Empower Your Voice: Unveiling NCIA’s Updated Congressional Scorecard

In just over 200 days, people across the country will head to the ballot box to make their voices heard. As you take the time to consider the issues that matter the most to you and which candidates best align with those values, NCIA is here to help with our recently updated congressional scorecard.

Our scorecard shows how members of Congress have voted and who has supported various cannabis bills over both the previous (117th) and current (118th) sessions. 

With more than 500 members, it can be hard to keep track of votes and congressional support on the issues that matter the most to you and your business. During the 117th congress, the House of Representatives voted on both the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act (H.R. 1996) and the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act (H.R. 3617). There has not yet been any floor votes on these bills (or other) priority cannabis legislation over the course of the current (118th) congress. That being said, our scorecard does show how members of the Senate Banking Committee voted on the SAFER (Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation) Banking Act during a September 2023 markup of the bill. The scorecard also shows which members of the Senate have signed on as cosponsors of the SAFER Banking Act (keep in mind there are about a handful of members who signed onto the SAFE Banking Act, but have yet to support this newer iteration). 

Though it may seem silly, I’m envious of your ability to look at these voting records. As a resident of Washington, D.C., I (along with hundreds of thousands of my neighbors) am subject to taxation without representation and have no voting member of Congress. D.C. has also been unable to fully implement its voter approved 2014 adult-use initiative due to congressional interference, but that’s a story for another blog!

I hope this scorecard helps you continue to hold your elected officials accountable- both at the ballot box and through civic engagement. I also hope this tool will empower you to get involved with government- at any level- whether that be by setting a meeting with one of your representatives’ district offices, attending a town hall meeting, or volunteering on a campaign. Don’t forget to make sure you’re registered to vote, and if you’re unsure about who your elected officials in Washington are, you can click here. Lastly, one of the best (in my humble opinion) ways to make an impact on elected officials is by attending our annual cannabis industry lobby days. Make sure you mark your calendars for May 14-16 and register today to get the best rate!

HHS Recommends Rescheduling: Now What? | 9.14.23 | Fireside Chats with NCIA’s Government Relations Team

NCIA’s #IndustryEssentials webinar series is our premier digital educational platform featuring a variety of interactive programs allowing us to provide you timely, engaging and essential education when you need it most. The Fireside Chat series of NCIA’s #IndustryEssentials webinars are an opportunity for industry professionals to hear from our government relations team and guests about the latest developments in federal policy LIVE.

For more than fifty years, the federal government has maintained that cannabis is a Schedule I drug, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical value.

That recently changed when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that cannabis be placed in Schedule III, meaning that it has moderate to low abuse potential, a currently accepted medical use, and a low potential for psychological dependence.

There’s no doubt this move was an historic one– but what does it mean? What’s next? How will it impact your business? Join NCIA’s Aaron Smith and Michelle Rutter Friberg as they unpack all these questions surrounding cannabis rescheduling impact and more!

Panelists:

Michelle Rutter Friberg
Director of Government Relations
NCIA

Aaron Smith
CEO & Co-Founder
NCIA

Fireside Chats with NCIA’s Government Relations Team: HHS Recommends Rescheduling; Now What?

NCIA’s #IndustryEssentials webinar series is our premier digital educational platform featuring a variety of interactive programs allowing us to provide you timely, engaging and essential education when you need it most. The Fireside Chat series of NCIA’s #IndustryEssentials webinars are an opportunity for industry professionals to hear from our government relations team and guests about the latest developments in federal policy LIVE.

For more than fifty years, the federal government has maintained that cannabis is a Schedule I drug, meaning that it has a high potential for abuse and no accepted medical value.

That recently changed when the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recommended to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) that cannabis be placed in Schedule III, meaning that it has moderate to low abuse potential, a currently accepted medical use, and a low potential for psychological dependence.

There’s no doubt this move was an historic one– but what does it mean? What’s next? How will it impact your business?

Join NCIA’s Aaron Smith and Michelle Rutter Friberg as they unpack all these questions and more! Register today and don’t miss your chance to hear from two of the foremost government relations experts in the cannabis industry.

Panelists:

Aaron Smith
Chief Executive Officer
National Cannabis Industry Association

Michelle Rutter Friberg
Director of Government Relations
National Cannabis Industry Association

NCIA Today – Thursday, April 6, 2023

Join NCIA Director of Communication Bethany Moore for an update on what’s going on with NCIA and our members. This week we discuss 13 women scientists you NEED to know, our recent podcast check-ins with members of the New York State Office of Cannabis Management, discuss a recent letter NCIA sent to the Congressional Banking and Finance Committees, and look forward to the remainder of our city events coast-to-coast leading up to Lobby Days in May.

 

Come Meet Congress – 11th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days

by Madeline Grant, NCIA’s Government Relations Manager

Will you join us as a united front in Washington, D.C. this year?

Hundreds of cannabis industry professionals from all over the country will descend on Capitol Hill this month for the 11th year for NCIA’s Annual Lobby Days. It’s more important than ever before to make your voice heard and advocate for the federal reforms our industry needs to truly thrive.

Whether it’s access to banking for your business, much-needed federal tax reforms, or some of the many other struggles faced by our industry that could be remedied by congressional action, we need you to tell your stories on Capitol Hill with us on May 16-18.

Here’s our top four reasons for you to register today to join us for this exciting and impactful event this year:

New members of Congress

Last November, we saw midterm elections bring in a new class of freshman members of Congress. Many of these new faces replaced the old guard of those with long-standing prohibitionist views toward cannabis. Many of them lean more progressive, which means they are more likely to be friendly toward our issues. This infusion of new blood, new minds, and new perspectives in the halls of Congress can work in our favor.

NCIA’s Lobby Days is the best way to get direct access to some of these offices so we can get off on the right foot with them on our issues. Joining us in D.C. means you will inform and educate these new members of Congress on the struggles we face like tax reform, veterans’ medical access, social equity, and of course, the SAFE Banking Act specifically. How many new co-signers can we get on this bill? Let’s find out together.

Discuss incremental and comprehensive reform 

With new members of Congress come new staffers that need to be educated on cannabis policy reform. In an environment where there are hundreds of issues, it’s important we reach every Hill office. When we descend on Capitol Hill, NCIA members will have the ability to discuss their personal stories in the cannabis space. The government relations team is constantly on Capitol Hill meeting with offices; however, hearing directly from businesses is something special. 

As we are at the beginning of the 118th Congress, cannabis legislation will continue to be introduced and this is our opportunity to get members of Congress on board. It’s all about baby steps; as we educate congressional offices they now have the ability to reach out to NCIA for resources and information. Over the past ten lobby days, NCIA sees a significant increase in co-sponsorship for cannabis legislation.

When we go into meetings the government relations team will provide talking points covering incremental reform; such as SAFE banking and 280E reform. Further, we have the opportunity to gather intel regarding their view on comprehensive reform. We’ve seen bills, such as the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act and the States Reform Act. Although these bills have not had any legislative success, it’s important for Hill offices to understand the importance of state and federal conflict for the cannabis industry. 

