Other Press Releases
US Cannabis Council Releases Guidance for National Cannabis Regulation through CAO Act
September 1, 2021
Steven Hawkins, CEO of the US Cannabis Council, issued the following statement after the submission of formal comments to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senators Ron Wyden and Cory Booker, the sponsors of the draft Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act:
“The Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act just took a big step toward introduction in the Senate. We are fully aligned with the sponsors’ goals and applaud their leadership and careful consideration. Cannabis prohibition in America is coming to an end, and the draft legislative text provides a road map for transitioning to a more just, equitable and prosperous future, particularly for emerging and social equity businesses and those directly impacted by cannabis prohibition. We are grateful to the sponsors for the opportunity to collaborate and share our policy priorities which we believe will strengthen the current draft bill.
“America’s transition to legal, fully regulated cannabis will take time to get right. We welcome the opportunity to work with the CAO Act’s sponsors to develop legislation that provides, among other things, a reasonable regulatory structure, equitable tax structure, protections for existing state programs, youth access prevention, clear pathways to economic and social equity for those who have not had access previously, and consideration for treaty obligations and potential Constitutional challenges.
“USCC believes that critical changes will be needed in order for the CAO Act to achieve its long-term objectives of transitioning Americans away from the illicit market to a fully regulated national market that provides opportunities to all, including but not limited to the following:
- The Tax and Trade Bureau at the Treasury Department should be the primary regulator of cannabis. The Food and Drug Administration should set health and safety standards.
- The complexity of production and wide variety of cannabis products require a new model of taxation, at rates that do not fuel the illicit market.
- Before significantly changing the regulatory landscape, new rules should recognize state programs, account for current legal obstacles and include a sufficient transition period after de-scheduling to ensure that regulators and businesses of all sizes – particularly emerging and social equity businesses – have the necessary time to adapt ahead of the onset of a national marketplace.
“At the end of the day, the detailed policy conversations taking place around the CAO Act should not distract from its historic nature. We support the leadership and vision of the sponsors and look forward to ongoing discussions and engagement to advance this vital legislation.
“For the first time in American history, the end of federal cannabis prohibition is within sight.”
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The US Cannabis Council is a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization. USCC members seek to harness their collective expertise in order to advance social equity, end the federal prohibition of cannabis, modernize federal and state regulations and promote high ethical standards within the industry.
David Culver, SVP of Public Affairs for the US Cannabis Council, released the following statement: "We welcome former President Trump’s historic endorsement of large-scale cannabis reform, including the reclassification of cannabis from Schedule I to III, the passage of Florida’s Amendment 3 to legalize adult-use cannabis in the state, and the passage of the SAFE Banking Act to bring standard banking services to the cannabis industry. He joins millions of Americans who have reassessed their views on cannabis in recent years. “Reclassifying cannabis would mark a historic swift away from the nation’s failed drug war. Cannabis never belonged on Schedule I, and the drug’s low abuse potential and proven medical use warrant a Schedule III designation, if not outright descheduling. "Meanwhile, former President Trump joins millions of Republicans and Democrats in Florida in voting for Amendment 3, adding to its already strong bipartisan support. President Trump's support could prove pivotal for meeting the 60% threshold required to become law. And his endorsement of SAFE provides a common sense approach to bringing cannabis into the regulated banking system. We look forward to hearing more from him about how he would approach cannabis reform if elected this November. “We believe cannabis reform is a winning issue. For the first time in history, both major party candidates support large-scale cannabis reform.”
David Culver, SVP of Public Affairs for the US Cannabis Council, released the following statement: “We welcome former President Trump's comments on Amendment 3 in Florida, which would legalize adult use cannabis in the state. He joins millions of Americans who have reassessed their views on cannabis in recent years. “Amendment 3 enjoys strong bipartisan support from Florida voters, and President Trump's support could prove pivotal for meeting the 60% threshold required to become law. We look forward to hearing more from him about how he would approach cannabis reform if elected this November.”
