Committee Insights | 9.28.22 | Cannabis Ballot Initiatives in the November 2022 Election
In this edition of our NCIA Committee Insights series originally aired on Wednesday, September 28, 2022 members of NCIA’s State Regulations Committee convened a panel of government affairs, business development and licensing experts for an in-depth discussion focusing on cannabis ballot initiatives up for a vote this coming November.
They provided a detailed overview on the status of each campaign so that you’ll learn how best to position yourself for success and what you can do to help push these efforts across the finish line. If you’re considering business Arkansas, Maryland, Missouri either of the Dakotas then this session is specifically geared for you.
At the conclusion of the discussion they hosted a moderated Q&A session to provide NCIA members an opportunity to interact with leading minds from the cannabis regulatory and licensing space, join today to contribute to future conversations!
Learning Objectives:
• Provide practical information to NCIA members about the cannabis ballot initiatives and potential new business opportunities.
Sumer Thomas
Director of Regulatory Operations
Canna Advisor
Nicola Batten
CEO & Founder
koLaB Consulting
Larry Luksha
Government Relations & Business Development
Veritec Solutions
Joseph Smith
Senior Managing Associate
Thompson Hine LLP
Participate in the Cannabis Voter Project on National Voter Registration Day!
Cannabis Voter Project is working with cannabis retailers and brands to get out the vote on National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 20, 2022.
As a cannabis industry operator, the importance of having your voice heard in the political sphere likely crosses your mind on a daily basis. The 2022 midterm elections are right around the corner, and it’s the perfect time to encourage your customers to also be empowered and informed this November at the polls.
NCIA is happy to partner once again with HeadCount’s Cannabis Voter Project, which is a national initiative to increase voter turnout within the cannabis community. When citizens are informed and engaged, we grow our power for the future.
We’re inviting cannabis community leaders to join us on National Voter Registration Day (Tuesday, September 20) for a national day of action. That means hitting your email lists, SMS lists, social media outlets and other comms channels with a simple call to register to vote. Below is suggested messaging as well as links to social media assets.
NCIA members interested in participating can start by reviewing this kit, which also includes information about the initiative.
The kit includes assets like graphics, dedicated links, and suggested copy to directly engage your community. You will also have the opportunity to be listed as a partner on the Cannabis Voter Project website.
There is no cost and no obligation.
If you’re interested in more information, please contact Sam at samd@headcount.org.
Action Alert: Submit Comments to USPS and Congress about Mailing Vaping Products
It’s time to take action!
A new law could make it illegal for companies like yours to ship vaping products or components to customers — unless the United States Postal Service clarifies the rules.
What You Need To Know
On December 21, 2020, Congress passed the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, which included the Preventing Online Sales of E-Cigarettes to Children Act (the Act). The intent of the Act was to prevent underage smoking by applying the same safeguards already in place for cigarettes and smokeless tobacco products to the online sales of e-cigarettes — a mission we all support. The Act amends the Jenkins Act, which generally prohibits mailing of cigarettes to consumers through the United States Postal Service (USPS), to include Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and to subject them to the same mailability restrictions.
The Act defined ENDS as any electronic device that, through an aerosolized solution, delivers nicotine, flavor, or any other substance to the user inhaling from the device. The provisions also extend to any component, liquid, part, or accessory of an ENDS, regardless of whether sold separately from the device. Unfortunately, this definition is overly broad, and despite the name, an item can be interpreted to qualify as an ENDS without regard to whether it contains or is intended to be used to deliver nicotine — this means devices used for the vaporization of cannabis or hemp, essential oils, and other aromatics, or even water vaporizers used for babies.
We share Congress’s concerns regarding the tobacco and nicotine industries. That said, those concerns relate only to specific industries and they do not relate to Non-Nicotine Devices. The youth access problem identified by Congress is specific to certain nicotine products and not state-regulated hemp, cannabis or other products. This is clear when we look at the plain language of the ENDS definition and the legislative history of the Act. Applying the Act to Non-Nicotine Devices is not only illogical and contradictory, but it runs counter to the data-driven, science-backed approaches to youth prevention that make for good policy.
How You Can Take Action
Our friends at HeadCount’s Cannabis Voter Project want to help you make your voice heard! Text CANNA VAPE to 40649 or click the link below to find out how you can take action.
We have teamed up with Cannabis Voter Project to develop a convenient landing page that will allow you, your customers, and the rest of your network to easily submit comments to the USPS and their representatives in Congress: https://p2a.co/FyUcHVr
To maximize effectiveness, please consider the following steps:
In your email and social media posts, have a clear call to action (e.g., “Click here to send to your comments to Congress”)
If using Instagram, use the swipe up feature on Stories to send viewers to the landing page
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