Aariel Williams

You grew up in South Central Los Angeles, attended college in Austin Texas, and ventured to Las Vegas for law school. Quite a journey for you, yes?

Yes, it has been a journey filled with blessings and lessons. At 17, I thought I made a mistake moving out-of-state to attend college. Fortunately, the move to Austin turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. Higher education expanded my worldview and further shaped my values. After Austin, I made a strategic decision to move to Las Vegas. The proximity to home and the legal cannabis industry made it the perfect place to start my career as an advocate and future attorney.

As a founder and current president of Boyd's Cannabis Law Society, how do you feel about what CLS has accomplished thus far?

I am very proud of the CLS team and our accomplishments. Last year, we had the opportunity to host events with pioneers and leaders in Nevada’s cannabis industry. Our inaugural event was a round table with Chris Giunchigliani and Commissioner Tick Segerblom. Shortly after, member of the Cannabis Law Section of the State Bar of Nevada joined us to share their insights. In February, right before COVID hit, we collaborated with Las Vegas NORML for a Black History Month event where we discussed how to move the industry forward from a social equity perspective. We are also actively involved with the Student Committee of the International Cannabis Bar Association. This semester, we decided to transition from virtual events to newsletters. Our newsletter carries on our mission to educate the Boyd community on new developments and legal issues affecting the industry.

Who's the most famous person you've met?

Earlier this year, I met Anita Hill at Boyd. Life was eventful before the pandemic.

The question of our time - what are you most anxious to do once the pandemic is no more?

Visit my grandparents in Austin, experience live music concerts, and travel the world. Honestly, the list is long.