William G. Panzer has been practicing law in the Bay Area for over twenty years, specializing in cannabis defense. He is a co-author of California's Prop 215, "The Compassionate Use Act of 1996" the nation's first law legalizing the use of cannabis by patients pursuant to a physician's recommendation. In his practice he has represented patients, growers, and medical cannabis dispensaries throughout California in state and federal court, at both the trial and appellate level.

He has lectured at numerous NORML legal seminars, conferences and other events on cannabis law and related issues. He is also on the board of Directors for California NORML. A member of the NORML Legal Committee for over twenty years, Bill is a former winner of the NORML "Al Horn Award" and a two time winner of the Sonoma Alliance for Medical Marijuana's "Compassion In Action" Award, as well as a High Times Magazine "Freedom Fighter of the Month".

Bill is also a musician whose band, "Stonetrout", has played at many cannabis events, including NORML conferences and at San Francisco's annual "Cannabis Feeedom Day" in front of City Hall. He is especially proud of his description in the book "Reefer Madness, a History of Marijuana" as "rocker-turned-lawyer Bill Panzer."