| Politico: Major cannabis industry groups merge |
| BY NATALIE FERTIG | 01/16/2025 11:36 AM EST |
| Two of the largest cannabis industry organizations are merging as they prepare for total Republican control in Washington.The US Cannabis Council and National Cannabis Roundtable will become a single organization: the U.S. Cannabis Roundtable. Both are major spenders in a nascent industry still finding its footing on Capitol Hill: Combined they spent $1,076,000 on lobbying federal policymakers in 2024.The merger will also bring some big cannabis lobbying names under the same tent: NCR boasts former Republican House Speaker John Boehner, former Obama administration Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and former Republican Sen. Cory Gardner as members of its policy team, while USCC recently signed on the lobbying services of Bryan Lanza, a former adviser to President-elect Donald Trump.Why it matters: The cannabis industry is represented by a variety of different groups on Capitol Hill, sometimes creating a cacophony trying to influence cannabis policy in different directions. NCR counts Florida-based giant Truelieve as a member, while USCC includes Curaleaf and Scotts Miracle-Gro. Other major cannabis corporations like Cresco Labs and Verano Holdings belong to both.The industry has struggled to notch any significant policy victories on Capitol Hill. It’s No. 1 priority — legislation that would make it easier for cannabis companies to access banking services — has stalled for years, despite strong bipartisan support. As Washington transitions to a new administration and Republican control of Congress, it appears that many of the nation’s largest cannabis corporations will be proceeding with a unified voice — if they can find it.The merger also comes amid the push to loosen federal restrictions on marijuana. The Biden administration has backed plans to move marijuana from Schedule I to Schedule III on the Controlled Substances Act, and Trump has indicated support for the move. That would be a big victory for cannabis companies, because they would see their tax bills decrease significantly, since they’d no longer be subject to section 280E of the federal tax code.The merger of USCC and NCR puts many of the largest cannabis corporations in the same entity. And it brings to fruition a process seemingly begun when Cresco CEO Charlie Bachtell took over as chair of both NCR and USCC.“As the Chairman of both groups, I have seen first-hand the incredible talent of each organization and know that the combined group will be the unified authority advocating on behalf of the legal cannabis industry and a resource on all things cannabis for members of the Trump Administration and Congress,” Bachtell said in a statement. |
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POLITICO Influence Delivered daily, Influence gives you a comprehensive rundown and analysis of all lobby hires and news on K Street. […] CANNABIS GROUPS JOIN FORCES: “Two of the largest cannabis industry organizations are merging as they prepare for total Republican control in Washington,” per our Natalie Fertig. “The US Cannabis Council and National Cannabis Roundtable will become a single organization: the U.S. Cannabis Roundtable.” — “Both are major spenders in a nascent industry still finding its footing on Capitol Hill: Combined they spent $1,076,000 on lobbying federal policymakers in 2024. … The cannabis industry is represented by a variety of different groups on Capitol Hill,” and it’s had trouble securing any major policy victories, despite broad bipartisan support for its top priority, cannabis banking legislation. |