Meeting 200+ other politically active industry professionals

It’s not a conference — it’s different. There’s no expo floor or panel discussions, just people. And it happens to be some of the most politically engaged leaders of our industry who attend Lobby Days. You’ll rub shoulders and team up with cannabis industry pioneers who have been in the game for years. You’ll learn the “ins and outs” of the Beltway from lobby day veterans who join us every year to advocate for our industry. Hear about it for yourself by watching this re-cap video from last year’s 10th Annual Lobby Days:

Learn how to lobby and take those lessons home

This isn’t our first rodeo, but it might be yours, and that’s okay. Even if you’ve never done citizen lobbying before, NCIA’s government relations team makes it easy by offering training before the event, as well as on-site. We’ll give you materials to help you tell your stories including descriptions of our priority legislation, and background information on the offices you’ll be speaking with. And you won’t have to go it alone! We will team you up with a small group of your fellow cannabis industry peers to navigate the halls of Congress together.

Lobby Days with NCIA will empower you to go back to your home state to advocate on the industry’s behalf. You’ll know what to say, how to say it, and what to expect.

Together, we can make a real difference and push our industry past the tipping point. Hundreds of NCIA members have already registered for this event, so what are you waiting for? Register today, schedule your flight, and book your hotel. We can’t wait to see you there.

Register today for NCIA’s 11th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days.

Biden’s Announcement, SAFE Banking, and the CAOA

Photo By CannabisCamera.com

By Michelle Rutter Friberg, NCIA’s Deputy Director of Government Relations

October has been a mixed bag in Washington, D.C. in terms of cannabis policy: there hasn’t been much news from Capitol Hill, but the Biden Administration shocked everyone when they made a big announcement earlier this month. As we draw nearer to the midterm elections in November (don’t forget to register!), let’s take a look at where things stand currently: 

On Capitol Hill:

SAFE Banking Act

The SAFE Banking Act (S. 910) has been held up in the Senate for more than a year now. Many Senate Democrats (including Leader Schumer) have been pushing for changes to the bill to create a “SAFE +” bill that includes justice-focused provisions. As with all things in politics, a delicate balance must be kept in order to reach 60 votes in the hyper-partisan Senate. 

The good news: Leader Schumer and other Democrats have been in negotiations with lead-Republican co-sponsor Sen. Steve Daines (R-MT) and others to determine what “SAFE +” could look like. Those discussions have been occurring for a few weeks now and will continue. 

The bad news: those negotiations are taking time. As a result, you shouldn’t expect any legislative movement to occur until after the midterm elections. 

There’s also the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) to consider. The House passed and sent the FY2023 NDAA to the Senate months ago and the large package did include the language of the SAFE Banking Act (as currently written). It’s unclear how the SAFE+ negotiations may impact cannabis banking’s chances in the NDAA: Leader Schumer could make sure the language is not in the NDAA if he feels confident about SAFE+’s chances. 

CAOA

Unfortunately, there’s no substantive news regarding the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA), or comprehensive reform broadly on Capitol Hill right now. While NCIA and others continue to push for descheduling and responsible regulations from Congress, the upcoming election and Senate timeline have taken precedent. It’s unlikely that CAOA will move this legislative session given the number of legislative days left in the year.

From the Administration:

Earlier this month, ​​President Biden made an unprecedented announcement that his administration would begin the process for the pardoning of thousands of people with nonviolent marijuana use or possession convictions, and would begin the process of working with the Department of Health and Human Services to reclassify marijuana from a Schedule I drug in the Controlled Substances Act.

This announcement comes on the heels of NCIA’s successful 10th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days held in mid-September, where 100 cannabis industry professionals, representing small and medium-sized businesses including social equity operators, met with more than 100 Congressional offices to discuss barriers faced by the industry stemming from marijuana prohibition.

It’s no coincidence that when NCIA members show up to D.C., big things happen! Make sure to stay informed as we head towards the lame duck session via our newsletter and social media platforms and don’t forget to register for NCIA’s upcoming 11th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days in May 2023! 

Social Equity Members Head to D.C. to Lobby for A More Inclusive Industry

by Mike Lomuto, NCIA’s DEI Manager

NCIA is proud to announce that for the first time, thanks to the support of our members, we have awarded nine Lobby Days Equity Scholarships to support our Social Equity members with travel expenses to attend NCIA’s Lobby Days in Washington, D.C., on September 13-14. These Social Equity applicants and operators from around the country are leaders and active contributors to NCIA’s Sector Committees, our DEI Initiatives (particularly policy-related ones), and to advocacy efforts in their local and/or state municipalities. 

Lobby Days provides the opportunity for NCIA members to come together to advocate for the issues most important to small cannabis businesses — from SAFE Banking to federal de-scheduling — and to share their personal stories with national lawmakers. 

Our delegation includes:

Dr. Adrian Adams, Ontogen Botanicals CBD
Ambrose Gardner, Elev8
LaVonne Turner, Puff Couture
Michael Diaz-Rivera, Better Days Delivery
Osbert Orduña, The Cannabis Place
Raina Jackson, Purple Raina
Toni MSN, RN, CYT, Toni 

We asked our DEI delegation why attending Lobby Days was important to them. Here are some of their responses:

“I want our elected officials to hear my story which gives a voice to so many others, who like me, grew up in areas that have disproportionately borne the brunt and weight of cannabis enforcement. Children and young adults, whose only crime was being poor and of color, faced the indignity of being stopped and frisked hundreds of times. Now after paying the ultimate entry price, we can not get in the door of the cannabis industry because of a lack of banking and lending opportunities that continue to shut us out of the cannabis market.

The de-scheduling of cannabis, the passing of SAFE Banking, or the repeal of IRC 280E all would immediately increase the opportunities for small cannabis businesses like mine to have a true opportunity for success, growth, and economic empowerment of our communities.” 

– Osbert Orduña, The Cannabis Place

 

“As the industry grows and moves towards federal legalization, our elected officials must hear constituents’ voices. It’s important that my energy, face, and voice are present, representing the need for safe banking, health equity, and policies that support federal legalization. As states continue to legalize adult recreational cannabis usage, there will be an increased need for cannabis health equity to address the social, political, and economic conditions in underserved communities.

I’m committed to increasing awareness of the importance of education, employee retention, and community wellness in these communities.”

– Toni MSN, RN, CYT, Founder of Toni
NCIA’s Education Committee & Health Equity Working Group

 

“I have begun to work on lobbying at a local level. Federal legalization, descheduling, decarceration, social equity, health equity, and safe banking are some of the areas that I would like to learn how to lobby for at the national level.”

– Michael Diaz-Rivera, Owner/Operator, Better Days Delivery

 

“We should not stop at using the SAFE Banking Act merely to provide legal and regulatory protection for financial institutions. That will enable, but not ensure, increased banking services for minority-owned cannabis and hemp companies.

As the regulatory gaps between state and federal governments are addressed, there must be mechanisms to prevent predatory practices while opening access to capital.”

