Richard Y. Cheng – Ritter Spencer Cheng, PLLC

Richard Y. Cheng, a managing member at Ritter Spencer Cheng PLLC and brings a wealth of experience and expertise in corporate transactions, regulatory, compliance matters, specifically to the cannabis and healthcare industries. Through his traditional healthcare practice, Richard ventured into the cannabis industry in 2013. His contributions to the cannabis industry have been significant, representing a variety of clients (e.g. cultivators, investors, manufacturers, retailers, healthcare providers, third-party business) and earning him recognition as a top cannabis legal expert by both Databird Research Journal and Cannabis Law Journal. Richard served as outside general counsel to the Texas Cannabis Industry Association, coauthored an American Health Law Association cannabis publication and speaks regularly on cannabis topics at national legal and industry related conferences. Before joining Ritter Spencer Cheng PLLC, Richard was an equity partner at an Am Law 100 global law firm, where he was a member of the healthcare section and chaired the firm’s hemp/hemp products practice group.

Richard has served as an adjunct faculty teaching cannabis law at University of North Texas Dallas College of Law and has served as a board of director of multiple cannabis related business ventures and non-profits, including the Society of Cannabis Clinicians (SCC) and formerly the International Cannabis Bar Association (INCBA). In addition, he has lobbied in Washington, D.C. on behalf of a professional trade association.

Presentations

• “Healthcare Compliance Risks for Investors,” Health Care Compliance Association Publication Discussion, July 17, 2025.
• “Texas: New Medical Cannabis & Hemp Regulations,” Zuanic & Associates Video Panel, July 16, 2025.
• “Breaking the Bank on Cannabis: Navigating Federal Financial Uncertainty,” Cannabis Law Institute, June 13, 2025.
• “Healthcare Transactions,” 27^th Annual Asian Pacific Interest Section (APIS) of the State Bar of Texas Conference, April 12, 2025.
• “Charting New Terrain: Legal and Business Insights on Marijuana in Texas,” The Texas Lyceum Q4 Conference, November 8, 2024.
• “Charting New Terrain: Legal and Business Insights on Marijuana in Texas,” The Texas Lyceum Q4 Conference, November 8, 2024.
• “Healthcare Compliance: Emerging Trends and Best Practices for Managing Risk,” Texas Midwest Healthcare Executives (part of ACHE) Fall Forum 2024, October 18, 2024.
• “Implications of Cannabis Rescheduling on the Healthcare Industry,” Society of Cannabis Clinicians Webinar, September 18, 2024.
• “From Stigma to Medicine – Medicinal Cannabis Law and Healthcare Considerations,” INCBA Cannabis Law Institute, July 25, 2024.
• “The World of Alternative Substances in Healthcare: The Rise in Interest for Use of Cannabis, Ketamine, and Psychedelics as Emerging Therapies by Practitioners,” American Health Law Association Annual Conference, June 27, 2024.
• “General Overview and Update on the Cannabis Industry,” Collin County Bench Bar Conference, May 17, 2024.
• “Health Horizons: M&A, Hemp Vitamins and Physician Alternative Investing,” CryptoCannaVerse Show, May 10, 2024.
• “Healthcare Hot Topics,” State Bar of Texas Asian Pacific Interest Section Annual Conference, April 13, 2024.
• “Regulatory and Fraud Risks in the Cannabis Industry,” NoCo Hemp Expo, April 11, 2024.
• “The World of Emerging Therapies and Alternative Substances In Healthcare,” American Bar Association Emerging Issues in Healthcare Law Conference, April 4, 2024.
• “Deal Flows, Capital Raising & Transactions in Assisted Living,” Texas Assisted Living Association, April 3, 2024.
• “Medical Director Fraud and Abuse: Long Term Care and Post-Acute,” American Health Law Association Long Term Care Conference, February 26, 2024.
• “Collision of Two Worlds – Healthcare and Alternative Substances,” General Counsel Netweavers, November 16, 2023.
• “Occupational Therapy Entrepreneurs Symposium,” Texas Occupational Therapy Association, November 4, 2023.
• “A Business Seminar For Your Small Business,” Herring Bank and Ritter Spencer Cheng, October 25, 2023.
• “From the Basement to High-Rise – The Transition of the Cannabis Industry Regulatory and Fraud Risks,” Fox Forensic Accounting Webinar, October 19, 2023.

