L.A. Weekly: How Cannabis Businesses Can Deal With Drug Trafficking Tax Code 280E

So while state-compliant marijuana businesses can hardly be considered “traffickers,” federal tax law still applies as if they were. “With [28] states and the District of Columbia now allowing some form of legal marijuana, 280E is applied to state-regulated cannabis businesses more often than it is to the types of illegal drug dealers that the provision was intended to penalize,” according to the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Stateline: Licensing Medical Marijuana Stirs Up Trouble for States

Taylor West with the National Cannabis Industry Association said lotteries have some benefits. They make the decision less subjective and help allay concerns of political influence. But, she said, “The problem with the lottery is it doesn’t always get you your best results.”

The businesses “have to all be meeting minimum requirements, but there’s certainly an argument for trying to get the best,” West said. “A lottery doesn’t reward the really diligent actors who give a lot of thought to the application and have done a lot of planning ahead of time and focused on building the best business possible.”

Reuters: Massachusetts tiptoes into pot legalization; OK to smoke, not to sell

Distances between cities in the Northeast are smaller than in the West, leading some to suggest Massachusetts’ move could motivate neighboring states to consider similar steps, given how easy it will be for people to cross state lines to acquire the drug.

“It certainly makes sense for those states to look at the policy and consider the benefits that a state gets from putting this behind a regulated counter,” Taylor West, deputy director of the Washington-based National Cannabis Industry Association, said in a phone interview.

Westword: Pot Biz Leader: “Cautious Optimism and Fear” About Marijuana Under Trump

The election of Donald Trump and his nomination of marijuana-hating senator Jeff Sessions as attorney general has raised concern among members of the cannabis community about a crackdown on pot laws in states such as Colorado.

Such worries aren’t without merit. University of Denver law professor Sam Kamin recently outlined three ways Donald Trump could shut down state-legal marijuana, and NORML executive director Erik Altieri told us that “we need to make sure we’re ready to stand up and fight should that time come.”

Like Altieri, Aaron Smith, co-founder and executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, among the oldest and largest marijuana business organizations, stresses the importance of lobbying Congress to hold the line against a pot-biz crackdown. But in a wide-ranging interview on view below, he describes himself as cautiously optimistic that the worst-case scenario won’t come to pass.

Politico: Jeff Sessions’ Coming War on Legal Marijuana

Without any protection from Congress, every marijuana grower and dispensary owner who came out of the shadows to become a taxpaying member of the legal recreational cannabis industry in Colorado, Oregon, Washington state and Alaska has exposed himself to potential criminal prosecution by a DOJ run by Sessions. A list of potential defendants would number in the hundreds (The National Cannabis Industry Association, a trade group, boasts more than 1,000 dues-paying members).

The Hill: The people have spoken: Legalizing cannabis is good Republican policy

While national election results came as a surprise to political pundits and watchers, what shouldn’t have surprised anyone was the overwhelming support for cannabis policy reform initiatives.

Seventeen million voters supported legal, regulated programs in their states, sending Washington a powerful message that should guide the marijuana policy approach of our new administration and Congress.

At no point in our nation’s history has there been more support from mainstream America for taking marijuana out of the criminal market and putting it behind a legal, regulated counter.

Fortune: Cannabis Business Hype Is About to Go Up in Smoke

The uncertainty descends as the National Cannabis Industry Association pushes to open banking access for state-compliant marijuana businesses, ditch federal tax codes that force pot companies to pay triple the rates of other businesses, and decriminalize the drug nationwide.

Bloomberg: Weed Votes Are Already Boosting Warehouse Rents

As usual, the outlook for the legal weed business is unclear. Smart Approaches to Marijuana, an organization that advocates against legalization, has suggested that the appointment should halt new investment in the industry. The National Cannabis Industry Association quickly issued a statement reminding Sessions that while he is anti marijuana, he is pro states rights.

The Sun-Sentinel: Months of waiting and legislative wrangling ahead for medical marijuana

Once the new industry’s structure is set up, would-be pot-shop owners will have practical concerns before they get started.

“The application process is different in every state, but it’s always going to be extremely competitive and very detail heavy,” said Taylor West, the deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association in Denver, a trade association that represents more than a thousand marijuana-industry businesses in both medical and recreational marijuana states.

Applications have almost invariably taken longer than estimated, West said. Illinois, which passed a medical marijuana law in 2013, is “just starting to see patient counts getting up to a level where there’s some consistency and solidity to the program,” she said.

The Guardian: Jeff Sessions nomination sparks fears among legal marijuana advocates

The National Cannabis Industry Association noted: “Senator Sessions has long advocated for state sovereignty, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that states’ rights and voter choices on cannabis are respected.”

The appeal to states’ rights harks back to the era of segregation – yet in the case of the war on weed, racial concerns are far from being eliminated.