– Dr. Adrian Adams, Ontogen Botanicals CBD

 

 

It is important to the NCIA, and its membership for Main Street Cannabis to continue to develop in as diverse, equitable, and inclusive a manner as we can achieve. As the industry has thus far failed at creating tangible Social Equity, it’s important to ensure our efforts this September to include these voices and the communities they represent. 

This is where the DEI delegation comes in.

As the official DEI delegation, the Lobby Days Equity Scholarship recipients will provide a foundational understanding of matters related to DEI in the industry for all NCIA members present at Lobby Days. The DEI delegation will ensure that there are members present speaking up on matters of DEI from within an important national trade association and within the context of Main Street Cannabis.

NCIA’s Government Relations team has organized a full day of meetings with Lawmakers and their Offices.  New citizen lobbyists will receive online training before the event and are grouped together with experienced industry leaders who can help them find their voice. There will be an opening networking reception for all attendees, and a closing event featuring some of NCIA’s most important allies in Congress.

We are still accepting sponsorships to fully fund Lobby Days Equity Scholarships to ensure our recipients have their travel and lodging expenses covered while in Washington, D.C. Contact MikeLomuto@TheCannabisIndustry.org for more information.

Let’s keep building a better industry together, as we bring our voices to Washington, D.C.

 

February Hodgepodge: An Update from D.C.

Photo By CannabisCamera.com

by Michelle Rutter Friberg, NCIA’s Deputy Director of Government Relations

It may only be February, but the NCIA government relations team has been busy at work this year advocating for you and your business! Just over the last month, the SAFE Banking Act passed the House for the sixth time, we held our first mini-virtual lobby days, and Majority Leader Schumer provided an updated timeline for the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA). Keep reading to learn the latest:

SAFE Banking

Last week, Congressman Perlmutter (D-CO) followed through on his promise to attach SAFE Banking to any viable legislative package when he filed it as an amendment to the America COMPETES Act, which is a large manufacturing bill. Now, the bill is headed to a “conference committee” – a term for when House and Senate leadership, as well as committee chairs and other members of Congress get together to negotiate differences in the two chambers’ bills. 

Congressman Perlmutter and the other lead offices of SAFE Banking are currently talking with leadership about the importance of enacting the provision, however, Leader Schumer and Senator Booker have been clear about their opposition to passing SAFE without broader equity provisions. During early February, keep your eyes on the news to see if SAFE Banking makes it into the final, enacted language!

Virtual Lobby Days

Due to NCIA’s Evergreen members’ investment in shaping policy for the cannabis industry, we have been able to take our Government Relations work virtual by hosting our first ever Mini-Lobby Days! As we continue to represent a value-driven, responsible industry, our main goal is to educate congressional offices on all aspects of cannabis policy reform, including social equity, banking, 280E, scientific data, and much more. 

During the first week of February, NCIA’s Evergreen Roundtable members participated in more than 30 virtual congressional meetings, including time with Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR), and Rep. Dave Joyce (R-OH). Members also met with relevant committee staff and communicated the importance of holding hearings and markups on cannabis policy issues, as well as enacting reform while Democrats hold the majority in both chambers. 

Sound interesting? Get in touch with Maddy Grant (Madeline@TheCannabisIndustry.org) to learn more about becoming an Evergreen member today!

Latest on CAOA

Back in September, NCIA and other stakeholders submitted responses to the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) discussion draft, led by Leader Schumer (D-NY, and Sens. Booker (D-NJ) and Wyden (D-OR). Since then, the Senate’s focus has been primarily on passing President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, which has significantly slowed progress on the CAOA. While the bill hasn’t been formally introduced yet, the sponsoring offices have slowly continued to have conversations with committees of jurisdiction to tee things up behind the scenes.

In a recent press conference in New York, Leader Schumer announced plans to introduce the CAOA in April. Can anyone say 4/20? 

This update just represents a small snapshot of all that NCIA’s government relations team has been working on in D.C. – make sure to keep an eye on the blog, find us on NCIA Connect, and follow us on our social media channels to learn the latest! 

 

2022: A New Year In Cannabis – What To Watch 

Photo By CannabisCamera.com

by Michelle Rutter Friberg, Deputy Director of Government Relations

With the start of 2022 also comes the final year of the 117th Congress. Last year was marked with some small victories, although meaningful cannabis reform has yet to be enacted on the federal level this session. While it’s a midterm election year, I have no doubt that we’ll see some significant movement over the coming months. Keep reading to see my answers to some of your FAQ’s for the new Congress:

What’s going on with the SAFE Banking Act?

You’ll remember that during the 116th Congress, the SAFE Banking Act became the first cannabis-related bill to be passed by a chamber of Congress. It also became the first piece of cannabis legislation to pass the 117th Congress in April of 2021 by a vote of 321-101. Since last spring, the bill has languished in the Senate due to disagreement over enacting comprehensive versus incremental reform.

This year, expect pressure on the passage of SAFE to increase. While efforts to enact comprehensive reform continues, the votes are simply not there as of now. If you’re interested in learning more about this conundrum, take a look at this piece that the Brookings Institute recently posted.

NCIA is continuing to build support for the SAFE Banking Act in the Senate, but some big news was announced this week that will certainly impact the legislation in the future: longtime champion and lead sponsor, Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), just announced that he will not be running for re-election next session.

What’s next for comprehensive cannabis reform? Is legalization on the horizon?

There are numerous bills that have received much attention in terms of descheduling cannabis – among them the MORE Act (H.R. 3617), the States Reform Act (H.R. 5977), and the discussion draft (not formally introduced) of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA). 

Back in the 116th Congress, the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment, and Expungement (MORE) Act became the first piece of comprehensive legislation to pass the House of Representatives by a vote of 228-164. More recently, the MORE Act passed out of the House Judiciary Committee in September 2021 by a vote of 26-15. While this is certainly news to be celebrated, the bill has been referred to another eight committees of jurisdiction and faces a more conservative chamber overall than last session for full passage.

The States Reform Act is a newer piece of legislation that was introduced in the House by freshman Congresswoman Nancy Mace (R-SC). The bill deschedules cannabis, regulates it through ATF/TTB for cannabis products and FDA for medical use, and institutes a 3% federal excise tax on products to fund law enforcement, small business, and veterans mental health initiatives. Many have lauded the pro-business elements of the bill, however, additional provisions must be added to address equity and restorative justice. It’s unlikely that the bill will move this Congress for partisan reasons – particularly during an election year. 

As for the Senate-led CAOA – there are too many unknown elements to make any real predictions! Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY), Finance Committee Chairman Wyden (D-OR), and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) outlined their plans for the CAOA in February 2021, unveiled the text in July 2021, with comments due by September 1 (make sure you check out NCIA’s response!). Due to the sheer magnitude of input received, the never-ending pandemic, and other legislative priorities, official language still has not yet been introduced. NCIA continues to work with the sponsoring offices on the CAOA and anticipates introduction in the spring. 

What’s going to happen at the committee level?

If you’re following cannabis policy at the federal level, definitely keep your eyes on what’s happening in various congressional committees. Given that there were few cannabis-related hearings and markups in 2021, I’m hopeful that there will be more this year. I’ll specifically be keeping my eye on both chambers’ appropriations, financial services, tax, and judiciary committees. 