Publications

• Quoted in The Texas Lawbook: “Thousands of Texas Hemp Jobs at Risk as State Legislature Passes THC Ban” – June 2025
• “Health Information Management: Compliance with Nontraditional Third Parties,” HCCA Complete Healthcare Compliance Manual – April 2025
• Co-authored American Health Law Association’s Health Care and the Business of Cannabis publication
• Quoted in MJ Biz Daily: Texas medical marijuana operators ‘push but not shove’ to expand state’s limited MMJ program
• “State Medical Cannabis Programs: What Physicians Should Know and Consider,” Dallas Medical Journal, April 2022.
• “Healthcare Transactions: What Laws and Regulatory Restrictions May Apply,” Dallas Medical Journal, February 2022.
• “Understanding Your Transaction Details is Key to Making A Deal,” Home Care Magazine, February 1, 2022.
• “What Home Health Providers Need to Know About THC Delta-8,” Home Care Magazine, November 12, 2021.
• Quoted, “Texas Hemp Coalition Bring Attention to The Hemp Derived Delta 8 Issue in Texas,” Texas Hemp Coalition, October 21, 2021.
• “Survey of Applicability of State General Privacy and Breach Notification Laws to Health Information,” American Health Law Association (AHLA), August 26, 2021.
• “Physicians Doing Business with Private Equity Groups,” Dallas Medical Journal, April 2021.
• “Health Care and the Business of Cannabis: Legal Questions and Answers, Ch. 2: Cannabis Issues in the Post-Acute Care Industry,” American Health Law Association (AHLA), March 2, 2021.
• Quoted, “Texas Medical Marijuana Operators ‘Push but Not Shove’ to Expand State’s Limited MMJ Program,” MJ Biz Daily, January 7, 2021.
• ”Consequences of producing non-compliant hemp,” DLA Piper Newsletter, July 16, 2020.
• ”Economic relief for hemp farmers in a new round of funding in response to COVID-19,” DLA Piper Newsletter, May 5, 2020.
• ”COVID-19 emergency declaration allows Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services to issue 1135 waivers, 1915(c) waivers and changes to survey and audit processes,” DLA Piper Newsletter, April 6, 2020.
• ”CARES Act may offer relief for medical practices, but raises questions for private equity-backed practice management companies,” DLA Piper Newsletter, April 3, 2020.
• ”COVID-19: Financial relief programs for hemp and hemp-related businesses,” DLA Piper Newsletter, April 3, 2020.
• “HealthTech: Law and Regulation – Ch. 14: Telemedicine: opportunities and challenges – a US perspective,” Edward Elgar, October 2020.
• “CMS Issues Best Practices Toolkit for Nursing Facilities in Response To COVID-19,” American Bar Association, May 14, 2020.
• “How the CARES Act Could Affect Nursing Facility Operators,” McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, April 15, 2020.
• “CMS and CDC Guidance on COVID-19 for Post-Acute and Long Term Care,” American Health Law Association, March 18, 2020.
• “3 Risk Categories for Providers Whose Patients Use Cannabis,” HomeCare Magazine, March 2, 2020.
• “The Occupational Therapy Manager, 6^th Edition” – Multiple Chapters, AOTA Press, July 24, 2019.
• “Telehealth in SNFs – A proposal for MA plans,” McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, January 21, 2019.
• “Managing Whistleblowers and Whistleblower Cases,” McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, December 3, 2018.
• “Due Diligence in Distressed Community Hospitals,” The Bankruptcy Strategist, August 1, 2018.
• “Office of Inspector General Voluntary Disclosures — Should I or Shouldn’t I?” McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, May 16, 2018.
• “How to Conduct an Effective Internal Investigation,” HomeCare Magazine, November 1, 2017.
• “Marketing Limitations in Health Care,” HomeCare Magazine, September 5, 2017.
• “Why LTC Operators Should Care About Anti-Kickback Statute Trends,” McKnight’s Long Term Care News, February 12, 2016.
• “Trump Administration and the Future of Medicare Certification,” The College Bulletin, Texas Bar College, Spring Issue 2017.
• “Post-Acute Care Provider Antidiscrimination Obligations,” American Health Law Association Post-Acute and Long Term Services Advisor, Volume 18, Issue 3, October 15, 2015.
• “Electronic Health Records: What to Expect in 2016,” Texas Chiropractic Board Report, Volume 2, Issue 6, October 1, 2015.
• “Recognizing and Managing Acuity Creep in Assisted Living Facilities,” Inside TALA, September 5, 2015.
• “Audits Conducted by Medicare,” Dallas Bar Association’s Headnotes, July 1, 2015.
• “Preparing for a Healthcare Mediation,” TAHC&H Perspective, May 11, 2015.
• “The Legal and Operational Guide for Free Medical Clinics,” American Health Law Association, American Medical Association Foundation, and National Association of Free and Charitable Clinics, 2015.
• “Trolling for Medical Golden Nuggets,” Dallas County Medical Journal, Volume 101, Number 11.
• “Stark Law Concerns with Skilled Nursing Facility Medical Directors,” Texas Health Care Association, January 9, 2015.
• “Breaking Down Ebola Concerns,” McKnight’s Long-Term Care News, October 24, 2014.
• “Strategies to Combat Common Deficiencies in Assisted Living Facilities” Inside TALA, May 19, 2014.
• “The Occupational Therapy Manager, 5^th Edition” – Legal Chapter, AOTA Press, December 1, 2010.

