In a legal drama that reads like a high-stakes sting operation gone sideways, Oregon cannabis powerhouse Nectar has filed a federal lawsuit accusing a Chicago attorney and his associate of duping the company out of $300,000 in a failed scheme to secure a cannabis license in Illinois.
The complaint, filed Wednesday, names attorney Chris Haris of Chris Haris Law PC and his partner Michael Carter, who allegedly promised the moon and delivered dust. Nectar says the duo vowed to obtain a cannabis license for its affiliate, JJN Holdings LLC—also known as Nectar—within a year, but instead walked away with the money and zero results.
Big Promises, No Product
According to the lawsuit, Haris and Carter pitched themselves as insiders with unique access to cannabis licensing deals. They promised exclusive networking opportunities, high-level contacts, and fast-track licensing—if Nectar advanced them $300,000. The money changed hands, the clock ticked, and nothing materialized.
When the year deadline passed on March 24, 2023, the advance officially became a loan, per their agreement. But neither Haris nor Carter repaid a dime, Nectar claims. With a 14% interest rate piling on, the debt now totals $455,000.
“They had no exclusive access, no real connections, and no capacity to deliver,” the complaint states. “It was all part of a calculated scheme to pocket Nectar’s funds.”