Midterm elections will be here before we know it, but NCIA is continuing to keep the pressure on our elected officials to reform our outdated cannabis laws. Want to learn more about what’s possible? Make sure your company is an active member of NCIA and register for our next webinar, check out our podcast, and hop on over to NCIA Connect to chat with us and learn more about what we’re working on in D.C.!

 

A Full Plate For Congress – Status Update for SAFE Banking, MORE Act, CAOA, and Veterans

Photo By CannabisCamera.com

by Michelle Rutter Friberg, NCIA’s Deputy Director of Government Relations

I’m not sure if you’ve seen the news, but Congress has had a lot on its plate recently: negotiations over infrastructure, the budget, the debt ceiling, reconciliation, not to mention the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic! And while the path to cannabis reform has been slightly overshadowed by some of these larger issues, for the time being, the NCIA team is continuing to work tirelessly and incessantly on your behalf to enact legislation that would help you and your business. Let’s take a look at some of the more recent developments from Washington, D.C: 

SAFE Banking:

Last month, the House passed the language of the SAFE Banking Act for the fifth time via the must-pass National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). NCIA and our allies on Capitol Hill are always trying to be creative and come up with new, different avenues to advance our policy priorities, and the NDAA was a great opportunity that we were able to take advantage of! NCIA will continue to work with members of the Senate Armed Services Committee and other stakeholders to push for the SAFE Banking Act to be included in the final bill language. Stay tuned as the NDAA process unfolds throughout the remainder of autumn.

The MORE Act:

Also last month, the House Judiciary Committee passed the MORE Act out of committee by a vote of 26-15 but the bill still has a long journey ahead of it. It’s unlikely that committees like Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce will waive their jurisdiction again, and it’s critical to remember that the chamber actually became slightly more conservative following the 2020 election. Committee schedules are jam-packed right now, however, we continue to meet with those with jurisdiction over the MORE Act and encourage them to take up this important piece of legislation.

CAOA:

The discussion draft of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) was unveiled back in July by Senate Majority Leader Schumer (D-NY), Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). In the following month, NCIA worked diligently with our Evergreen Roundtable, board, committees, social equity scholarship members, and others to provide detailed feedback on various topics as requested by the Senators. NCIA continues to be a resource for the Sponsoring Offices and committees of jurisdiction, however, official bill introduction likely won’t happen until early-2022.

Veterans:

Last week, the House Veterans Affairs Committee: Subcommittee on Health held a hearing on a number of bills; among them H.R. 2916, the VA Cannabis Research Act of 2021. While this bill is not a piece of NCIA priority legislation, we applaud the committee, longtime sponsor and ally Congressman Correa (D-CA), and their teams for discussing this important topic. Of note is testimony from Dr. David Carroll, Executive Director at the Office of Mental Health and Suicide Prevention at the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). His testimony is only about a page long, but the gist is that the VA does not support this bill. I’d also like to highlight the statement Rep. Correa submitted for the record, which you can find here

Even though Capitol Hill’s bandwidth is stretched, NCIA will continue our work in Washington, D.C. to get these (and other) cannabis provisions enacted into law. Have questions or thoughts? Find me over on NCIA Connect! 

Even With So Much Progress, We Must Remain Diligent

By Rachel Kurtz-McAlaine, NCIA’s Deputy Director of Public Policy 

What a time to be in the cannabis industry! Federal legalization feels like it is finally on the horizon, especially with the big news that tomorrow will be a press conference to introduce a draft discussion bill that has been promised by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ). 

When I first started cannabis reform advocacy 25 years ago, cannabis legalization seemed unattainable in my lifetime, given the stigma we were, and still are, up against. But medical cannabis was just starting to pass and more of us were coming around to believing in the potential of the plant and being horrified at the war on drugs to the point that we devoted our lives to ending it. That includes the founders of this organization and many who went on to start businesses that are now members of NCIA. 

Running a business in the cannabis industry can be a daily challenge, from banking to text messaging to supply chain issues, so it may be hard to notice the sea change happening with cannabis bills around the country. Four state legislatures legalized cannabis just within the first six months of this year, for a total of 18 states and Washington, D.C., that have legalized cannabis for adult use over 21 years of age. (You can check out our state policy map to learn more about the status of different states.)

Believe it or not, that sea change is happening in Congress, too, and we want to make sure we’re doing everything we can to inform you about what is happening and to hear you.

As Michelle wrote about previously in the Government Relations blog, Give Us MORE, the MORE Act of 2021 was reintroduced at the end of this Spring in the House of Representatives. Read Michelle’s excellent summary, but more importantly, read the bill! An almost identical version of the MORE Act passed the House last Fall, only to be held up by a GOP-led Senate, but showed the real momentum happening in Congress.

Despite the hold up in the Senate, there is some bipartisan support. A Republican bill was even introduced in the House, the “Common Sense Cannabis Reform For Veterans, Small Businesses, and Medical Professionals Act,” that would have similar legalization efforts to the MORE Act, such as descheduling cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act and punting on regulations to federal agencies, but would not have any of the provisions that address industry equity and retribution from the years of harm caused by cannabis prohibition. 

Support for legalization is now so mainstream that even Amazon is now backing cannabis legalization, expressing support for the MORE Act, although it remains to be seen if they will continue supporting MORE or get behind Sen. Schumer’s bill.  

The SAFE Banking Act of 2021 is still in play and remains a crucial bill given that it could have the highest likelihood of passing the soonest. It can be overlooked given the trajectory of descheduling bills, but NCIA’s Government Relations team remains committed to SAFE and continues lobbying for it because, even though we’re planning what descheduling looks like now,  it could take a few years to get there. In the meantime, banking is in emergency status.

As federal descheduling appears on the horizon, I encourage you to read the bills, including the Schumer bill, and consider how they will affect you and your business. I’m not saying legislation will necessarily pass this year, but right now is when ideas are being discussed, amendments are being drawn up, decisions are being made.

Consider how much we need to do federally versus getting the states to standardize their regulations versus having a set of voluntary self-regulatory measures that shows we are a self-aware industry and want to be safe for our customers. Keep in mind that much of the alcohol industry is self-regulated, and why would we purposely advocate to regulate ourselves more than the alcohol industry when cannabis is demonstrably safer? I appreciate the thriving alcohol market, the innovation and craft, but I know we can do even better while minimizing harm and acknowledging the past harm, but we have to be diligent.

NCIA is proud and honored to be representing the broad spectrum of the industry, from multi-state operators, to small legacy farmers, to those that have been hurt by past prohibition and want to be part of this thriving industry – all of the industry. That means hearing from you, your concerns, your ideas, your insights. Please feel free to contact me at Rachel@TheCannabisIndustry.org.

I encourage you to read the bills, including Sen. Schumer’s draft discussion bill being released tomorrow, keep reading blog posts, watching webinars, checking out NCIA’s industry buzz, and stay informed because a new day is dawning, but it’s going to be a long day, so we better be prepared for it.

 

Video: NCIA Today – 117th Congress, New Scorecard, DEIC Update, and more!

