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!

Cannabis Reform – Legislative Victory and What Is To Come

by Madeline Grant, Government Relations Manager

After months of focused attention on the long-anticipated midterm elections, the U.S. Senate has finally approved the House-passed bipartisan cannabis research bill under unanimous consent. It marks the first time a standalone piece of cannabis legislation has ever been sent to the president’s desk. H.R. 8454, the Medical Marijuana and Cannabidiol Research Expansion Act, was filed in July and quickly moved through the House before being taken up by the Senate.

When signed by President Biden, H.R. 8454 will open the door for new innovative treatments derived from cannabis. Leader Schumer stated ahead of the vote, “If you’re one of the millions of Americans who deal with conditions like Parkinson’s or epilepsy or post-traumatic stress, or any number of other conditions, cannabis might hold promising new options for managing these diseases,” according to Marijuana Moment.

Under the legislation, the U.S. attorney general would be given a 60-day deadline to either approve a given application or request supplemental information from the marijuana research applicant. It would create a more efficient pathway for researchers who request larger quantities of cannabis. Additionally, the bill would encourage the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to develop cannabis-derived medicines. To do this, the bill would allow accredited medical and osteopathic schools, practitioners, research institutions, and manufacturers with a Schedule 1 registration to cultivate their own cannabis for research purposes. Another section would require the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to look at the health benefits and risk of cannabis as well as policies that are inhibiting research into cannabis that’s grown in legal states and provide recommendations on overcoming those barriers.

The point – the passage of this legislation finally sets the agencies in motion to allow the needed cannabis research we’ve been waiting for in the United States. The Senate passage of H.R. 8454 comes at the heels of when President Joe Biden issued a mass marijuana pardon and directed a review of the drug’s scheduling status. Just before the vote, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said on the floor that is continuing to have “productive talks” about a broader package of cannabis reforms he hopes to pass before the end of the lame-duck session.

As the legislative days grow shorter and we near the end of the 117th Congress, the NCIA Government Relations team will continue to be a resource for congressional offices on both sides of the aisle during the lame-duck session. Bipartisan and bicameral offices have been in negotiations about the so-called SAFE Plus package for months and we will continue to monitor any action as it moves forward.

If you are a Blooming or Evergreen NCIA member please make sure you attend our Government Relations update on December 6 at 3:30 pm EST.

We want to hear from you! A portion will be dedicated to answering your specific questions you submit through registration. This will be very interactive and a great way to get to know the Government Relations team. If you are a Blooming or Evergreen member, please go ahead and register HERE. Please be sure to submit questions so we can make sure to include time to answer all of them.

Please stay tuned for updates and more information to come. If you have any questions or want to learn more about how you can get involved with NCIA please contact madeline@thecannabisindustry.org

Meet The Team: Michelle Rutter Friberg – Deputy Director of Government Relations

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

I grew up in rural King George County, Virginia, where I lived until I went to college. Let me just say: if you had asked me in high school where I saw my career going, I would not have guessed the cannabis industry! But, it turns out life had other plans for me.

When I began my time at James Madison University (go Dukes!), my major was undeclared. As time went on, I decided to study Political Science with a minor in History. I learned about our government, political theory, lobbying, and focused primarily on domestic politics. Working on all those papers and assignments for class during my undergraduate studies was where my knowledge of cannabis policy began.

When I was told one day that I could choose any topic to do a research project in one of my PoliSci classes, I somehow came across cannabis. It seemed too easy to write about — you’re telling me this drug is Schedule I but has never killed anyone? But from then on, every time I got to choose a topic, it was cannabis, so I began learning more and more. By the time I graduated, I had a decent understanding of the history behind prohibition, but my mind had turned to the same question everyone I knew was having: what was I going to do now that I had graduated? At the time, the Great Recession had unemployment close to 10%, so I did what many college-aged kids do: spent a month traveling around western Europe! Side note, my favorite city that I visited on that trip was Amsterdam, but not just because of the accessibility to cannabis!

