Matthew Abel is Executive Director of Michigan NORML and a criminal defense attorney. Mr. Abel founded Cannabis Counsel, P.L.C., a five-attorney Detroit, Michigan law firm. The practice includes business, employment and labor, domestic, contract, real estate, landlord-tenant, and other cannabis issues.

Mr. Abel is a NORML Legal Committee and National Association of Criminal Defense Attorneys lifetime member, and a member of the National Lawyers Guild, and the legal committee of the ACLU of Michigan. He lectures regularly.

Mr. Abel has a Juris Doctorate from Wayne State University Law School, Master in Public Administration and Bachelor in Philosophy from Central Michigan University, and Associate in Criminal Justice from Castleton State College. He is also an Eagle Scout.