Host Bethany Moore, NCIA’s Deputy Director of Communications and host of NCIA’s weekly Podcast ‘NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice‘ brings you an in-depth look at what is happening across the country in federal cannabis policy reform and with NCIA.

 

From the top, Bethany discusses the “cautious optimism” bouncing around the D.C. Government Relations office, as the 117th Congress begins to get to work with GR Director, Mike Correia.

Check out how your member of Congress rated on our Congressional Scorecard, on our website.

We check in with Mike Lumoto, Committee Organizer for NCIA’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Committee on the incredible growth they saw in 2020 and the plans taking off in the new year.

Don’t forget to download the new NCIA Mobile App and never miss the latest cannabis news.

Action Alert: Tell Congress To Include Cannabis In The Next COVID-19 Relief Bill!

While we all continue to do our jobs to flatten the curve in the age of COVID-19, our lobbying team in D.C. has been hard at work on your behalf. We have been working every angle and are exploring any and all opportunities to provide relief for our industry.
The offices of Congressman Blumenauer (D-OR) and Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV) have taken the lead on sending a letter to congressional leadership asking that they address the exclusion of state-legal cannabis and ancillary businesses from the recently passed CARES Act. But now, we need your help.

In order for these letters to be seriously considered by congressional leadership, we need to get as many members of Congress to sign on as possible. Please consider calling your representative and Senators today and ask them to sign on to the appropriate letter. You can find your member of Congress and how to contact them here.

CALL CONGRESS NOW

EMAIL CONGRESS NOW

Here is a short script you can use:
Hi, I am calling/writing today to ask that you sign onto Congressman Blumenauer/Senator Rosen’s letter to leadership. This letter asks that state-legal cannabis businesses have access to Small Business Administration programs to ensure they have the financial capacity to undertake the public health and worker-focused measures experts are urging businesses to take. This current lack of access will undoubtedly lead to unnecessary layoffs, reduced hours, pay cuts, and furloughs for the workers of cannabis businesses who need support the most. As your constituent, I ask and urge that you sign on to Congressman Blumenauer/Senator Rosen’s letter as soon as possible. Our industry, our businesses, and our employees cannot wait.

2019 By The Numbers (So Far!)

August recess is winding down, and soon, Members of Congress will return to D.C. for the remainder of the year. This year, however, was a benchmark year for cannabis policy, and we still have four months left to go! Let’s take a look back on how 2018 compared to 2019 (so far!). 

2:

Number of Congressional hearings held on cannabis issues in the 115th Congress (2017-2018)

6:

The number of Congressional hearings as of August 2019 in the following committees:

House Small Business Committee
House Veterans Affairs Committee (2)
House Financial Services Committee
Senate Banking Committee
House Judiciary Committee

95:

The number of cosponsors the House version of the SAFE Banking Act garnered during the entire 115th Congress. 

206:

The number of cosponsors on H.R. 1595, the SAFE Banking Act, just in the first seven months of 2019.

0:

The number of Congressional markups held on a cannabis bill in the 115th Congress.

1:

The number of Congressional markups held on a cannabis bill in the 116th Congress. In March 2018, the House Financial Services Committee marked up H.R. 1595: the SAFE Banking Act. It passed out of Committee by a vote of 45-15. 

$108,550:

Total NCIA-PAC dollars raised for the 115th Congress (2017-2018)

$61,780:

Total NCIA-PAC dollars raised in the first 7 months of 2019. Our goal to raise $100,000 by the end of the year, so make sure you learn more about the NCIA-PAC here! 

We have been busy this year advocating for pro-cannabis policy reform and will continue pounding the pavement on Capitol Hill. We look forward to all of the successes yet to come in 2019 and beyond! 

Top 5 Reasons You Should Attend Lobby Days This Year

Class Photo from NCIA's 2018 Cannabis Industry Lobby Days

Will you join us as a united front in Washington, D.C. this year?

Hundreds of cannabis industry professionals from all over the country will descend on Capitol Hill this month for the 9th year in a row for NCIA’s Annual Lobby Days. It’s more important than ever before to make your voice heard and advocate for the federal reforms our industry needs to truly thrive.

Whether it’s access to banking for your business, much-needed federal tax reforms, or some of the many other struggles faced by our industry that could be remedied by congressional action, we need you to tell your stories on Capitol Hill with us on May 21-23.

Here’s our top five reasons for you to register today to join us for this exciting and impactful event this year:

Progress made on SAFE Banking Act

Earlier this spring, we saw historic movement on one of our key pieces of legislation: banking. The SAFE Banking Act of 2019 was introduced in the House of Representatives by some of our champions in Congress – Reps. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Denny Heck (D-WA). Following an historic hearing, the bill received a markup by the House Financial Services Committee and passed out of the House Financial Services Committee in a vote of 45-15. This is important because it is the first time in history that a cannabis banking bill has made its way this far through the legislative process. NCIA vigilantly jumped in to collect and submit the testimonies of dozens of cannabis industry leaders for the hearing.

The momentum continues to grow as the bill now has more than 160 co-sponsors and will likely be debated again in the House soon. Now is the time to strike while the iron is hot. Join us at Lobby Days to educate and inform even more members of Congress about the struggles our industry faces to get and keep access to financial institutions!

New Attorney General is receptive to state’s rights issues

As the saying goes: out with the old and in with the new! Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who is known for his anti-cannabis stance, resigned from the Department of Justice earlier this year, and was replaced by William Bar. During his Senate confirmation hearing in January, Barr expressed his respect for the policies laid out in the Cole Memorandum, issued in 2014, which cannabis companies have relied on to continue doing business in a state-legal, regulated environment. Additionally, he wrote to the committee, “I still believe that the legislative process, rather than administrative guidance, is ultimately the right way to resolve whether and how to legalize marijuana.”

These statements hint at a more reasonable approach to cannabis reform, and the need for NCIA members to make their voices heard in the halls of Congress, particularly those in Congress with influence on the Senate Judiciary Committee and at the Department of Justice.

New members of Congress

Last November, we saw midterm elections bring in a new class of freshman members of Congress. Many of these new faces replaced the old guard of those with long-standing prohibitionist views toward cannabis. Many of them lean more progressive, which means they are more likely to be friendly toward our issues. This infusion of new blood, new minds, and new perspectives in the halls of Congress can work in our favor.

NCIA’s Lobby Days is the best way to get direct access to some of these offices so we can get off on the right foot with them on our issues. Joining us in D.C. means you will inform and educate these new members of Congress on the struggles we face like tax reform, veteran’s medical access, social equity, and of course, the SAFE Banking Act specifically. How many new co-signers can we get on this bill? Let’s find out together.

Meeting 200+ other politically active industry professionals

It’s not a conference — It’s different. There’s no expo floor or panel discussions, just people. And it happens to be some of the most politically engaged leaders of our industry who attend Lobby Days. You’ll rub shoulders and team up with cannabis industry pioneers who have been in the game for years. You’ll learn the “ins and outs” of the Beltway from lobby day veterans who join us every year to advocate for our industry. Hear about it for yourself by watching this re-cap video from last year’s 8th Annual Lobby Days:

Learn how to lobby and take those lessons home

This isn’t our first rodeo, but it might be yours, and that’s okay. Even if you’ve never done citizen lobbying before, NCIA’s government relations team makes it easy by offering trainings before the event, as well as on-site. We’ll give you materials to help you tell your stories including descriptions of our priority legislation, and background information on the offices you’ll be speaking with. And you won’t have to go it alone! We will team you up with a small group of your fellow cannabis industry peers to navigate the halls of Congress together.