When I came home, it was time to find a job. Eventually, I was lucky enough to be offered a job at a government affairs company in Alexandria, Virginia, where I researched state and local regulations for various clients. After a little more than a year, one of my coworkers mentioned in passing that a gentleman from the cannabis industry was coming in the next day to talk about our services. Before I could stop myself, I asked if I could sit in on the meeting. Lucky for me, they said yes, and that’s where the story of my career in cannabis began.

The gentleman who came in was (and still is!) NCIA’s Director of Government Relations, Mike Correia. While the company I worked for pitched him on their services, all I could focus on was Mike who elaborated on the incredible work NCIA was doing, about how he was a one-man government relations team and working from home. All I heard was: this guy is going to need to hire someone, and I knew it had to be me! After talking to my boss and getting his blessing to reach out to Mike, we set up a time to grab a drink and talk more about the industry. Lucky for me, Mike and I were like old friends catching up, and though NCIA didn’t have the budget at the time to hire another government relations staffer, he said he would keep me in mind. About six months later, NCIA was ready to expand the D.C. team and I applied for the job of government relations coordinator. Words can’t explain to you how happy I was when I received the offer to join NCIA’s team in October 2014.

A lot has happened since I was hired almost six years ago. Nine more states have elected to implement adult-use cannabis programs, and many others have opted to allow for medical marijuana or CBD. The way I was received on Capitol Hill with chuckles about “munchies” or “weed” are long gone, as NCIA and the cannabis industry are now received like any other business sector in D.C. We passed appropriations amendments in both chambers, planned many lobby days for our members, and passed the SAFE Banking Act out of the House of Representatives, just to name a few accomplishments. I went from government relations coordinator, to government relations manager, and worked hard to recently become NCIA’s deputy director of government relations. Not only that, but our government relations team has grown, and what was once just Mike, then Mike and I, has now become Mike, Michelle, and Maddy. The “3Ms” as we are often called are my best friends.

I remember thinking when I started with NCIA: what am I supposed to do now that I’ve gotten my dream job? Now, all these years later, I can tell you: I’m just getting started.

NCIA Update From Capitol Hill

NCIA’s team in Washington, D.C. and our allies in Congress have been busy advancing cannabis reforms on Capitol Hill over the last couple of weeks. The Congressional appropriations process for the FY2019 federal budget is well under way and cannabis has been at the center of some of the debates around government spending.

Last week, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved legislation that would renew protections for state medical cannabis programs when the current spending budget expires in September. The language, which was introduced by Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT), prevents the Department of Justice from using any resources to target medical cannabis patients or providers who are in compliance with state laws.

While this provision has been amended into the budget since 2014, this is the first time that this provision has been included in the original language of the spending bill by either chamber of Congress. Thanks to the hundreds of member-businesses that have invested in NCIA’s work on Capitol Hill over the years and the growing public support for national cannabis reforms, this policy is no longer a controversial issue for Congress.In fact, leading up to the Senate hearing, Sen. Lankford (R-OK) attempted to include a budget rider that would effectively nullify the medical cannabis protections but later withdrew it, citing lack of support.

Over on the House side, an amendment offered by Rep. David Joyce (R-OH) which would have restricted the Treasury Department from using tax dollars to sanction banks for providing financial services to the legal cannabis industry came very close to passing but ultimately did not make it into the budget package. NCIA is working with our allies in the Senate to include the banking protections in that chamber’s version of the federal budget in the days ahead.

Another champion for social justice and sensible cannabis policies, Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), introduced a first-of-its-kind resolution bringing attention to the racially discriminatory enforcement of marijuana prohibition. Lee’s Realizing Equitable & Sustainable Participation in Emerging Cannabis Trades (RESPECT) Resolution calls on states with legal cannabis to enact policies to ensure that people of color and communities that have suffered the most under prohibition policies have equal access to business opportunities within the emerging legal cannabis industry.

