BUILDING EQUITY IN CANNABIS LAW, POLICY AND POWER

MEET TONI FORGE: ATTORNEY, LITIGATOR & CO-FOUNDER OF 4LEAF CONSULTING

One of Toni’s biggest inspirations has always been her mother, who made the difficult decision to leave a long-term marriage in order to build a better life for herself and her family. Watching her mother choose courage, self-determination, and stability over comfort left a lasting impression on her, shaping the way she thinks about resilience, ownership, and the power of taking control of your own future. Little did her mother know, this lesson would later echo through her daughter’s own career.

Today, Toni Forge is a seasoned attorney, litigator, and compliance expert with more than 28 years of legal experience. She is widely recognized as a leading voice in cannabis policy, licensing, and social equity, but at the heart of her work is something deeper: helping people navigate systems that were never designed with them in mind.

In 2016, Toni co-founded 4Leaf Consulting, a premier California-based cannabis licensing and compliance firm. Since then, the company has helped businesses across the country navigate one of the most complex regulatory landscapes in modern entrepreneurship, securing competitive licenses and providing guidance on regulatory interpretation, strategic partnerships, operational strategy, and contract negotiation.

As a recognized leader in cannabis social equity, she works closely with cities and regulators nationwide to help design policies that create more inclusive opportunities within the industry. She currently serves as a technical advisor for the Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation Social Equity Program and the County of Los Angeles, while also advising the cities of Hawthorne and Commerce.

Her policy work is rooted in a larger goal: ensuring the communities most impacted by prohibition are not left behind in legalization. Through her work with the Minority Cannabis Business Association’s Equity Policy Braintrust and Equity Tour, Toni collaborates with regulators and policymakers across the country to develop meaningful social equity frameworks and support emerging operators. She also co-authored the Social Equity Advocacy Handbook, a key resource used by municipalities and organizations working to build equitable cannabis programs.

Toni is deeply committed to supporting Black-owned and women-owned cannabis businesses, particularly those navigating the industry for the first time. She helps budding business owners to understand the language of law and regulation, teaches them how to interpret compliance requirements, and guide them towards the necessary tools and resources to maintain their licenses and keep their businesses in good standing.

Through mentorship, policy work, and direct advising, she is helping Black women entrepreneurs become fluent in the systems that govern the industry, ensuring they have the knowledge and confidence to not only enter the space but sustain their businesses long-term.

Her work also extends to the operational side of the industry. Toni currently serves as General Counsel for Josephine & Billie’s, a Black female–owned dispensary redefining cannabis retail, and The Oakland Equity Collective, a cooperative supporting social equity entrepreneurs throughout Oakland.

Education is another major pillar of her mission. As Vice President of the National Association of Black Cannabis Lawyers, Toni works to strengthen community and representation within the legal profession. She also teaches cannabis law as an adjunct professor at Olive-Harvey College in Chicago and Beal University in Maine, while continuing to educate attorneys through continuing legal education programs focused on cannabis law.

For Toni, the work is about far more than legalization. It is about empowerment, access, and making sure this generation and the next are equipped with the knowledge, tools, and support to thrive in this industry.

Follow Toni on Instagram and check out 4Leaf Consulting!