David Culver, SVP of Public Affairs for the US Cannabis Council, released the following statement: “President Biden has taken historic steps toward ending the federal prohibition of cannabis, including starting the process to move it to Schedule III and pardoning thousands of Americans convicted of nonviolent cannabis offenses. We look forward to the current administration finalizing the rescheduling process, and we hope the next nominee will support formally ending federal cannabis prohibition."
In response to the passage of Rep. Mary Miller's amendment during today's House Agriculture Committee markup of the Farm, Food, and National Security Act of 2024, US Cannabis Council executive director Ed Conklin released the following statement: “The 2018 Farm Bill has wrongly been used to justify the mass production and sale of unregulated intoxicating hemp products. We support a uniform approach to regulating intoxicating THC products. That means intoxicating hemp products should be regulated the same as cannabis products. We believe that all of these products should be available for sale to adults with strict age gating and safety standards. “Rep. Mary Miller's amendment would firmly close the so-called Farm Bill loophole by further clarifying the definition of hemp to strictly cover naturally-occurring, non-intoxicating products. Today's adoption of the amendment is a strong signal that Congress is serious about addressing the national crisis posed by unregulated intoxicating hemp products.”
In response to a new rule proposed by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) which would move cannabis from Schedule I down to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, US Cannabis Council Executive Director Edward Conklin released the following statement: “The US Cannabis Council strongly supports the DEA’s proposal to reclassify cannabis. Moving cannabis down to Schedule III would signal a tectonic shift away from the failed policies of the last 50 years. “Cannabis never belonged on Schedule I. Thanks to President Biden and his Administration, the federal government will soon turn the page on prohibition and set the stage for further reforms. “The proposed rule implements the recommendations of the Department of Health and Human Services, following an extensive scientific review by the Food and Drug Administration. It also happens to be overwhelmingly popular with the American public. “Our ultimate goal is federal legalization, and we see Schedule III as a necessary and critical step along the way. We will submit comments in the coming days in support of the proposed rule.”
Following the reintroduction of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act (CAOA) by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sens. Cory Booker and Ron Wyden, US Cannabis Council SVP of Public Affairs David Culver released the following statement: "We welcome today’s reintroduction of the CAOA and applaud the cosponsors for their foresight and commitment. The end of federal cannabis prohibition is within sight, and our nation will need smart legislation to usher in a new era of legal access. "The CAOA is historic in its ambition and sweeping nature. We look forward to reviewing the updated legislative text and engaging in substantive discussions about how to transition away from the illicit market to a regulated national market that provides opportunities for all. "Coming on the heels of historic rescheduling news, today’s reintroduction is a true sign of the times. We believe that moving to Schedule III will facilitate the many reforms yet to come.” # # #
In response to news reports that the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will move cannabis from Schedule I down to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act, US Cannabis Council Executive Director Edward Conklin released the following statement: “The US Cannabis Council strongly supports the move by the DEA to reclassify cannabis at a lower level under the Controlled Substances Act. President Biden and his Administration should be commended for recognizing that cannabis was wrongly classified as a Schedule I controlled substance and pursuing an administrative review to reclassify it. “The proposed DEA rule implements the recommendations of the Department of Health and Human Services, which were based on an extensive scientific review by the Food and Drug Administration. Once finalized, the reclassification of cannabis to Schedule III will mark the most significant federal cannabis reform in modern history and place the nation on a clear path toward our ultimate goal of federal legalization. “Reclassifying cannabis at Schedule III will transform the nation’s cannabis industry by ending the onerous 280E tax penalty. Under federal law, regulated cannabis operators are prevented from deducting standard business expenses–including rent and payroll–from their taxes. This results in an effective tax rate north of 70% for many operators. “Under the status quo, it is challenging to merely break even as a regulated cannabis business. Moving to Schedule III will boost cannabis businesses of all sizes – particularly independent and social equity operators – and make the regulated market much more competitive with the larger illicit market. The net effect will be that more Americans will legally purchase cannabis from licensed retailers that enforce age restrictions and sell safe, high-quality products. “More broadly, the DEA’s proposed rule would provide a range of benefits by recognizing the therapeutic value and low abuse risk of cannabis while signaling to the criminal justice system that cannabis should be a lower priority. Most importantly, it will mark a formal end to the more than 50 years that cannabis has been improperly classified as Schedule I–alongside heroin–and placed at the center of our nation's destructive drug war. “Moving to Schedule III represents a tectonic shift in our nation’s drug laws. The US Cannabis Council is committed to ending federal cannabis prohibition, and we believe that reclassification is a necessary and critical step toward that goal. In the coming days, we will submit comments to the DEA in support of the proposed rule.”