NCIA applauded Rep. Lee and the bipartisan group of lawmakers who are leading the charge on tackling this important issue.

Meanwhile, other nations may be surpassing the U.S. in enacting sensible marijuana policies. Just today, the Canadian Parliament passed legislation that would legalize adult-use cannabis for our neighbor to the North beginning in October 2018. For more information about how the U.S. cannabis industry risks falling behind other nations due to outdated federal laws, download NCIA’s recent white paper, “How the U.S. is Falling Behind in the Global Cannabis Market.”

Stay engaged with NCIA for more news about the advancement of federal cannabis reforms and to learn about how you can get more involved.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

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

Senate Subcommittee Just Says Yes… To A Hearing

by Michelle Rutter, Government Relations Coordinator

Earlier this month, the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism held a hearing entitled ”Researching the Potential Medical Benefits and Risks of Marijuana,” which was presided over by Sens. Graham (R-SC), Whitehouse (D-RI), Klobuchar (D-MN), Grassley (R-IA), and Blumenthal (D-CT). Witnesses included Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), federal officials from NIDA (National Institute on Drug Abuse), NIH (National Institute of Health), and the FDA (Food and Drug Administration), and members of the medical and legal community. For more information on the hearing and the witnesses, click here.

The first panel included Sens. Gillibrand (D-NY) and Booker (D-NJ), who both testified on the benefits medical cannabis can provide and noted that they are both original co-sponsors of the Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States Act (S. 683), better known as the CARERS Act. Some of the key points that the Senators mentioned during the hearing included removing cannabis from its designation as a Schedule I drug, dismantling NIDA’s monopoly on cannabis used for research, and the urgent need to ease restrictions to allow for more research.

The next panel was comprised of two government agency officials: the Director of the Division of Extramural Research at the National Institute on Drug Abuse at the National Institutes of Health, and a doctor who is Deputy Center Director for Regulatory Programs at the FDA. Both panelists repeatedly stressed the importance of continued research into the therapeutic and medicinal benefits of cannabis, as well as the development of cannabis-based drugs. The FDA official also highlighted that the DEA is currently reviewing a recommendation on cannabis’s designation as a Schedule I drug, and the decision is pending.

The third panel included two doctors and a lawyer representing the DEA. The first doctor noted that THC and CBD do have therapeutic value but stressed the need for more research to determine if/how to mitigate any negative side effects of medical cannabis use. The second doctor on the panel is a well-known cannabis opponent, whose testimony sounded more like “reefer-madness” than a Senate hearing on cannabis in 2016. The lawyer present gave a moderately short statement, but did state that the DEA regulations around Schedule I drugs already provide a great deal of flexibility for research and can and are waived to allow legitimate studies and that the reclassification of cannabis to Schedule II would have little impact on the barriers to research – a statement that most in the cannabis community would strongly disagree with.

During questioning, Sen. Graham (R-SC) asked if the witnesses believed that cannabis should be re-scheduled as a Schedule II drug. Both the FDA official and the NIDA/NIH official weighed in, and with the same conclusion: more research is needed in order to make that determination. Chairman Graham also asked how to best facilitate medical cannabis research, which was answered by the DEA’s lawyer, who responded that the “flexibility” in the regulatory system could allow for it.

What does it mean?

Past Congressional hearings regarding cannabis have typically focused on the harms, not the benefits, of marijuana. As such, it’s a positive sign that the Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Terrorism, Lindsey Graham (R-SC), held a hearing on the potential therapeutic benefits of medical cannabis. The main takeaway from the hearing was the desire from all parties – Senators, government officials, and medical professionals alike – for more research on cannabis, its compounds, and its effects.

Regardless, this hearing shows the progress that the industry has made in Congress and the momentum building nationwide behind the cannabis movement.

