WASHINGTON – The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) will host its 14th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days May 12–14 in Washington, D.C., bringing operators, entrepreneurs, and industry stakeholders to Capitol Hill to meet directly with lawmakers and staff on federal cannabis policy priorities.
At a time when the cannabis industry is larger and more complex than ever, Lobby Days serves as a critical moment to bring together voices from across the ecosystem, ensuring policymakers hear a more complete and unified perspective.
NCIA Lobby Days come at a pivotal moment for federal cannabis policy, as conversations around rescheduling, regulation for all cannabis and cannabinoid products, and broader reform continue to evolve in the capital. NCIA members from across the country are expected to participate, representing a wide cross-section of the regulated cannabis economy, from small independent operators to multi-state businesses and service providers.
“State-regulated cannabis businesses are operating in nearly every corner of the country, creating jobs, generating tax revenue, and meeting clear consumer demand with highly regulated and tested products,” said NCIA Chief Operating Officer Brooke Gilbert. “But outdated federal policies continue to hold this industry back. Lobby Days is about bringing our industry together, across markets, segments, and perspectives, to ensure policymakers hear not just individual voices, but the collective voice of a regulated, responsible cannabis community.”
Participants will meet with members of Congress and their staffs to advocate for a comprehensive set of reforms in the 119th Congress and beyond, while also supporting near-term, bipartisan solutions that can provide immediate relief to regulated operators and consumers.
Key policy priorities
During Lobby Days, NCIA will highlight a set of shared priorities that reflect the needs of a diverse and rapidly evolving industry.
- Comprehensive federal reform: NCIA continues to call on Congress to end federal prohibition and establish a rational regulatory framework that respects state programs, ensures product safety, and addresses the long-term harms of prohibition.
- Protecting state-legal markets: In the absence of comprehensive reform, NCIA is urging Congress to protect state-regulated cannabis programs from federal interference and expand existing appropriations safeguards to include adult-use markets.
- Advancing rescheduling: NCIA supports the ongoing administrative process to move cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III and opposes any legislative efforts to delay or undermine that progress.
- Expanding financial access and tax fairness: NCIA is advocating for legislation that ensures cannabis businesses have access to banking, lending, insurance, payment processing, and fair tax treatment, tools that are available to virtually every other highly regulated, legal industry.
- Veterans access to medical cannabis: NCIA supports efforts to ensure that veterans can access medical cannabis through the Department of Veterans Affairs in accordance with state laws.
- Regulatory clarity for cannabinoids: With cannabinoid products widely available nationwide, NCIA is calling on Congress to establish clear federal standards for testing, labeling, and youth protections.
NCIA’s Annual Lobby Days is one of the cannabis industry’s largest coordinated federal advocacy efforts, bringing together businesses from across the country to engage directly with policymakers. As the industry continues to grow and diversify, NCIA plays a unique role in connecting stakeholders, elevating shared priorities, and creating space for collaboration across segments that don’t always naturally align.
