Darren Weiss is deeply involved in Verano at every level and applies his well-honed management and analytical skills across the organization to help streamline processes, standardize operations, and bolster performance. From conceptualization to design and implementation, Darren leverages his many years of regulatory and corporate experience to bring professionalism and efficiency across the company. A cannabis industry veteran and seasoned operations leader and corporate attorney, Darren is also a frequent author and speaker on legal and operational issues affecting the commercial cannabis industry and is widely viewed as a cannabis industry thought leader.

Darren joined Verano as General Counsel and Chief Legal Officer and rose to Chief Operating Officer after leaving his position as a Principal at a large law firm, where he headed up the firm’s cannabis practice. Instrumental in the formation and organization of cannabis companies across the U.S., Darren has worked with privately- and publicly held cannabis companies on corporate financing, drafting, and negotiating investment documents, licensing agreements, and vendor contracts and providing business advice and counsel on competitive licensing applications and cannabis business design and strategy. Darren has been counsel to both investors and cannabis businesses and has helped close multi-million-dollar transactions and provided counsel in the creation of multi-state brands and products.

Darren currently sits on the Executive Committee and Board of the Maryland Wholesale Medical Cannabis Trade Association, was named to the Baltimore Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 List, was awarded the 2016 Innovator of the Year prize, and is identified as a 2017 People to Know in the Law. Darren received his Bachelor’s Degree magna cum laude from Washington University in St. Louis and his Juris Doctorate cum laude from George Mason University School of Law. Prior to law school, Darren worked as a business consultant providing performance management and business operational consulting services for public and private-sector clients.