Top 3 Ways to Get Involved with Congress at Home During August Recess

by Michelle Rutter, Government Relations Coordinator

US_Senate_Chamber_c1873 Each year, Congress recesses for the month of August. Traditionally, this time has been used for Members to return home to their districts and meet with constituents and, of course, campaign for re-election. Though this makes August a quiet month in D.C., it’s a great time for you and your colleagues to get involved with the political process, engage with Members of Congress, and educate them on cannabis policy.

Here are the top 3 ways you can get involved at home during August recess:

Attend (or plan) a town hall

Town hall meetings are an excellent way for businesses, local leaders, and representatives of the cannabis movement to communicate with elected officials about issues affecting your community. Make sure you call or check your Representative and Senators’ websites to see if any town halls have been scheduled during August recess. If they aren’t planning on holding one, consider planning a town hall yourself and inviting various elected officials to talk about cannabis policy in your community and on the federal level.

Invite Members of Congress or their office staff on a tour of your business

Even though cannabis is arguably more mainstream than it’s ever been, many elected officials still have not had the chance to experience what the responsible and legal cannabis industry looks like firsthand. Whether you’re involved with growing, processing, or dispensing cannabis, or operate an ancillary business, a tour with a Member of Congress and/or their staff can be invaluable to them. Reach out to your elected officials’ district office and ask if they would be interested in a tour- their answer may surprise you!

Schedule a meeting with your Member’s district office

August recess means Members of Congress are home for an entire month and is a great opportunity to meet with them and their staff! There are very few things more compelling than a personal story when talking to elected officials, so whether your experience has been with the benefits of medical cannabis, the unfair tax burden of 280E, or the struggle for traditional banking, be sure to schedule an appointment with your district office to tell that story. Click here to find out who your Representative is and visit their website to see where their district office is located.

We all have a responsibility to educate and engage with elected officials in order to change the perception surrounding cannabis. August recess is the perfect opportunity to get involved with federally elected officials without having to leave home! If you need advice, help, or materials to assist you, remember to contact NCIA’s Washington, D.C. office by emailing michelle@thecannabisindustry.org.

2016 Mid-Year Federal Policy Recap

by Michelle Rutter, NCIA Government Relations Coordinator

With 2016 being an election year, things seem to have been moving at an even slower than usual pace here in Washington, D.C. All House and some Senate members are in campaign mode, while others in Congress weigh in on the presidential candidates and give their endorsements (or voice their opposition). Even so, there has been promising movement on the cannabis issue in D.C. Let’s take a look at 2016 so far:

January

After the usual end-of-year budget negotiations and the holidays, 2016 was off to a quick start. At the beginning of January, a federal judge ruled to dismiss a lawsuit filed by the Fourth Corner Credit Union against the Federal Reserve in hopes of providing banking services to the legal cannabis industry. In his ruling, Judge R. Brooke Jackson said Congress must provide the answer, stating, “I regard the [cannabis banking] situation as untenable and hope that it will soon be addressed and resolved by Congress.”

Putting even more pressure on Congress to act, the White House also weighed in on marijuana in January. Press Secretary Josh Earnest stated that any action on re-scheduling or de-scheduling cannabis would need to come from the legislative branch.

February

In February, the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Rules held a hearing on the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2015 (H.R. 766). This bill prohibits federal agencies – including banking agencies – from terminating certain bank accounts simply due to the nature of their business. Longtime cannabis champion Rep. Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) used this hearing as an opportunity to offer an amendment to the legislation. His amendment would have allowed banks and credit unions to offer financial services and maintain relationships with state-legal, licensed cannabis businesses, without fear of federal prosecution. The committee ultimately voted Rep. Perlmutter’s amendment down: the 3-9 vote broke along party lines, with all Democrats voting in favor and all Republicans voting in opposition.

Presumptive Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton also gave her opinion on cannabis in February, stating, “Right now, a number of states are experimenting with marijuana laws. Seventeen states have decriminalized the possession of small amounts of marijuana; four states allow recreational use; and about half of all states allow medical use. These statewide experiments can help us point the way to national policy, so I’ll continue the Obama Administration’s enforcement guidelines that allow states to experiment.”

