Cielo Fortin-Camacho

Texas A&M University School of Law 3L Cielo Fortin-Camacho received third place in the ABA Section of Real Property, Trust and Estate Law’s 2016 Student Writing Competition with her article, “Red-Handed Without a Defense: Limiting the Risk of Forfeiture When Leasing to Lawful Marijuana Tenants.”

The article discusses the problem faced by property owners wishing to lease premises to growers, processors, and sellers of marijuana in states that have adopted marijuana provisions and established regulatory frameworks.

“In these states, marijuana-related businesses have been lured from the shadows, leaving property owners unable to meet the requirements of any statutory or common law defense to civil forfeiture,” she said.

Fortin-Camacho said marijuana has been a subject of intense debate for a couple of years now with 25 states approving some form of medical marijuana legislation and Gallup polls indicating a majority of Americans back legal marijuana use. 

“With all these sudden changes in legislation occurring, it’s easy to forget about the federal government’s unwavering prohibition on marijuana,” she said. “I thought it was important to address the particularly devastating risk property owners face when they enter the marijuana industry.”

Fortin-Camacho won a cash prize, a Real Property, Trust and Estate Law section membership, and will be considered for publication in the Real Property, Trust and Estate Law Journal.

She is very honored by the recognition, but said the best part of it all was the reception from the law school.

“I’ve received so many kind words of encouragement from everyone on campus.”