The Hill: Marijuana backers worry over AG Sessions

Legal marijuana backers say they hope Sessions and Trump let the states experiment as the founders intended.

Sessions co-sponsored a bill introduced by Sen. Roger Wicker (R-Miss.) last year that would have allowed states to challenge proposed federal rules under the 10th Amendment to the Constitution, which reserves rights for the states. That gives some legal marijuana backers at least a glimmer of hope that the incoming administration won’t crack the whip.

“Voters in 28 states have chosen programs that shift cannabis from the criminal market to highly regulated, tax-paying businesses. Sen. Sessions has long advocated for state sovereignty, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that states’ rights and voter choices on cannabis are respected,” said Aaron Smith, who heads the National Cannabis Industry Association in Denver.

McClatchy: Marijuana advocates are leery of Trump’s pick for attorney general

The possibility of Sessions becoming the nation’s top law enforcement official promises to set off a debate over the rights of states to operate without federal interference.

Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, said Sessions “has long advocated for state sovereignty” and that he needs to ensure that the wishes of state voters are respected. After the election, more than 60 percent of Americans now live in states that have approved medical or recreational marijuana, or both.

CBS News: Trump’s attorney general: A buzzkill for legal pot?

Others advocates, such as the Marijuana Policy Project, are striking a more diplomatic tone, noting that most Americans support legalization. Aaron Smith, the head of the National Cannabis Industry Association, echoed those views, arguing that Sessions has long advocated for state’s rights, “and we look forward to working with him to ensure that states’ rights and voter choices on cannabis are respected.”

L.A. Weekly: Marijuana Supporters Scared Shitless by Trump’s Pick for Top Cop

Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association:

“Voters in 28 states have chosen programs that shift cannabis from the criminal market to highly regulated, tax-paying businesses. Sen. Sessions has long advocated for state sovereignty, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that states’ rights and voter choices on cannabis are respected.”

Westword: Marijuana Industry Not Happy With Trump’s Pick for Attorney General

Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association:

“Voters in 28 states have chosen programs that shift cannabis from the criminal market to highly regulated, tax-paying businesses. Senator Sessions has long advocated for state sovereignty, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that states’ rights and voter choices on cannabis are respected.”

San Francisco Chronicle: Drug warrior nominated for attorney general, pot industry panicky

While Republicans are nearly split on support for marijuana legalization, 70 percent supported respecting state marijuana laws, a CBS news poll found in April.

The National Cannabis Industry Association issued a statement reiterating that voters in 28 states have passed laws taking cannabis out of the criminal market and putting it into a regulated, tax-paying system.

“Senator Sessions has long advocated for state sovereignty, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that states’ rights and voter choices on cannabis are respected,” stated the association’s director, Aaron Smith, in an email.

State House News Service: Warren, Healey denounce Trump’s nominee for AG

The National Cannabis Industry Association, which favors marijuana legalization that has taken hold in states despite a federal ban, said in a statement: “Voters in 28 states have chosen programs that shift cannabis from the criminal market to highly regulated, tax-paying businesses. Senator Sessions has long advocated for state sovereignty, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that states’ rights and voter choices on cannabis are respected.”

U.S. News and World Report: ‘Drug War Dinosaur’ Jeff Sessions Seen as Existential Threat to Pot Industry

But concern about Sessions has not reached a panic level among all legalization backers, some of whom seem to have accepted that he is likely to be confirmed.

Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, released a short statement, framing the issue in terms that might appeal to Sessions: “Voters in 28 states have chosen programs that shift cannabis from the criminal market to highly regulated, tax-paying businesses. Senator Sessions has long advocated for state sovereignty, and we look forward to working with him to ensure that states’ rights and voter choices on cannabis are respected.”

High Times: CANNABUSINESS ANALYTICS: HOW DATA STARTUPS ARE IMPROVING MARIJUANA SALES

The availability of this data is common in other industries, but until recently there were no firms providing such information for the cannabis sector, says Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association. This data can be crucial for pricing products, assessing demand and determining what to offer in stores.

At the same time, it’s important to ensure that the data collected and processed by these companies is secure, West adds, both to protect consumers and to avoid sharing proprietary information with competitors. But building the necessary relationships with business owners to collect such data is “not an overnight process.”

“The more established dispensaries have been using their own data for a long time to make decisions,” West points out. “But it’s definitely an area that you’re seeing more businesses getting into, recognizing that a tremendous amount of information can be gleaned from this data.”

Inlander: NOW WHAT?

“There really isn’t an upside, from a public safety and regulation standpoint, or from a public opinion and political standpoint, to try to turn back the clock here,” argues Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association.

Time is, indeed, of the essence; Trump, like it or not, will be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States on Jan. 20.

SF Weekly: Chem Tales: What Happens Now That Prop. 64 Has Passed?

