William Panzer, Esq.

Bill Panzer has been practicing criminal defense law for over 35 years in both State and Federal courts at the trial and appellate levels. He has a long history of activism in the areas of medical cannabis, general cannabis law reform and civil asset forfeiture reform. He is a former director of California FEAR (Forfeiture Endangers American Rights) and served on the Board of Directors for National NORML (National Organization for Reform of Marijuana Laws) for six years. He is on the Board of Directors for CalNORMLand its State Legal Director. He is a former High Times Freedom Fighter of the Month, two-time winner of the Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana Compassion in Action award, and NORML’s Al Horn award. He is a co-author of California’s Compassionate Use Act of 1996 (Prop 215), the nation’s first medical marijuana legalization law. He has been involved in drafting and passing of various forfeiture and cannabis reform laws. Bill represented Alan Martinez in the first Prop. 215 defense case, as well as the Oakland Cannabis Buyers Club and Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana in Federal court. He obtained the first federal appellate ruling recognizing “sentencing entrapment” as a defense. Bill has lectured at numerous legal and patient conferences throughout the nation.