After decades spent operating in the shadows, the ever-growing legal marijuana industry has begun supporting federal campaigns and lobbying efforts in Washington DC.

For an industry that remains illegal under federal law, taking action at the federal level — in the form of contributions from industry heavyweights, and the formation of the first and only political action committee for the industry — is a critical step in achieving legitimacy. It also signals that elected officials, who in the past were unwilling to accept money from anyone in the weed business, are responding to the interests of voters.

Read more: The Politics of Pot: The Marijuana Industry Is Now a Special Interest Group | VICE News