The law’s immediate effect is simple: People age 21 and older are now legally allowed to possess up to an ounce of marijuana and grow up to six plants for personal use. The passage of Prop. 64 is likely to be remembered as a watershed moment for the national cannabis industry.

Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, says he’s already getting reports that charges are being dropped in marijuana cases across the state.

“That’s great news for social justice in this country,” he says.

Colorado Springs Independent: Presidential election could sour otherwise huge wins for legal marijuana

More than 60 percent of Americans now live in states with either medical or adult-use marijuana programs, and the value of the industry is expected to grow from $6.7 billion this year to over $20 billion in 2020.

“The tipping point has come,” said Aaron Smith, executive director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, in a statement. “It’s time for our leaders in Washington, D.C., to hear those voters.”

NBC News: Hazy Future for the Marijuana Industry Under a Trump Justice Department

Marijuana is now legal for medical or adult use in 28 states, accounting for more than 60 percent of the U.S. population, according to the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), an advocacy group that lobbies for federal marijuana reform.

Bloomberg: Legal-Weed Crowd’s Euphoria Fades Because of Trump Concerns

Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, said the group has its ground game ready: educating members of Congress from the new legal-weed states to “bring them into the fold,” and reminding the Trump White House that 60 percent of U.S. residents have access to some form of legal marijuana. Paxhia said strategizing will be on attendees’ agendas at the two Vegas events, Marijuana Business Daily’s 5th Annual Marijuana Business Conference & Expo and the Arcview Investor Forum, sponsored by Arcview Investor Network, whose members back cannabis enterprises.

“Right now there is some uncertainty around what Trump administration policy will be,” West said. “This type of moment is exactly what we’ve been preparing for.”

Denver Post: Pot legalization steams ahead

And finally, the country’s top legalization activists — organizations including the Drug Policy Alliance, the Marijuana Policy Project, Americans for Safe Access, the National Cannabis Industry Association and others — are already looking toward the mid-term elections in 2018 and the next presidential election year in 2020.

Marijuana Business Daily: Week in Review: 5 business takeaways from the landmark election

Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, believes the nation’s cannabis industry is poised to triple over the next few years.

“And for a lot of investors, that’s an opportunity that they’ll find hard to pass up,” she said. “There’s going to be a massive expansion in the industry, and that’s going to catch a lot of people’s attention.”

Lehigh Valley Live: Up in smoke? Marijuana’s expansion meets a newly strong GOP

Marijuana remains illegal nationwide under federal law. The Obama Administration has decided against interfering with medical marijuana and the recreational marijuana programs in Colorado, Washington State, Oregon, Alaska and the District of Columbia. In addition to the two New England states, joining the ranks of permitting possession and sales this week were Nevada and California. Arizona voters rejected legalization.

“As far as the new administration goes, there is a little bit of watching and waiting,” said Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association. “As a candidate, Donald Trump did express on more than one occasion the idea that states should be allowed to have these programs without the federal government interfering, but also on occasion made statements that seemed slightly less supportive of the industry.”

The Cannabist: Two names, Chris Christie and Rudy Giuliani, and what they mean for legal marijuana

Ponder these names: Chris Christie and Rudy Giuliani.

Are these names more dangerous for the cannabis legalization movement than that of Donald Trump?

“It’s certainly a reason to be concerned about a Trump administration,” Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, said on this week’s Cannabist Show. “While Donald Trump has been sometimes supportive, sometimes not, sometimes falling in between on marijuana issues, Chris Christie has been pretty darn clear about where he stands — and it’s not been favorable to the industry.”

Scotsman Guide: Private lenders encouraged by cannabis victories

Advocates said the victories show the majority of Americans want to see marijuana decriminalized.

“In seven of the nine states, cannabis initiatives got more votes than Donald Trump did,” said Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association. “This is really an indicator that the American people have rejected the ideas of prohibition and are really ready to move forward with a smarter path for dealing with cannabis as a product.”

Read more: http://www.scotsmanguide.com/News/2016/11/Private-lenders-encouraged-by-cannabis-victories/

The Cannabist: How Arkansas became the first Bible Belt state to legalize medical marijuana

Leading into the 2016 Election Night, half of the nation had medical marijuana laws in place.

After Tuesday, among the four states to join those ranks was Arkansas, the first in the Bible Belt to adopt a medical marijuana law.

“Honestly, it’s surprising, but maybe not as surprising as you’d think,” says Taylor West, deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, a Washington, D.C.-based trade group and lobbyist. “When you look at polls around medical marijuana, it now polls close to 90 percent. This is almost as close to a consensus issue as we get these days. And you don’t get to 90 percent without some Bible Belters.”

Read more: http://www.thecannabist.co/2016/11/10/arkansas-first-bible-belt-state-medical-marijuana/67315/