"The US Cannabis Council applauds President Biden for highlighting cannabis reform as an issue of national concern during his State of the Union address. The President has issued historic pardons for nonviolent cannabis offenses and initiated a groundbreaking review of the status of cannabis under federal law. Tonight's remarks before a national audience signal the President's ongoing commitment to advancing cannabis reform. We are encouraged by what we heard this evening and optimistic that the Biden Administration will move cannabis down to Schedule III this year."
WASHINGTON – The US Cannabis Council (USCC) launched a national round-up campaign in February at nearly 140 Curaleaf stores across the nation. The Legalize campaign provides customers at USCC member retail locations with the ability, at point of sale, to seamlessly round up their purchases to the nearest dollar in support of federal cannabis reform. USCC member Curaleaf will run the Legalize campaign for all of February and at other points during the year. Two other USCC members, MariMed and Standard Wellness, are set to run the round-up campaign at their retail locations this spring. Other major retailers are expected to join the campaign in the coming months. USCC members are active in all states where cannabis is legal and regulated. Proceeds from the Legalize campaign go directly to support USCC’s efforts to advance cannabis reform in Congress and elevate cannabis as an issue in the 2024 election. As a 501(c)4 organization, USCC can spend up to half its budget on electioneering. It can also contribute proceeds to its Super PAC, Legalize America. “We are excited to expand the Legalize campaign nationally,” said David Culver, SVP of Public Affairs at USCC. “Customers at regulated stores feel strongly that cannabis should be federally legal. Now they have the opportunity to directly support legalization at the checkout counter.” USCC beta-tested the round-up campaign at three Curaleaf stores in New Jersey last September and October. Based on the strength of that test, the organization is rolling out the program nationally. 139 Curaleaf stores in twelve states are participating in the campaign: AZ (8), CT (5), FL (62), IL (8), MA (5), MD (8), ME (4), ND (4), NJ (6), NV (7), NY (4), PA (18). “The USCC campaign gives Curaleaf customers the opportunity to directly impact the movement to legalize cannabis across the nation – a long overdue change that the majority of Americans support,” said Matt Darin, CEO of Curaleaf. “We are proud to have launched the inaugural effort across our retail stores and engage our team members, patients and customers in making cannabis a prominent issue in 2024.” # # # The US Cannabis Council (USCC) is the voice of America's regulated cannabis industry. By harnessing the collective power and reach of our members and allies, we have become a leading force for ending federal prohibition and creating an equitable and values-driven cannabis industry.
In response to President Biden’s expansion of pardons for cannabis use and possession, US Cannabis Council SVP of Public Affairs David Culver issued the following statement: “When President Biden was running for office, he pledged to reform federal cannabis laws and grant pardons for nonviolent cannabis offenses. As the third year of his presidency comes to a close, the president has made great strides toward these goals. “Today’s pardons are an expansion of those granted in October of last year, when President Biden also initiated an administrative review of the status of cannabis under federal law. As a result of the review, the Drug Enforcement Administration is poised to move cannabis down to Schedule III, following more than five decades as a Schedule I drug. “The Biden Administration is well on its way toward delivering the most impactful cannabis reform in history. We applaud President Biden for his ongoing commitment to reforming cannabis laws and addressing the harms of our nation’s failed drug war. Taken together, his actions represent tangible progress toward ending federal cannabis prohibition and expunging cannabis charges at all levels of government.”