Lobby Days with NCIA will empower you to go back to your home state to advocate on the industry’s behalf. You’ll know what to say, how to say it, and what to expect.

Together, we can make a real difference and push our industry past the tipping point. Hundreds of NCIA members have already registered for this event, so what are you waiting for? Register today, schedule your flight, and book your hotel. We can’t wait to see you there.

Register today for NCIA’s 9th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days.

 

New Bill: VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act

by Michelle Rutter, NCIA’s Government Relations Manager

The 116th Congress just recently began, but there’s already been a flurry of new cannabis bills filed. Let’s take a look at this new piece of cannabis legislation that was introduced simultaneously in both chambers:

Bill: H.R. 493/S. 179: VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2019
Introduced by: Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) and Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT)
Additional cosponsors: Reps. Steve Cohen (D-TN), Don Young (R-AK), Dina Titus (D-NV), Matt Gaetz (R-FL), Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Katie Hill (D-CA), Janice Schakowsky (D-IL) and Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)

What it does: This bipartisan, bicameral bill requires research into the safety and efficacy of medicinal cannabis usage on veterans diagnosed with PTSD and chronic pain. This legislation would:

  • Require VA to conduct a double-blind clinical trial with varying forms of cannabis on specified health outcomes of veterans with PTSD and veterans with chronic pain
  • Authorize a long-term observational study of participating veterans
  • Require the VA to preserve all data collected or used for the purposes of conducting future research related to medicinal cannabis
  • Require the VA to submit annual reports to Congress on the implementation of this bill for five years.

NCIA is proud to have endorsed this legislation for two congressional sessions.

Many more (possibly dozens!) of cannabis bills are expected to be filed in the next few months. NCIA will continue to track these pieces of legislation and endorse critical cannabis reforms on Capitol Hill.

Why it’s Critical For Cannabis Business Owners to Advocate for Policy Reform

by Rachelle Lynn Gordon, NCIA Editorial Contributor

Cannabis legalization reform has been in the works for years and will certainly continue for years to come due to the plant’s Schedule I status. In addition to the activists and organizations who have paved the way for marijuana legalization for decades, such as NORML, Marijuana Policy Project, and Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP), cannabis business owners are now at the forefront of what will most certainly be a multi-billion dollar industry within a short matter of time. But why is it important for these cultivators, dispensary owners, and investors to be directly involved with legalization advocacy?

“Advocacy is critical at this stage, where there is still so much progress to be made at the state and federal levels,” says David Murét, Co-founder & COO of Viridian Staffing. “While I believe that national legalization is now a foregone conclusion, the form in which it takes and who it will end up benefiting is still an open question.”  

At this point in time, 30 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical and/or adult-use cannabis, each one with their own set of rules and regulations. As more and more states begin to come online and design their own programs, lawmakers will look to states where cannabis is already legal in order to learn from both successes and mistakes. At the federal level however, things are far more complicated.

While marijuana remains an illegal drug in the eyes of the federal government, certain protections are in place for businesses that are operating in compliance with their own states’ regulations. Several members of Congress representing these states have been pushing for even further protections and/or straight legalization, in spite of current Attorney General Jeff Sessions’ staunch anti-cannabis stance. In January, Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo, which had previously stated that federal funds shall not be directed towards enforcing federal cannabis policy within states that have passed for those operating in compliance with the items stated in the memo. However, this doesn’t mean that state prosecutors have to go after compliant businesses

Fortunately, the move was a moot point. A rider bill in the federal budget proposal, which is essentially a must-pass in order to prevent a government shutdown, maintained the protections that the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment (now Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment), which prevents the DOJ from going after state-legal medical cannabis. A bipartisan group of 62 members of Congress sent a letter to House appropriations leaders calling for action.

“We respectfully request that you include language barring the Department of Justice from prosecuting those who comply with their state’s medical marijuana laws,” the lawmakers, led by Reps. Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), wrote. “We believe such a policy is not only consistent with the wishes of a bipartisan majority of the members of the House, but also with the wishes of the American people.” These protections are now included through September 30th.

David Sutton, President & COO of NanoSphere Health Sciences, agrees that time is of the essence in order to create new legislation that will positively impact the industry in years to come.

“Cannabis business owners and professionals have to participate in advocacy,” he argues. “No matter how many states adopt some form of cannabis legalization, the industry still needs change at the federal level. Without a federal shift in cannabis policy, operators in the industry will remain hampered and handcuffed from growth.”

Many canna-business owners are not only involved with pro-legalization policy efforts with the industry’s future in mind, but also the end consumers. High-profile cases of medical marijuana patients becoming ill due to flower containing mold and instances of widespread pathogen prescences from certain cultivators have increased efforts to prevent these products from getting to market.

“We have a responsibility to ensure this business grows in the right way,” explains Brett Johnson, Founder & CEO of Spectrum-Gro. “We have to be the adults in the room. I am always advocating for the end users – we need to guarantee safe and consistent products that are free from harsh chemicals and other pathogens. If the current leaders in this industry do not advocate for the future, there could be negative results across the board – from cultivation to the consumer.”

There are many ways business owners and professionals within the cannabis space to get involved with advocacy. NCIA Lobby Days brings hundreds of industry professionals and thought leaders to Washington, D.C. in order to tell their stories to lawmakers and push for cannabis reform. In addition, working with local organizations within their own states and jurisdictions is a wonderful way for entrepreneurs to spread awareness and potentially help build legislation in their communities.

“If we want to see how big the industry could be and how many lives can be changed for the better, you cannot simply rely on just hope, everyone needs to act,” adds Sutton. “Change comes from the masses and the masses need each and every owner and professional to participate in industry advocacy.”


Rachelle Lynn Gordon is a Minneapolis-based writer and reporter and graduate of Hamline University. She has contributed to publications such as Cannabis Now Magazine and High Times.

 

Another Budget Deal: What Does It Mean For You?

by Michael Correia, NCIA Director of Government Relations

Following a brief shutdown in the wee hours of Friday morning, Congress came to yet another short-term budget deal to continue funding the federal government until March 23, 2018.

In normal budget cycles, Congress passes a fiscal year budget that goes from October 1 until September 30. But in these extraordinarily partisan times, Congress has been unable to agree on an annual budget and has patched together short-term funding bills called Continuing Resolutions (CR’s), which maintains current funding levels. Since just last September, there have been five such short-term CR’s. These short-term funding bills have not only hampered basic government functions, but have also affected military readiness and has even led to a federal government shutdown, which has lowered the public’s already dismal opinion of Congress.

