California attorney builds expert witness role in cannabis lawsuits

By AI, Created 5:06 PM UTC, May 27, 2026, /AGP/ – California attorney Chris Van Hook is positioning himself as an expert witness resource for cannabis-related litigation as civil disputes in the maturing industry grow more technical. His work focuses on crop loss, processing, valuation, contracts and compliance across licensed cannabis operations.

Why it matters: - Cannabis disputes are moving beyond basic licensing issues into civil cases involving property, crop loss, product handling, valuation and damages. - Attorneys facing those cases may need subject-matter expertise to determine what failed, who is responsible and how losses should be measured. - More information is available through Chris Van Hook’s Clean Green Certified® program.

What happened: - California attorney Chris Van Hook said he is working with litigation teams to provide expert witness and case support services in cannabis-related disputes. - Van Hook founded Clean Green Certified® and has been active in cannabis compliance since 2006. - Van Hook said he and lead investigator Andrew Rondon help attorneys handling cannabis litigation.

The details: - Van Hook said cannabis litigation can involve claims tied to poor site conditions, weak infrastructure, operator error, third-party mishandling, improper processing and problems in storage, packaging, distribution or retail handling. - Van Hook and Rondon say they bring more than 50 years of combined cannabis industry experience. - Their background includes cultivation, harvesting, drying, curing, packaging, processing, distribution and product valuation. - Their review work covers outdoor, greenhouse and indoor operations. - Their experience also extends to processed cannabis products, including oils, vape products, edibles and infused beverages. - Clean Green Certified®, founded in 2004, is one of the longest-running independent cannabis certification programs in the world. - The program has worked with operators in multiple U.S. states, Canada, Puerto Rico and Europe. - Clean Green Certified® applies organic-style standards, compliance review and independent verification in an industry that is not covered by USDA organic certification. - Van Hook’s services include crop loss and evaluation matters, processing and handling claims, contracts between farmers and processors, reviews of cannabis operations, and deposition preparation and trial support.

Between the lines: - The dispute work reflects a broader shift in cannabis from a largely criminal-defense legal niche to a complex commercial market with specialized evidence questions. - Van Hook argues cannabis cases often turn on a long chain of decisions, conditions, handling practices, documentation and market realities rather than a single event. - His pitch is that expert witness work in cannabis requires more than general business knowledge because courts need clear explanations that can survive discovery, deposition and trial.

What’s next: - Van Hook expects cannabis disputes to become more common, more technical and more dependent on qualified expert analysis as the industry matures. - He said attorneys will continue to need experts who can explain what happened, where responsibility lies and how to present those findings credibly.

The bottom line: - As cannabis business activity expands, so does the need for experts who understand cultivation, processing, compliance and damages well enough to translate industry practices for the courtroom.