Featured Podcasts

• The Sativa Segment – Host – Youtube – Apple Podcast – also available on Amazon, Spreaker, Spotify, iHeart, etc.
• Manchester Living Podcast – Medical Cannabis – Youtube – Audio Podcast

Admissions

• Texas
• Minnesota
• United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Distinctions

• D Magazine – Best Lawyers in Dallas, 2015, 2017-2025
• Thomson Reuters – Texas Super Lawyers,  2022-2025
• Thomson Reuters – Texas Rising Star, 2015-2017
• Dallas Business Journal – Best Corporate Counsel Rising Star Award, 2011
• D CEO Magazine & Association of Corporate Counsel – Best Corporate Counsel Finalist, Solo Category, 2011-2012
• National Diversity Council – Legal Diversity Champion Award, 2012
• Texas Lawyer Magazine – Featured General Counsel, 2012
• Texas Occupational Therapy Association, Distinguished Service Award, 2011-2012
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center – Distinguished Alumni Award, 2010
• Databird Research Journal – Top 250 Cannabis Expert, 2018
• Cannabis Law Journal – Global Top 200 Cannabis Lawyers Listing, 2020-2026

Education

• J.D., Nova Southeastern University Shepard Broad Law Center
  
• M.B.A., University of Memphis
  
• Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, B.S.O.T./M.O.T.
  
• University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Graduate Certificate of Public Health

Courts

• United States District Court for the District of Minnesota
• United States District Court for the Northern District of Texas

Membership

• American Bar Association, Health Law Section (Chair of Post-Acute Care Continuum Task Force, 2021-2023)
• American College of Health Care Executives, North Texas Chapter
• American Health Lawyers Association, Post Acute/Long Term Services Section
• Collin County Bar Association, Corporate Counsel Section
• Dallas Asian-American Bar Association (Board of Directors, 2013-2015)
• Dallas Association of Young Lawyers Foundation (Life Fellow; Leadership Class Selected Member, 2011)
• Dallas Bar Association, Health Law Section
• Frisco Chamber of Commerce (Leadership Class Member, 2015)
• Association of Corporate Growth
• Texas Healthcare Advisory Council (Board of Director, 2017-2020)
• Health Care Compliance Association
• Society of Cannabis Clinicians (Board of Director)
• Helping Restore Ability (Board of Director)
• National Asian Pacific American Bar Association
• International Cannabis Bar Association (Board of Director, 2023-2025)
• State Bar of Texas, Health Law Section (Diversity in the Profession Committee, 2016-2019; Texas Minority Counsel Program Steering Committee, 2016)
• Texas Assisted Living Association (Public Policy Committee Member)

Additional Certification

• Richard is a Certified Healthcare Compliance (CHC) professional with the Certification Compliance Board (CCB)