Chirali Patel - Blaze Responsibly
Recognized on the InsiderNJ 2021 “Insider 100: Cannabis Power List” as an influential voice in the cannabis debate, Chirali started her journey in the cannabis industry through self-education and organic networking in legal states such as Colorado as early as 2016. Chirali went on to gain experience in facilitating vertical applications for medical cannabis licenses in New Jersey and in advising individuals on ancillary market opportunities. She is also an advocate in the community and was the South Asian liaison for NJ CAN 2020, the successful “vote yes” campaign led by the ACLU-NJ to legalize adult-use. Chirali is currently an attorney in the Cannabis & Hemp Law and Litigation practices at one of the top law firms in New Jersey, Pashman Stein Walder Hayden, P.C. Chirali combined her business and legal experience and created Blaze Responsibly™️, a brand that aims to educate and empower the new generation of cannabis leaders. Chirali is also a Managing Partner and the Chief Compliance Officer for Digital Venture Partners, a majority black-owned cannabis portfolio company. She is an Executive Member for the New Jersey State Bar Association Cannabis Committee and is Co-Chair of the Social Justice and Equity Subcommittee. She is also a member of several industry organizations and speaks frequently on the topic in her professional and personal capacity. Chirali devoted the early years of her career to serving the public, previously working for the County of Bergen as assistant county counsel, for the City of Hoboken as assistant corporation counsel and assistant prosecutor, and for the County of Passaic as a legal associate. Her prior litigation experience at Carella Byrne Cecchi Brody & Agnello, P.C. is on complex commercial litigation, including business torts and civil RICO claims against Fortune 500 companies, and complex class actions and mass tort litigation against pharmaceutical drug companies and automobile manufacturers. Chirali was also appointed as Liaison Counsel in the multidistrict litigation In re Elmiron as part of one of the most arguably diverse plaintiff's steering committees. Chirali received her Bachelor’s in Business Management from Rutgers University Business School in New Jersey and her J.D. from Yeshiva University, Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York.
To learn more about Blaze Responsibly visit blazeresponsibly.org