March

In March, federal banking agencies began having discussions with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) about guidance on how financial institutions can serve marijuana-related businesses. Many banks are concerned that FinCEN’s previous guidance on submitting marijuana-related Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) is not sufficient to overcome the legal risks of serving marijuana businesses.

Reinforcing the urgency of the cannabis banking issue, Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and three other senators sent a letter to the Federal Reserve, Treasury Department, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) and National Credit Union Administration, requesting more guidance on what banks can do with marijuana-related businesses in states where cannabis is legal.

In addition, Congressmen Ed Perlmutter (D-CO) and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) circulated letters in Congress asking Appropriations Chairmen to include pro-cannabis amendments in future appropriations bills.

After considering the lawsuit filed by Nebraska and Oklahoma against Colorado’s legal cannabis industry, the Supreme Court declined to take up the case in March. Nebraska and Oklahoma claimed there was “a direct and significant detrimental impact — namely the diversion of limited manpower and resources to arrest and process suspected and convicted felons involved in the increased illegal marijuana trafficking or transportation.” The Obama administration had urged the Court not to take up the case late last year.

April

In April, longtime cannabis opponents Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) and Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) (co-chairs of the Caucus on International Narcotics Control) held a drug caucus hearing entitled, “Is the Department of Justice Adequately Protecting the Public from the Impact of State Recreational Marijuana Legalization?” The hearing was prompted after a recent report that the senators requested from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) concluded that the Obama Administration has no written, documented plan to discourage issues like diversion, sale to minors, and adverse public health effects from states that have chosen to legalize cannabis. The witnesses were completely biased: all four have been openly against the legalization of cannabis. NCIA and other cannabis reform groups used this opportunity to call on the Senators to hold a hearing on the CARERS Act (S. 683), which they have not done – even though the bill has more than 15 bipartisan co-sponsors in the Senate.

Also in April, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved an amendment to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill that would ease access to medical cannabis for veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder, serious injuries, and other debilitating conditions. The amendment was offered by Sens. Steve Daines (R-MT) and Jeff Merkley (D-OR) and would prohibit federal funds from being used to enforce a ban on V.A. doctors from recommending a patient medical cannabis in a state where it is legal.

May

In May, the U.S. State Department responded to a letter from Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and said that the DEA’s monopoly on cannabis for research in the U.S. is wrong. The released document stated that a country issuing more than one cultivation license “would not be a sufficient basis to conclude that the party was acting in contravention” with international drug treaties.

6thLobbyDays There’s no doubt that cannabis was on Congress’s mind because NCIA held its sixth annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days in May! More than 150 cannabis professionals convened in Washington, D.C., for two days of advocacy that included more than 200 scheduled meetings and approximately 175 more drop-in meetings, as well as a PAC reception that had almost a dozen members of Congress in attendance.

Just days after NCIA’s Lobby Days, the House of Representatives and the Senate voted in favor of an amendment that would allow Veterans Administration doctors to recommend medical marijuana for their patients in states where medical marijuana is legal.

June

Though we’re barely halfway through June, it could be a big month for cannabis policy in D.C. It’s appropriations season here in the nation’s capital, which means that there could potentially be multiple opportunities to include pro-cannabis language in the budget. Though it is still unclear if Congress will have ‘regular order’ during the appropriations process, NCIA will continue to lobby on your behalf and keep you updated as the appropriations process unfolds.

A new poll from Quinnipiac was released in June and concluded that slightly more than half of Americans (54 percent) believe the use of marijuana should be made legal across the country, while 41 percent said it should not. When asked whether people should be allowed to use medically prescribed marijuana, 89 percent of respondents overall said they would be in favor, while just 9 percent opposed.

Congress only has a handful of days left in session before they return home for the majority of the summer to campaign, attend their parties’ conventions, and enjoy the annual August recess, so be sure to keep an eye out for news from NCIA about the developing appropriations process and other news from your government affairs team in Washington, D.C.