Top Cannabis Businesses, Associations, and Advocacy Organizations Join Forces to Launch U.S. Cannabis Council
A Coalition of Leading Companies and Advocates, USCC Aims to Advance Social Equity and Racial Justice, and End Federal Cannabis Prohibition
Top cannabis businesses, associations, and advocacy organizations in the United States today launched the U.S. Cannabis Council (USCC), a 501(c)4 nonprofit organization that strategically aligns and unifies its members’ collective voices to advance cannabis reform.
The largest coalition of its kind, USCC will harness the resources, energy, and expertise of its founding members to end federal cannabis prohibition by bringing together a strategic alliance of organizations, businesses, and individuals. Importantly, USCC will focus on securing federal reforms that advance social equity and promote fair, safe, and well-regulated markets nationwide as states continue legalizing cannabis at a rapid rate.
"USCC is a unified voice advocating for the descheduling and legalization of cannabis," said USCC Interim CEO Steven Hawkins, a leader in civil and human rights who also serves as Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project, a founding member of USCC. "Legalization at both the state and federal level must include provisions ensuring social equity and redress for harms caused to communities impacted by cannabis prohibition."
The alliance aims to raise ethical standards within the industry; achieve restorative justice for communities that have been disproportionately impacted by misguided state and federal cannabis policies; and create a healthy, inclusive, and well-regulated cannabis industry with social, financial, and environmental benefits shared by all.
Congressional leaders in Washington, D.C. are already looking forward to working hand-in-hand with the organization.
"As founder and co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, I’ve seen firsthand that our most successful cannabis wins have been secured by a team," said U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer, D-Ore. "That’s why I am glad to see this first-of-its-kind alliance. We have a unique opportunity in the 117th Congress to advance cannabis reform, but we must remain united to create the change we know is possible. I look forward to welcoming the United States Cannabis Council to Washington, D.C. and working together toward meaningful policy change in the months and years ahead."
USCC aims to become a leading resource for cannabis here in the U.S., impacting policy change on both a federal and state level.
"Today the cannabis industry has mobilized to make our message clear – we must deschedule and legalize cannabis, and it is critical that it is done the right way," said Christian Sederberg, USCC’s Acting Board Chairman and a partner at national cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg, a founding member of USCC. "After so many years working towards meaningful reform, it’s inspiring to see the diverse group of partners who have formed this collective voice, and together, we are hopeful that true, meaningful federal cannabis reform is within reach."
The USCC’s founding members represent some of the most influential policy and business organizations in the modern cannabis industry. For every five board appointments, the USCC will reserve one additional board seat for members representing specific areas of focus, including DEI and environmental concerns.
Founding members of the U.S. Cannabis Council include standalone and multi-state businesses, associations, and advocacy organizations from throughout North America:
Acreage Holdings
Akerna Corp.
American Trade Association of Cannabis and Hemp
Association for Cannabis Health Equity and Medicine
BellRock Brands
Buckeye Relief
Cannabis Trade Federation
Canopy Growth Corporation
Columbia Care Inc.
Cresco Labs Inc.
Cronos Group
Culta
Curaleaf
DNA Genetics
Eaze
Flowhub
Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce
Good Chemistry
The Grove Cannabis Dispensary
Headcount’s Cannabis Voter Project
Husch Blackwell
iAnthus Capital Holdings, Inc.
Jushi
Keef Brands
Lightshade
LivWell Enlightened Health
Marijuana Policy Project
Medicine Man
MedMen
Native Roots Cannabis Co.
1906 New Highs
PAX Labs
PharmaCann
ProKure
Raw Garden
Schwazze
Scotts Miracle-Gro Company
Urbn Leaf
Veterans Cannabis Project
Vicente Sederberg LLP
Vireo
Wana
For more information on how to get involved with the USCC, please visit www.uscannabiscouncil.org.
The United States 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.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210208005220/en/
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