by Michelle Rutter, NCIA Government Relations Manager

While 2017 has had some political unknowns, one thing is for sure: cannabis legislation in Congress has more support than ever — and NCIA members have helped make that happen.

In mid-May, NCIA held its 7th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days in Washington, D.C., where 250 industry professionals came together on Capitol Hill to attend more than 300 scheduled meetings. Since then, there has been a substantial increase in the number of cosponsors on cannabis-related bills compared to the last congressional session.

Last session, during the 114th Congress, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) introduced the Marijuana Businesses Access to Banking Act, which would have created a safe harbor for financial institutions to serve marijuana-related businesses. At the end of the two-year session, the bill had 39 cosponsors.

Earlier this year, during the 115th Congress, Rep. Perlmutter introduced his new bill, the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (H.R. 2215). That bill currently has 47 cosponsors with nearly a year and a half left in the session to gain more support. Since NCIA’s Lobby Days in May, the SAFE Banking Act has added 18 new cosponsors.

There has also been a substantial increase in the number of cosponsors on the House of Representatives bill that addresses the 280E tax problem. Last session, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced the Small Business Tax Equity Act, which ended the session with 18 cosponsors.

This year, NCIA was successful in helping secure Rep. Carlos Curbelo’s (R-FL) leadership on the Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2017 (H.R. 1810), which has been instrumental in gaining the 25 cosponsors the bill currently has. That legislation has gained 13 new cosponsors since NCIA’s annual Lobby Days.

In addition to an increase in cosponsorship of cannabis-related bills, there’s also been an uptick in support for appropriations amendments at the committee level. At the end of July, the Senate Appropriations Committee adopted an amendment that would allow the Department of Veterans Affairs (V.A.) to recommend medical cannabis in states. That amendment passed by a vote of 24-7 — the most votes this measure has ever received in the Senate.

As the appropriations process continues through the summer, it’s likely that more cannabis-related amendments will be brought up and voted on, including votes dealing with protections for medical marijuana businesses and banking. NCIA is confident that if congressional leadership allows these measures to be voted upon, they will receive unprecedented levels of support.

The industry’s united voice makes a difference on Capitol Hill, and it can be seen in the numbers. To learn more about NCIA’s annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days, you can click here.