dismissed and seized marijuana plants returned to clients.
Introduction
Allison B. Margolin, PLC is a criminal defense firm with offices in Mount Shasta and Los Angeles, California. Phone: (310) 717-1159. Attorney Allison B. Margolin is a Harvard Law and Columbia University graduate who has built a national reputation in cannabis law while maintaining a full-service criminal defense practice across California at both the state and federal levels.
The firm’s work spans Alameda, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Shasta, and Siskiyou counties, with federal court experience across California. Allison Margolin serves as an associate professor and lecturer in addition to her litigation practice, and has spent her career advocating for criminal justice reform with the ultimate goal of ending the war on drugs.
Practice Areas
Cannabis and Drug Crimes
The firm’s deepest expertise lies in cannabis law and drug crime defense. Allison Margolin has been described as having Renaissance-level expertise in cannabis, a characterization that reflects both her legal work and her long-term involvement in the cannabis community as an advocate. The firm has a documented record of getting cannabis charges dismissed and securing the return of seized marijuana plants and related property.
Drug crime defense at the firm covers possession, distribution, cultivation, trafficking, and related federal charges. The firm handles cases at both the state level across California and in federal court.
Criminal Defense: Full Scope
Beyond drug crimes, the firm handles weapons charges, violent crimes, white collar crimes, diversions, bail matters, post-conviction relief, writs, and appeals. The firm’s federal court experience is extensive, covering matters across California in federal venues where the complexity and stakes are typically higher than state court proceedings.
Post-Conviction Relief
Clients who have been convicted and sentenced can seek post-conviction relief through writs and appeals. The firm handles these matters for clients whose original convictions involved legal error, ineffective assistance of counsel, or newly available evidence.
Bail Matters
Bail hearings move quickly and the consequences of an unfavorable ruling can mean weeks or months of pretrial detention. The firm represents clients at bail hearings with the goal of securing release under the least restrictive conditions.
Attorney Profile
Allison B. Margolin is a Harvard Law and Columbia University graduate who is licensed to practice in California state courts and federal courts throughout California. She is recognized as an associate professor and lecturer, and has been called the premiere marijuana lawyer by multiple publications. Her advocacy for criminal justice reform is rooted in a career-long commitment to minimizing the consequences of drug prosecutions on clients’ lives. She has been particularly noted for her skill in obtaining charge dismissals and recovering seized property for cannabis clients.
Location and Service Area
Allison B. Margolin, PLC has offices in Mount Shasta and Los Angeles, California. Phone: (310) 717-1159. The firm serves clients in Alameda County, Los Angeles County, San Francisco County, Santa Barbara County, Shasta County, and Siskiyou County. Federal court representation is available throughout California.
Client Focus
The firm’s stated mission is to minimize the consequences of criminal charges on clients’ lives. In cannabis cases particularly, the collateral damage from a conviction can be severe: loss of business licenses, damage to professional reputation, and long-term consequences for employment and housing. Allison Margolin’s advocacy extends beyond the courtroom to the broader policy questions that shape how drug cases are investigated and prosecuted.
Clients seeking a defense attorney with deep cannabis expertise and a record of charge dismissals and property recovery find a specialist in Allison B. Margolin, PLC.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Allison Margolin particularly effective in cannabis defense cases?
Her expertise in cannabis law has been built over a career that combines academic study, long-term cannabis community advocacy, and courtroom work. She has developed specific skill in identifying the legal vulnerabilities in cannabis prosecutions and has a documented record of charge dismissals and the recovery of seized plants and property.
Does the firm handle federal cannabis and drug charges?
Yes. The firm has extensive experience in federal court across California. Federal drug charges carry harsher mandatory minimums than comparable state charges, making experienced federal defense representation essential.
What is post-conviction relief and when is it available?
Post-conviction relief covers writs and appeals filed after a conviction and sentencing. It is available when the original proceedings involved legal error, when counsel provided constitutionally deficient representation, or when new evidence has emerged that was unavailable at trial. The firm evaluates each situation to determine what relief may be possible.
Does Allison Margolin handle non-drug criminal cases?
Yes. The firm handles weapons charges, violent crimes, white collar crimes, diversions, bail matters, and appeals across the full range of California state and federal criminal law.
Which counties does the firm primarily serve?
The firm serves clients in Alameda, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Santa Barbara, Shasta, and Siskiyou counties, with federal representation available throughout California.
Closing
Allison B. Margolin, PLC occupies a specific and hard-to-fill position in California criminal defense: a Harvard-trained attorney with demonstrated expertise in cannabis law, a long record in drug crime defense at both state and federal levels, and a personal commitment to criminal justice reform. For clients in cannabis cases, drug charges, or any serious criminal matter in California, the firm can be reached at (310) 717-1159. More information is available at www.allisonmargolin.com.