After much negotiation between House and Senate leaders, it appears that the parameters of a two-year budget solution have been agreed to. The new budget deal is both bipartisan and bicameral (which has become a rarity in Washington, D.C.) and addresses many controversial issues that have hindered previous negotiations. This new budget deal increases funding levels for the military, provides billions in disaster relief, addresses infrastructure, education, child care, and attempts to combat the opioid epidemic.

But, in typical Congressional fashion, the details still have yet to be finalized. The Congressional Leaders have agreed to work with the leaders of the appropriations committees to ensure that all budget priorities are met.

So, what does this mean for your business and what does this mean for medical cannabis protections?

Since 2014, the federal budget has included language that protects medical cannabis operators from Department of Justice prosecution. These protections will be maintained in this short-term funding bill, so medical cannabis programs and businesses are protected until at least March 23, 2018. However, it is imperative that Congress maintains these protections (and even expand protections for adult-use) in the longer budget that is being negotiated between now and March 23. NCIA will continue our Congressional lobbying efforts and work with our partners and other advocates to continue these protections.

As with anything, if you need further clarification or have questions, please contact our Government Relations office.

Our team in Washington, D.C., works everyday to make the industry’s voice heard, but nothing matches the power of a personal story personally told. Remember to join us for NCIA’s 8th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days this year on May 21-23 in Washington, D.C.

 

Video: Cannabis Amendments Blocked in Appropriations – now what?

In a late-night vote on Thursday September 6th, the House Rules Committee blocked a full house vote on all cannabis-related appropriations amendments. 

Fortunately, Congress passed a Continuing Budget Resolution which does keep the Rohrabacher medical marijuana protections in the budget until December 8th of this year, and more importantly for the long term, those protections currently included in the Senate’s Appropriations bill for the next fiscal year so Congress still has a chance to protect patients and state-legal cannabis businesses in conference committee.

What can you do? Watch the video to hear more from NCIA’s executive director Aaron Smith.
And log on to www.thecannabisindustry.org/SupportLeahy to contact your Senators!

 

Top 5 Amendments To Watch For In Congressional Committee Next Week

by Michelle Rutter, NCIA Government Relations Manager

Every year, Congress must pass appropriations legislation to fund the government for the upcoming fiscal year. This annual budget bill, which is currently set to expire on September 30th, has been one of the only avenues by which pro-cannabis reform language can be inserted into federal law– even if only for a year at a time.

But, like most things in Washington, D.C., the appropriations process is lengthy, complicated, and chock full of procedure.

Early next week, the House Rules Committee will hold a hearing to discuss amendments to the upcoming appropriations bill that will fund the government for FY2018. The Rules Committee is used by leadership to maintain control over the House floor, and is heavily stacked in favor of the majority party (by a 2:1 ratio). Despite that, over a dozen cannabis related amendments have been filed and submitted by various members of Congress, but it is up to the Rules Committee to determine which provisions will be ruled “in order.” Let’s take a look at a few of the amendments that, if passed, could significantly affect the cannabis industry:

Rohrabacher-Blumenauer Amendment: This provision, formerly known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, has been included in the federal budget since 2014. The amendment bars the Department of Justice from interfering with states’ medical cannabis laws and businesses. Those protections will expire on September 30th if this amendment is not renewed. The amendment has 12 cosponsors: seven Republicans and five Democrats.

McClintock-Polis Amendment: First introduced in 2015, this amendment would ban the Department of Justice from interfering with states’ adult-use cannabis laws and businesses. When voted on in 2015 on the House floor, the amendment narrowly failed.

Heck Amendment (1): This amendment would protect financial institutions that choose to service the cannabis industry from interference from the federal government. The provision protects banks in adult-use states, medical cannabis states, and CBD-only states.

Heck Amendment (2): The second cannabis related amendment introduced by Congressman Heck would prohibit any changes to the guidance issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network titled “BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses.”

Heck Amendment (3):  Similar to the second Heck amendment, this provision would prohibit the Department of Justice from revoking the guidance issued by the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network titled “BSA Expectations Regarding Marijuana-Related Businesses.”

It is important to note that in recent years, House Republicans have essentially shut down the appropriations process by not allowing any controversial amendments (including cannabis) to be ruled “in order”. Just a few months ago, the Rules Committee blocked a measure that would have allowed Veterans Affairs physicians to talk to their patients about medical cannabis in states where it’s legal. Should this happen next week, NCIA will be working closely with our allies and Members of Congress to ensure that the Senate’s version of the budget bill, which does include the Rohrabacher-Blumenauer amendment, is passed into law.

Navigating Congress and all of its procedural quirks can be stressful and difficult, but that’s what NCIA is for. Stay tuned for updates on appropriations throughout September as we continue to watch this process unfold.

 

The Cannabis Industry Takes D.C. – Highlights from NCIA’s 7th Annual Lobby Days

by Michelle Rutter, NCIA Government Relations Manager

With the uncertainty that the new administration has brought the cannabis industry, it’s become more important now than ever before to be proactive in government and in our nation’s capital. Last month, NCIA did just that by hosting our 7th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days. 250 cannabis industry professionals joined us in Washington, D.C., to meet with more than 300 Capitol Hill offices and tell their stories.

Photo by Ben Droz

Lobby Days kicked off with a breakfast and training session for our attendees, where they learned lobbying basics and were briefed on our talking points. There, attendees met with their groups and gathered their materials to drop off in Capitol Hill offices for staff.

Photo by Ben Droz
Photo by Ben Droz

Once the training session was complete, we led our attendees down to our group photo location. Every year, NCIA has nearly doubled the number of participants at Lobby Days.

Photo by Ben Droz

Following our (very large!) group photo, meetings on Capitol Hill commenced. We scheduled more than 300 meetings with congressional opponents, advocates, members from relevant committees, and others. In addition to the meetings we had scheduled, we also dropped in on various offices and left information about our issues with staff for them to review. In all, we made contact with nearly all of the 535 congressional offices on the Hill!

Photo by Ben Droz

Simultaneously during our Hill meetings, NCIA hosted a private luncheon for Rep. Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), the new sponsor of H.R. 1810: The Small Business Tax Equity Act, which addresses the unfair burden of 280E faced by the cannabis industry. Over the years, NCIA has consistently worked to increase our Capitol Hill advocates and are thrilled that Congressman Curbelo will be leading the charge on 280E reform.

Photo by Ben Droz

After a busy day of meetings on Capitol Hill, NCIA hosted a fundraiser for the NCIA-PAC, the Political Action Committee (PAC) for cannabis industry professionals. We had six members of Congress show their support by joining us: Reps. Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), Salud Carbajal (D-CA), Carlos Curbelo (R-FL), Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), Jared Polis (D-CO), and Dina Titus (D-NV).

We were thrilled to raise $60,000 for the NCIA-PAC, which supports federal candidates who are open to the challenges and concerns our industry faces, support cannabis reform at the federal level, and introduce or support pro-cannabis legislation.

Photo by Ben Droz

Our second day got off to a great start with a press conference held in front of the United States Capitol Building. NCIA executive director Aaron Smith was joined by seven members of Congress (Reps. Blumenauer, Steve Cohen [D-TN], Curbelo, Diana DeGette [D-CO], Eleanor Holmes-Norton [D-DC], Polis [D-CO], and Titus [D-NV]) to address the need for reform federal marijuana laws.

