Kate Monroe is a Cannabis Licensing Specialist at A.Y. Strauss, where she manages cannabis licensing matters. In this role, she oversees projects for clients seeking municipal and state cannabis business licenses and helps maintain these licenses through ongoing regulatory compliance.

Kate has worked in the cannabis industry since 2017, when she assisted in the licensing and startup of a Los Angeles-based cannabis operator, gaining experience in licensing and compliance for both medical and adult-use operations. In 2021, she transitioned to the client services sector, working as a licensing specialist for one of the nation’s top cannabis law firms. There, she oversaw all New Jersey licensing, helping over 50 businesses secure municipal and/or state cannabis licenses and has become well versed in the complex regulatory requirements for cannabis operators in New Jersey.

Kate has also assisted in the preparation of license-winning applications for new, and often highly competitive, medical and adult-use licensing opportunities in numerous states, including Alabama, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, New York, and Texas.

Kate earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Equine Science from Centenary College in Hackettstown, New Jersey, where she competed on the nationally ranked intercollegiate equestrian team.