Shawn Hauser

Shawn Hauser is a Partner at Vicente LLP, where she leads the firm's Texas practice and Federal and International Law Group and co-chairs the firm's Hemp and Cannabinoids Department. For over 15 years, her practice in natural medicine law and policy has centered on drug policy reform, helping businesses and governments navigate the intersection of state, federal, and international regulation as the law evolves.

A trusted advisor to governments as well as industry, Shawn has counseled local, state, and international governments on law and policy, including presenting to the Food and Drug Administration, U.S. Congress and the UK Parliament on cannabis regulation. Shawn brings the same state-federal expertise to the emerging psychedelics and plant medicine field, advising producers, manufacturers, practitioners, investors, and entrepreneurs working with natural medicines such as psilocybin. Vicente played a significant role in drafting and implementing Colorado's Natural Medicine Health Act (Proposition 122), passed by voters in 2022, which decriminalized adult possession of natural medicines including psilocybin, psilocin, ibogaine, DMT, and non-peyote mescaline, and established a framework for regulated healing centers. Since its passage, Shawn and the Vicente team have guided clients through the licensing and implementation of Colorado's natural medicine program. She speaks frequently on psychedelics law and policy, including emerging regulated markets, federal rescheduling developments, and the integration of natural medicines into the healthcare system.

Shawn's work is grounded in a deep commitment to supporting laws and industry that advance natural medicine in health care reform, responsibly and in support of public health. Reflecting that commitment, she currently serves as Chair of the National Compassionate Care Council (NCCC), an organization dedicated to modernizing healthcare standards through the clinical integration of cannabinoid therapies into mainstream medicine. Shawn has also advised on the reclassification of marijuana to Schedule III, including co-authoring influential memoranda regarding U.S. international treaty obligations and the legality of distributing botanical cannabis under the new federal framework.

A proud Texan, Shawn attended college at The University of Texas at Austin and earned her J.D. from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law. Shawn comes from a family of psychiatrists in Texas. She is the granddaughter of Dr. Abe Hauser, the first physician to complete postgraduate psychiatric training at the University of Texas Medical Branch, and that legacy shapes her focus on advancing natural medicine policy in support of mental health. She is admitted to practice in Colorado and Texas.