Jessica F Gonzalez, Esq.

Jessica F. González, Esq. is a nationally recognized cannabis attorney, educator, and consultant shaping the future of cannabis law, equity, and global governance. As Founder of Veridis Quo LLC and attorney of the Rudick Law Group, Jessica blends legal expertise, policy innovation, and community advocacy to advance a more inclusive and sustainable cannabis industry across the Americas.

As President of the Latino Cannabis Alliance, Jessica leads the organization's strategic vision, board operations, and external partnerships, serving as its primary public voice and driving the coalition's policy, programmatic, and fundraising priorities.

An Ecuadorian immigrant, Jessica has dedicated her career to bridging communities often excluded from legalization, using law, education, and advocacy as tools for empowerment. She played a direct role in drafting New Jersey’s landmark cannabis legalization statute, regulations, and municipal ordinances, and was a leading member of NJCAN2020, the campaign that delivered one of the most successful legalization victories in U.S. history.

Through her consulting firm Veridis Quo, Jessica designed and implemented the New Jersey Cannabis Training Academy (NJ CTA) — the nation’s most comprehensive, state-funded cannabis technical-assistance program. In its first year, NJ CTA trained over 1,800 students, produced 71 courses, and set a national benchmark for equitable cannabis education. She also advised the New Jersey Economic Development Authority on creating the state’s first cannabis business grant program, the largest of its kind at the time, expanding access to capital for small and social-equity applicants.

At the federal level, she made history in 2021 by delivering the first cannabis trademark presentation to more than 500 USPTO examiners, pioneering national dialogue on cannabis intellectual property.

Internationally, Jessica serves as Advisor to Ecuador’s REDCAN coalition and is a signatory to Ecuador’s national cannabis legalization bill. She has represented the U.S. at international forums in Ecuador, Brazil, and the Czech Republic, addressing topics including corporate influence, social equity, and regulatory design in emerging markets. Her South American Activist Project, created in partnership with Parallelo Medio, documents the stories of grassroots advocates across Latin America, amplifying local voices in global reform movements.

Her work has earned recognition across the industry, including Cannabis Law Trailblazer by the National Law Journal, Top 100 Most Influential People in Cannabis by High Times, and consecutive Power Law 50 honors from NJBIZ. She has been named a Top 200 Global Cannabis Attorney, Attorney of the Year by Cannademix, and a 40 Under 40 honoree by both Marijuana Venture Magazine and Cannabis Now, among numerous other awards.