Newly released reports reveal that Uber and the Colorado governor’s office are among those who have disclosed their federal lobbying efforts on marijuana reform legislation in the past quarter.
According to the required reports filed by the Senate and House of Representatives for the 4th quarter of 2023, Amazon, American Express and other companies have continued to exert pressure on Congress regarding marijuana-related legislation.
Uber Technologies, a ride-sharing and delivery company, appears to have become the first to lobby on federal marijuana laws. A report filed Monday shows expenses related to advocacy for the bipartisan Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act (SAFER), which has been passed by the Senate and its House counterpart.
The bill, which passed a Senate Committee last September, and is now awaiting floor action would stop federal regulators from punishing financial institutions for simply working with state licensed cannabis businesses. Uber’s lobbying report does not state its position on the proposal. However, the company has traditionally embraced the cannabis industry. It provided cannabis delivery services to Canada after legalization. The company’s CEO has expressed an openness to expand its services to include marijuana delivery, if U.S. Federal law changes.
The report discloses that cannabis banking is a priority. This indicates that the business believes that a potential incremental change in policy could have significant implications for it, even if marijuana remained federally illegal if the bill was passed. Marijuana Moment contacted Uber to get a comment. However, a representative had not responded by the time this article was published.
The office of Colorado Governor Jared Polis (D) also reported lobbying expenses related to his office’s cannabis policy reform advocacy in Congress. Jared Polis, a Democrat from Colorado, also reported lobbying costs related to his office’s advocacy for cannabis policy reform in Congress.
The description for the lobbying activity states: “Track and Report on Cannabis Scheduling Developments, including facilitating a governor-led letter urging the cannabis rescheduling into Schedule III.” This is referring to a letter Polis, along with five other Governors, sent last month to the Biden Administration, begging them to reschedule cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act by the end of the year.
Other notable federal clients who have reported lobbying activity on marijuana issues in the past quarter are listed below:
Altria
” Discussions to support the establishment of an integrated federal regulatory framework for marijuana.
“Discussions on federal appropriations policy relating to Food and Drug Administration clarification on CBD”.
Amazon
The States Reform Act (H.R. 5977), and the Cannabis Administration & Opportunity Act, (S. 4591).
American Bankers Association
“S. “S.
American Bar Association
The SAFER Banking Act (S.2860), also known as the Secure and Fair Enforcement Regulation Banking Act or , would allow financial institutions, including banks, to offer critical banking services to cannabis businesses that are legally operating, such as bank accounts, checks, and credit cards.
American Express
“S. “S.
Americans for Prosperity
“S. “S.
S. 2860 : SAFER Banking Act (provisions related to cannabis industry banking).
Cresco Labs
The Safe Banking Act: Issues
Curaleaf
” Issues relating to S.2860/H.R. “a href=”https://lda.senate.gov/filings/public/filing/276b3ac8-035c-4b8f-8851-6d3bbcc888f9/print/” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank>Issues/a> related to S.2860/H.R.
Jazz Pharmaceuticals
” Issues relating to the regulation and CBD of cannabis
Research and development cannabis-derived therapeutics.
SAFE Banking Act of 2023″
Liberty Mutual
“Clarifying the Law Around Insurance of Marijuana Act” – H.R. 2984 / S. 1359.
S. 1323/H.R. 2891.”
Morgan Stanley
“Issues related to…cannabis-related banking.”
National Beer Wholesalers Association
“H.R. “H.R. 2891, The SAFE Banking Act 2023; Issues Related to Legal Banking and Effective Regulation for Cannabis Products
S. 2860 – the SAFER Banking Act – issues related to legal banking, effective regulation of cannabis products and other relevant matters.”
National Cannabis Roundtable
Reforming federal laws and policies governing medical research and financial transactions and tax deductions that apply to cannabis, and allowing the states and territories the ability to set and enforce the own laws governing the use of cannabis, including the Secure and Fair Enforcement Banking Act, the Capital Lending and Investment for Marijuana Businesses Act (H.R. “a href=”https://lda.senate.gov/filings/public/filing/bcc95b9f-617c-4370-bbaf-df3f2fed5967/print/” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>Reforming/a> federal law and policy governing medical research, financial transactions, and tax deductions applicable to cannabis and allowing states and territories to set and enforce their own laws governing cannabis H.R. 5977).”
National Sheriff’s Association
“SAFE Banking Act”
NORML
Support The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act. This would allow veterans to have greater access to medical marijuana and be protected from discrimination.
Support S.2860, the Secure And Fair Enforcement Regulations (SAFER Banking Act)
Support the Cannabis Users Restoration of Eligibility Act (CURE).
Support the Veterans Equal Access Act. This would increase and facilitate access to medical cannabis for military veterans who suffer from chronic pain, PTSD and other serious conditions. It allows physicians affiliated with Department of Veterans Affairs, to recommend cannabis according to state laws.”
Paypal
“S. All provisions of S.
Smart Approaches to Cannabis (SAM)/SAM Action
” Issues relating to STATES Act for legalizing marijuana; Appropriations Amendments related to marijuana legalization and criminal justice reform related marijuana.
SAFE Banking Act issues relating to marijuana banking and investments.
The effects of marijuana in children, and the link between marijuana and schizophrenia.
Marijuana safety concerns Children being sold high-potency marijuana products
“The Federal role in marijuana law; legalization of marijuana and criminal justice reform.”
Scotts Miracle-Gro
“Provide guidance and strategic counsel on legislation/regulations, including the SAFE Banking Act and SAFER Banking Act, and/or appropriations that may impact the Company.”
Teamsters
“S. “S.
Trulieve
Medical marijuana policy and regulations; banking policy.
U.S. Cannabis Council
Reporting lobbying activity for specific bills or policy issues is not a sign of support, opposition, or neutrality. It also does not show how much money was spent on cannabis-specific issues compared to other issues that the entity disclosed advocacy on. The latest filings show a disproportionate interest in marijuana banking legislation, which advocates and stakeholders hope to see passed in this second half the 118th Congress.
Last month, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer (D) stated that legislators will “hit ground running” in the year 2024. He said this to build upon bipartisan progress made on several key issues including marijuana banking reform, though he acknowledged it “wouldn’t be an easy task.”
Photo by Mike Latimer.
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