David Kotler, Esq. is currently President and CEO of Lake Life Farms, a vertically integrated cannabis company in Michigan. He successfully planned for and began operations of the company’s cultivation, processing, and retail operations. In 2021 Lake Life Farms won The Best of Weedmaps Award for its retail operations and first place for its’ Kush Mints flower, in the Northern Michigan Cannabis Competition.

A practicing lawyer for over 20 years, Mr. Kotler is Of Counsel to Cohen Kotler P.A., located in Boca Raton, Florida and was Of Counsel to Hoban Law Group since the inception of its’ national cannabis practice. Since 2014, Mr. Kotler was one of the first attorneys in Florida to undertake representation of clients hoping to operate in Florida under the Florida Compassionate Medical Cannabis Act of 2014 and after the legalization of full spectrum medical cannabis.

He has a wide range of experience in the cannabis industry from license applications in multiple cities and states as well as Zimbabwe Africa, to start-up and regulatory matters across the country. He has consulted with individuals and companies within both the hemp and regulated cannabis industries and has served as outside general counsel for numerous clients. In 2019, Mr. Kotler was appointed by Agriculture Commissioner Nicki Fried to Florida’s first Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee. He previously served on the advisory boards of The Cannabis Marketing Lab and Blunts and Moore, the first social equity applicant license winner to become operational in the U.S.

Mr. Kotler has been interviewed for news sources including the Wall Street Journal, Daily Business Review, Sarasota Herald-Tribune, National Public Radio in Miami, Florida, Marijuana Business Magazine, The New Times, and the Marijuana Business Daily among others. He has written a monthly column for the Cannabis Industry Journal and has been a contributor to Cannabis News Florida among other publications.

Mr. Kotler’s operations work includes:

Blunts and Moore, Oakland California Retail License Holder – Co-Founder and Former Member.

Solurge, Massachusetts Provisional Medical License Holder for Cultivation, Processing, and Retail – Co-Founder and Former Chief Compliance Officer.

Maleza Hem, Zimbabwe Africa License Holder for Medical Cannabis and CBD Export –Obtained 1 of 37 licenses issued by the country after presentation to Cabinet, Interim CEO 2019.

The Bract House, Sonora California Medical Retail – Former Member (Pilot program, 1 of 2 licenses awarded by city for medical retail use, SUP issued, pending build out and state licensure)