Marijuana Moment learned that one of the country’s most prominent marijuana reform groups is undergoing major changes. It is fighting to restore a funding level that enabled it to end cannabis criminalization across the U.S. As this philanthropic backing has slowly dissipated in an increasingly challenging economic and political environment, Marijuana Policy Project is now considering a number of options–including a merger with NORML.
MPP has not made public the fact that Toi Hutchinson has recently resigned and been replaced temporarily by Matthew Schweich, a long-time senior employee. This is partly because MPP is still adjusting to the restructuring. MPP staffers confirmed in interviews that, for the time being, they are suspending their ballot campaign, which means it will only be focusing on state legislators because of financial constraints.
While the organization is evaluating its next steps and seeking a permanent executive, MPP and NORML officials are also in preliminary discussions about a possible merger. However, nothing has been finalized.
MPP was established in 1995 before any state legalized medical marijuana. Since its founding in 1995, MPP has been instrumental in putting marijuana on ballots and legalizing it through various legislatures.
Schweich, speaking to Marijuana Moment, said: “I believe we were victims of ourselves.” “We are highly effective. We have passed many laws in so many states, and we’ve had so many ballot initiatives. “People just became accustomed to our success.”
He stated that MPP was still “in a strong position to maintain current operations” and that the reason for the restructuring is “to ensure we can operate efficiently for years to come.”
He said: “It’s important to understand that philanthropic donations are needed to help us maintain the scale we should have.” It is simply not possible to maintain the scale we need without philanthropic donations returning to cover our costs.
In the early years of MPP these philanthropic supporters were crucial to funding expensive and often costly ballot campaigns. As MPP began to see success and businesses started to emerge in an industry that seemed lucrative, philanthropic donations began to disappear. Schweich said charitable donors questioned: Shouldn’t operators of the newly legalized cannabis industry “step in and fill that hole?”
In certain cases, this has occurred. MPP’s interim executive director stated that certain cannabis companies have proven to be great allies in various states over the years. It’s difficult for MPP to remain a large organization with a team of ballot initiative advocates, given the current fundraising environment.
Another factor is behind the shakeup. The funding for grassroots organizations to continue their work, even though most Americans live where cannabis is available in some form of regulated manner (often due to the efforts of MPP or other advocacy groups like NORML), is not sustainable. It’s been difficult to convince the average marijuana user that their small donations can make a difference for those living in states where cannabis is illegal.
It’s one the most difficult positions to be placed in, when all those who you depend on for funding and resources look at everyone else as if to say: “Why should I do it?” Hutchinson said to Marijuana Moment.
“At the end, we still have a industry that isn’t as inclusive as it should for Black and Brown folks.” She said that people are still living with the effects of the drug war, both on their personal records and on the communities they live in. “We have a situation where stigma is decreasing, but it does not translate into a greater understanding of the need to continue our work.”
Hutchinson, who is no longer the executive director of MPP, says the “mission of the organization is so wrapped up in my heart that there is no way I can let go of it.” She had to make a moral decision: either continue taking a salary to represent the group, or leave so the team that she admires, and with whom she previously worked as an Illinois State legislator fighting for reform, could continue their operations, even if they are limited.
MPP staff members expressed their deep appreciation and respect to Hutchinson in conversations with Marijuana Moment. They would love to see him return to lead the group, if current funding conditions permit. Hutchinson thanked the team for their praise and said that the “door is never going be closed” for him.
Schweich is currently in a position he’s familiar with: he’s at the helm of a new leadership team. MPP was founded by Rob Kampia in the mid-1990s. He stepped down from his position in 2017 and Schweich was appointed interim executive for a period of nearly a full year until Steve Hawkins was hired to fill the role. Hawkins left the organization in 2021 and hired Hutchinson that same year.
Schweich also leads South Dakotans For Better Marijuana Laws, which is collecting signatures to place legalization on the ballot in 2024.
Schweich has said repeatedly that he wouldn’t run a South Dakota full-fledged campaign again if the funding wasn’t there. This has not changed. He said that if it does not make sense to support the campaign by MPPs, then “I will not make an exception” in the case of the state. South Dakota’s marijuana reform will be further delayed without the right funding. This is just one example of what states that are still under prohibition may face if top cannabis groups don’t restore the necessary funding.
Karen O’Keefe is the director of state laws at MPP, who works with state legislatures. She told Marijuana Moment that it was a real shame we couldn’t play a leadership role. There are some states that will continue to have cannabis prohibitions for another decade or longer. This is probably due to the lack of funding to attract voters.
She said that by not having funding to place this issue on a ballot, the progress in these states is delayed considerably. “And it also doesn’t have that message [to state legislatures]–especially in this high turnout election year, when we would presumably see a lot better results that can help spur quicker action in all of their neighboring states and in Congress.”
