Benesch Partner Bryna Dahlin Recognized at Chicago NORML Gala for Influence on Cannabis Industry

Benesch is pleased to announce that Bryna Dahlin, chair of the firm’s Cannabis Industry Group, was recognized for her influence on the cannabis industry at the Chicago NORML (National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws) 2025 Elevate & Advocate Fundraising Gala on Sept. 11. She was honored alongside Cook County Commissioner Bill Lowery.

The event celebrated the growing acceptance of mindful cannabis consumption and the diverse businesses, organizations and individuals shaping Illinois’ legal cannabis ecosystem. Since its founding in 1970, the NORML Foundation has led public education campaigns on marijuana reform, provided legal assistance to those affected by existing laws and advanced research into cannabis policy alternatives.

Bryna is widely recognized as a national leader in cannabis law, practicing at the forefront of an emerging industry defined by regulatory complexity. For more than a decade, she has advised companies across all sectors of the cannabis space, including growers, manufacturers, distributors, dispensaries, investors and ancillary businesses. Her practice spans regulatory compliance, risk avoidance, company formation and structuring, licensing, corporate and transactional matters, advertising and product packaging, brand strategy and intellectual property protection.

In addition to her practice, Bryna serves as pro bono counsel to Chicago NORML. She’s a founding member of the Illinois Cannabis Bar Association and an active member of the International Cannabis Bar Association, National Cannabis Industry Association and Illinois Women in Cannabis. She is nationally ranked by Chambers USA for cannabis law, is recognized as a Global Top 200 cannabis lawyer and the Benesch Cannabis Industry Group under her leadership is recognized by The Legal 500.