Schwazze announces Christine Jones as Chief Legal Officer

Schwazze announced a key addition to its executive leadership team as it pursues the expansion of its footprint in Colorado and New Mexico.

Christine Jones joins the Company as Chief Legal Officer. Jones replaces Dan Pabon, who, in late 2022, moved into a newly created role at Schwazze as Chief Policy and Regulatory Affairs Officer.

Jones joins Schwazze with more than 25 years of experience as corporate counsel to several prominent companies and an extensive background in providing tactical and strategic advice to executive management and Boards of Directors. In her most recent role, she served as the Senior Vice President, Legal and Corporate Secretary of Long Play, Inc. and its affiliates. Long Play is a vertically integrated cannabis company with cultivation, manufacturing, retail, and a portfolio of brands that includes Willie Nelson and the Grateful Dead.

In Jones' position with Long Play, she managed all of the company's legal affairs, including regulatory compliance, securities, licensing, litigation, employment, mergers and acquisitions, real estate, risk management, and intellectual property. Prior to joining Long Play, Jones delivered general counsel services to domestic and global companies of varying sizes. In addition, she also served as General Counsel of Jeppesen, which provides aeronautical navigational information, operations planning tools, flight planning products, and software. Jones also served as Vice President and Assistant General Counsel to TTech Holding and Vice President and Assistant General Counsel of Archstone-Smith, where she managed both company's litigation and employment.

Jones received a BA from the University of Virginia and a JD from Washington College of Law at American University.

"We are excited to add a skilled cannabis legal professional to our Executive Leadership team as the company positions itself for growth in both Colorado and New Mexico. Christine Jones' expertise in corporate governance, contract management, and mergers and acquisitions will benefit Schwazze immensely as we pursue our regional growth model," said Nirup Krishnamurthy, President of Schwazze.

Since April 2020, Schwazze has acquired, opened, or announced the planned acquisition of 43 cannabis retail dispensaries (Star Buds, Emerald Fields, and R,Greenleaf) as well as five cultivation facilities and two manufacturing plants in Colorado and New Mexico. In May 2021, Schwazze announced its Biosciences division, and in August 2021, it commenced home delivery services in Colorado.