Alex Kreit

Professor Alex Kreit is an Associate Professor of Law and Director of the Center on Addiction Law & Policy at Northern Kentucky University's Salmon P. Chase College of Law. He is a leading expert in illegal drug and cannabis law, with a focus on federal-state conflicts, criminal justice reform, and public health approaches to addiction policy. Kreit has authored multiple casebooks and over twenty law review articles, frequently appearing in media outlets like The New York Times and WIRED as a policy commentator.

• Education: Juris Doctor from University of Pennsylvania, Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College

His research spans drug law, cannabis policy, and criminal justice reform, with particular emphasis on safe injection sites, drug-induced homicide statutes, and pretextual stops in marijuana enforcement. Kreit's work systematically analyzes the legal tensions between state-level legalization efforts and federal prohibition frameworks.

As a National Law Journal Trailblazer in Cannabis Law (2019), Kreit has received grants from the Hayek Fund and Institute for Humane Studies. He serves on Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear's Medical Cannabis Advisory Committee and previously chaired San Diego's Medical Marijuana Task Force.

• Scientific Awards:
  • National Law Journal Trailblazer in Cannabis Law (2019)
  • Hayek Fund for Scholars Grant (2019)
  • Institute for Humane Studies Faculty Partnership Grant (2015)
  • San Diego Daily Transcript Top Attorneys in Academics (multiple years)
  • San Diego News Network 35 Under 35 Community Leader (2010)

Kreit maintains active practice as a court-appointed attorney with Appellate Defenders Inc. in California and has taught as visiting faculty at Boston College and Ohio State University. He has presented research at over 40 academic conferences and symposia globally, including in China, Canada, and the UK.