WASHINGTON, D.C. – On May 21-23, cannabis business leaders from across the country will convene in Washington, D.C., for the National Cannabis Industry Association’s 8th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days. Over the course of the three-day event, meetings will be held with Congressional representatives to discuss the negative impact that outdated federal prohibition has on the legal cannabis industry, which is a rapidly growing sector of the U.S. economy.
The fly-in takes place amid mounting support for regulated marijuana markets. In just the last few weeks, Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO) announced that President Trump will support federal cannabis policy reform, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced plans to introduce a bill that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, and former House Speaker John Boehner expressed support for legalization and joined the board of a legal cannabis company.
In addition to ultimately ending federal marijuana prohibition, the cannabis industry’s immediate priorities include a solution to the cannabis banking crisis, which prevents many legitimate businesses from accessing basic financial services, and reforming Section 280E of the federal tax code, which forces cannabis business to pay triple the effective federal tax rates of any other industry.
The Cannabis Industry Lobby Days will include a press conference with business leaders and members of Congress at the House Triangle on Wednesday, May 23 at 9:30 AM EDT. National Cannabis Industry Association staff and members will be available to the media throughout the three days.