“So, you know, as a team of state legislators, we know how best to stretch the dollar. It’s much cheaper to do state legislation. “But there are only a few states that have it right,” she said. It takes time to build support for states.
Reform advocates are not in a good position at the moment. Supporters of reform are optimistic about the prospects for congressional reform in marijuana banking. After the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services advised the Drug Enforcement Administration to move marijuana to Schedule III of Controlled Substances Act, there are some hopes for federal rescheduling. MPP is not able to change policy at the state-level, as the federal government is undermining their ability to do so. The organization also struggles to communicate effectively to its supporters and to consumers in states where marijuana is legal.
Hutchinson stated that “direct grassroots involvement is essential” at the consumer’s level. But it’s harder than ever to break through the noise and tap into this potential.
She asked. “The importance of grassroots consumers cannot be overstated. You want to balance this with a statement like, “Yes, you do want money from the industry.” You want industry to invest in advocacy changes.
As the industry consolidates, and businesses struggle to overcome their own obstacles such as federal prohibition of banking services and capital as well as the 280E tax penalties, part of the problem is even the marijuana market finds itself financially stressed. MPP acknowledges this.
The stakes are very high, but MPP has made it clear that its difficult decisions are strategic. These decisions are meant to make sure that MPP survives this current turmoil and continues to win with its limited resources.
At least two other key MPP employees have also recently left. Jared Moffat was the state campaign manager for this organization. While he cited the fact that he was focusing on his work with New Approach to enact psychedelics legislation in states such as California and Massachusetts, Moffat also acknowledged that “the landscape of ballot initiatives for MPP and the wider movement has changed.”
Moffat said to Marijuana Moment, “I believe that the reality is that in the past we could raise funds and run campaigns. But that has changed dramatically today.” “I believe there was much discussion about my role, and whether or not the ballot initiative work would continue in the same way. In that sense, I did not feel it was disruptive to leave the MPP position because of the new ballot landscape.
DeVaughnward also left the organization recently after serving for three years as senior legislative counsel.
Sal Pace is the chair of the MPP board of directors. He told Marijuana Moment the changeup was to intentionally move resources “from initiative team to legislative team.” However, he also noted that they were actively playing a supporting role in a campaign to legalize cannabis in Ohio where voters will be deciding on the reform in the next month.
Pace stated that it is still possible for MPP to “decide to dedicate resources to initiatives in 2020 if the right circumstances arise,” but “for the moment, we have moved staff from initiatives to legislative work.”
“MPP is a pragmatic organisation, which has been funded by philanthropists and small donors, as well as the industry. “We’re still a multimillion-dollar entity, but the challenges the industry has faced over the past few years have seen the support of the industry slip,” said he. “Like any successful business, we’re moving resources around to make sure they are used most effectively. It will eventually turn around (removing the burdens from 280E through rescheduling is a good start); we will become a stronger, more efficient organization as a result.
Possible merger between MPP and NORML
Marijuana Moment learned of talks between MPP, the other nation’s leading cannabis reform group NORML and a possible merger.
The conversations took place mainly at the board-level, and MPP officials stressed that they were “preliminary”.
Pace stated that “we are in very early discussions” with NORML regarding possible ways to partner with them and achieve our shared cannabis reform goals. “We are considering many possibilities for possible collaboration but there is nothing new at this time.”
Both groups could benefit from combining NORML’s grassroots appeal, its large email list, and the political connections of MPP. On the other hand the fact that these discussions have taken place at all in some way underscores that the nonprofit sector for marijuana policy reform is no longer what it once was. In the new climate, all advocacy efforts are suffering. NORML has yet to fill the executive director’s position that Erik Altieri left vacant in March, as it decides on who will lead them through the complex policy terrain.
Schweich, MPP, said that the discussions were in a preliminari stage. The discussions are about a merger, but also a deeper collaboration. In light of the current fundraising environment for cannabis reform, I believe it is prudent that the boards have these conversations. They’re still early in the process.”
The NORML Board of Directors declined to comment for this article.
MPP and NORML have had a productive, collaborative relationship for many years. However, Kampia’s transition as a NORML employee to MPP founder has been marked by controversy.
Hawkins led both the U.S. Cannabis Council and the MPP at the same time. There were concerns that the overlap in the organizations would undermine MPP since they had similar but not identical goals.
Hutchinson, the recently-departed MPP Executive Director, stressed that: “We need people to understand that there is still a need for all hands on deck.”
“We still need engagement. She said, “We still need grassroots donors. We also need small donors. We also need philanthropic donations. And we have to keep trying to attract people into the industry.” “We must make people aware that markets are yet to be opened. Laws still need to be changed. There is still much to say. “Cannabis is not done yet.”
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Photo by Philip Steffan.
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