Photo by Tony Hitchcock
Photo by Tony Hitchcock

Once the press conference concluded, our second day of meetings on Capitol Hill began. There were more than 50 meetings scheduled for Day 2.

Photo by Ben Droz

Overall, it was an incredibly successful Lobby Days, and our biggest yet! We’ve already seen co-sponsorship on cannabis-related bills increase, and it is undoubtedly related to the meetings and personal stories NCIA members shared. We look forward to seeing you all in Washington, D.C., for our 8th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days in 2018!

 

 

 

Photo by Ben Droz

Thank you to the co-chairs of NCIA’s Policy Council for their premier sponsorship of our 2017 Cannabis Industry Lobby Days:

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VIDEO: Head to D.C. with us on the “Path to Marijuana Reform”

With NCIA’s 7th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days less than a month away, Deputy Director Taylor West reports on some exciting news out of Washington, D.C., earlier this month. Several members of Congress introduced a package of legislation to support the growing cannabis industry, including a fix to the crippling taxation of 280E. Find out more about the “Path to Marijuana Reform” and get excited for your chance to speak directly with the lawmakers in the House and Senate about our industry’s future. Register for Lobby Days today and join us in D.C., May 16-17.


 


NCIA Lobby Days 2017 email 600x200px

Appropriations Pros and Cons in 2015 for Cannabis

by Michelle Rutter, Government Relations Coordinator

Every year, Congress must pass appropriations legislation to fund the government for the upcoming fiscal year. This annual funding bill has been one of the only avenues by which pro-cannabis reform language can be inserted into the federal budget, due to Congress’ inability to pass meaningful stand-alone legislation addressing the legal cannabis industry.

This year, two riders were included in the budget bill pertaining to cannabis. The first, known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, bans the Department of Justice from spending money to prevent the implementation of state-level medical cannabis programs, in addition to removing funding for federal medical cannabis raids, arrests, and prosecutions in states where medical cannabis is legal. When debated on the House floor this summer, the vote count increased from 219-189 in 2014 to 242-186 this year, with 67 Republicans voting ‘Yes.’ The Rohrabacher-Farr language was included in the final budget bill for the second year in a row, which is a promising sign of progress in Washington, D.C.

A rider known as the Bonamici-Massie amendment, which prevents the DEA from intervening with state-sanctioned and legal hemp, was also included in the final budget package. This section blocks federal money from being used to prevent states from allowing the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of industrial hemp. It’s important to note that although this progress is promising, the DEA has ignored appropriations language pertaining to cannabis in years prior.

There were other commonsense policy reforms related to cannabis, which were proposed and added to earlier versions of the budget package, but which unfortunately did not make it into the final bill. A crucial example was a provision which would have prevented the Treasury Department from punishing banks that work with legitimate marijuana-related businesses. Another would have allowed Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical cannabis to veterans without fear of retaliation or punishment, and would have also prevented the VA from denying services to any veteran who is a medical marijuana patient.

An additional disappointment in the final budget package was the continuation of language from the previous year which blocks the adult-use sale and purchase of cannabis in Washington, D.C.

It’s important to remember that these appropriations amendments only protect states’ medical cannabis and hemp laws for the upcoming fiscal year and have to be re-included and voted on every year. While this progress is encouraging, it falls short of achieving our goals. NCIA will continue lobbying on behalf of the cannabis industry to achieve the substantive and lasting reforms that our businesses deserve.

Timeline: 2015 Legislative Year in Review

by Michelle Rutter, Government Relations Coordinator

As we look forward to 2016, there’s much on the horizon for the cannabis industry. NCIA remains dedicated in its effort to pass banking and tax legislation through Congress that would provide immediate relief to cannabis-related businesses all over the country.

In addition to the federal advocacy that NCIA engages in every day, there will be at least five states seeking to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis via the ballot initiative process: Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada. It’s also likely that Florida will have another ballot initiative relating to medical cannabis, and it’s possible that other states will move forward with cannabis reform through ballot initiatives or legislative processes. What happens over the next twelve months will be crucial in shaping the future of the legitimate and responsible cannabis industry.

While 2015 was a milestone year for cannabis reform, that same momentum will be necessary in order to continue moving the conversation forward with Congress in Washington, D.C. The Rohrabacher-Farr medical cannabis amendment earned more that 60 Republicans votes. For the first time ever, there are multiple pro-cannabis bills that have been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Continued progress is vital in garnering more national support for cannabis reform, so make sure your interests are heard through national advocacy, education, and community with NCIA.

The timeline below lays out some of the highlights from a busy year in cannabis industry advocacy. We look forward to more exciting milestones with your help in 2016!

*Click on the “Full Screen” button (with the four arrows) at the bottom of the image to expand its size. 

D.C. Update: Congress Takes a Minimalist Approach on Marijuana (and Everything Else)

U.S. Capitol DomeAs Congress starts winding down what many pundits have described as the least effective Congress in history, marijuana proponents can still celebrate modest successes this year and look forward to carrying our positive momentum into 2015.

For the first time in history, the House of Representatives passed pro-marijuana legislation. Unfortunately, the Senate will not take up the legislation, due to inter-party bickering. And although lawmakers just returned from thirty-seven days of recess, they are expected to be in session for as little as seven legislative days before going home for the November midterm elections. In those few days, Congress is expected to pass a spending bill that will fund the government until December, but is not expected to vote on any issues related to marijuana legislation. They are expected to convene after the election for a “lame-duck” session in November, and depending on the schedule, NCIA is planning to hold events in D.C. at this time.

This midterm election is anticipated to have low voter turnout, and it is expected that the House of Representatives will stay in Republican control for the next two years, while it is highly likely that the Senate will change hands and become Republican-led as well. Although our policy positions tend to be supported more by Democrats, we have many members of both parties supporting our issues, and we continue to make inroads with Republican offices.

Now is the perfect time for our industry to lay the groundwork and start building goodwill into next year, as marijuana issues are on the ballot in Alaska, Oregon, and Florida. Marijuana policies have not traditionally been high on politicians’ radars, but this year has seen a tremendous spike in attention and recognition of our issues. That means it’s imperative for our industry to continue becoming more politically engaged. It also means that we must continue to be active in our communities and show our neighbors and leaders the positive public face of the industry.

With two months to go before the elections, many politicians will be back in their districts doing campaign events, and all NCIA members should use this link to find their Members of Congress and attend any local events they are hosting. If your elected officials are supportive of our issues, make donations to their campaigns and help them get re-elected by volunteering on their efforts. If they are opposed to our issues, work for their opponents. We are right on the policies, but the reality is politicians need to get re-elected, and the people who help make that happen are much more likely to get a positive response in D.C.

I plan to do the same thing here in D.C. In fact, once I finish writing these words, I’ll be off to attend a fundraiser for Senator Mark Udall of Colorado and Senator Mark Begich of Alaska.

Michael Correia is NCIA’s director of government relations, based in Washington, D.C. Find out more about NCIA’s federal policy objectives.

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