November has been a busy month in cannabis policy: Congress is on the brink of ending the longest-ever government shutdown (with implications for the hemp industry and veterans access), while Virginia and New Jersey just held statewide elections that will undoubtedly change the cannabis landscape in those states (well, Commonwealth in Virginia’s case!). Let’s take…

While cannabis reform has always moved at a glacial pace in Washington, D.C., 2025 seems like an extreme example. To date, Congress has introduced almost no standalone legislation related to the issue and efforts to reclassify marijuana have stalled; but the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) has seemed more willing to examine the…

Last month, the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) hosted its 13th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days and inaugural National Stakeholder Summit in Washington, D.C.  Over the course of a day and a half, NCIA members canvassed Capitol Hill and completed over 100 meetings on Capitol Hill educating members, staff, and committees on the issues that…

It’s no secret that the cannabis industry is in dire need of reform. Businesses are struggling, consolidation is rampant, and communities continue to bear the costs of prohibition. At the same time, partisan gridlock has made progress at the federal level more challenging than ever. The cannabis industry—its business owners, employees, and advocates—feels the weight…

Ballot initiatives are as OG as it gets: nearly thirty years ago in 1996, California became the first state to legalize medical marijuana via Proposition 215, also known as the Compassionate Use Act. This provision exempted certain patients and their primary caregivers from criminal liability under state law for the possession and cultivation of cannabis…

There were two major cannabis policy developments from Washington, D.C. last week: language of the proposed rule for rescheduling became available (accompanied by a video from the President reaffirming his commitment to reform) and the long anticipated text of the farm bill was released. The text of the proposed rule confirmed that the Attorney General…

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…

Congress (still) struggles to pass a number urgent bills that are related to border security, the budget, and aid for Ukraine and Israel. In a time of government dysfunction, it is important to remember the chaos that results in cannabis (and many other) issues having trouble gaining traction in Congress. Cannabis legislation and priorities are…

NCIA (and me personally!) The SAFE Banking Act has been discussed for many years by NCIA (and myself personally!) After the Senate Banking Committee’s hearing on the topic of financial services and the cannabis industry in May, it became clear that in order for the bill to continue on in the legislative process and receive…