Law Offices of William Swafford LLC

Richard M. Evans has practiced law in western Massachusetts for over 35 years, representing business owners, parties to residential and commercial real estate transactions, nonprofit land trusts protecting agriculture and natural resources, parties having interests before municipal bodies. For nearly his entire professional career, he has participated prominently in the marijuana legalization effort.

In 1981, he authored the first comprehensive regulation/taxation plan to be introduced as legislation in any state, upon which bills were modeled and introduced in other states. As a member of NORML’s board of directors in the 90s, he was the moving force behind NORML’s Principles of Responsible Cannabis Use, and was awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011.

His numerous op-eds and other writings have helped shape and propel the counter-prohibitionist narrative. He chaired the Yes on 4 Campaign in 2016.