Cannabis Lobby Woos Washington Lawmakers

What’s the story?

• The National Cannabis Industry Association is wrapping up its three-day lobbying effort on the Capitol.
• 200-plus cannabis industry leaders were in Washington urging lawmakers to embrace the growing movement for marijuana legalization.

Why does it matter?

• While this isn’t the first lobbying push by the NCIA, advocates said there’s a new legitimacy to their message given public polls are showing record support for legalizing pot.

“There’s an air of legitimacy around our group that makes me hopeful that the stigma is going to fall away,” Blake Mensing, a cannabis attorney from Massachusetts who helps clients obtain local permits and state licenses for adult use cannabis businesses, told The Guardian.

What do you think?

Aaron Smith, executive director of the NCIA, said that “states have already proven that replacing the criminal marijuana markets with tightly regulated and transparent small businesses is working.”

“Now the responsibility falls on Congress to reform federal laws so that the legal cannabis industry can be treated fairly, like any other legitimate business sector.”

Now’s the time, then, to let Congress know your thoughts on legalizing pot. Hit Take Action and share your message, then comment below.

—Josh Herman

(Photo Credit: National Cannabis Industry Association)