Name

Institution

Date

Calling for Reform to Marijuana Laws

Current Federal Policy

Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. wants congress to pass laws easing the restrictions on the marijuana industry in order to allow it to interact well with banking services since the industry is currently barred from these services. The federal government should understand that marijuana is not going away, and it very essential for a huge group of Americans. The federal government has not been able to respond to this issue the way states have. It does not matter whether Colorado, the state where Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. operates, has legalized cannabis, financial institutions that work with our Company faces federal laws that put them at the risk of being charged with money laundering and racketeering for dealing with cannabis firms. Our supplies, growers, and the dispensaries that form an important part of charlotte’s Web Holdings supply chain cannot access banking services such as depositing money into accounts or accepting credit card payments.

Although some financial institutions have decided to carry the prevailing climate of non-enforcement to provide banking services to the cannabis industry, most financial institutions are not ready for the legal, regulatory or reputational risk that is associated with allowing business dealing in cannabis to bank with them. The industry has been crying for reform for a very long time. Charlotte’s will join with other agencies, including state attorney generals, financial services industry, and lawmakers have joined to raise the concern that the lack of access to banking services is a huge business brainer for these companies and also a public safety concern. The state is also not able to collect tax for the revenues generated by these companies.

Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. will rally behind the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act that shows promise of banks, credit card unions, and financial institutions to serve the marijuana industry. Charlotte’s Web Holdings will work closely with Rep. Ed Perlmutter and Rep. Denny Heck, who are the leading proponents of the bill in congress.

More states are legalizing cannabis, and Charlotte is looking to expand its horizon into these new states, which is why the house committee must create a way for the financial sector to play a role in serving this growing industry. However, this is the first step because the Company also has an interest in the legalization of marijuana at the federal level. The Company’s interest grew stronger after realizing the possibility of this after the House Judiciary Committee approved a bill that removed cannabis from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act (LaVito, 2019). The legislation had good numbers where 24 to 10 ruled in its favor, which means the chance of it being approved in the Full House is higher since the chamber is controlled by Democrats who are the majority (Galston & Dionne Jr, 2013). However, the real task is passing the bill through the SenateSenate, which is controlled by Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, who strongly opposes the legalization of marijuana with a majority of Republicans.

The good thing about the legislation and why it is important for Charlotte’s Web Holding Inc. is that it allows states to create their own policies and gives them the incentive to clear criminal records of people with minor marijuana offenses. The Company has identified job training and legal assistance for people hit hard by the war on drugs as its corporate social responsibility. The Company understands that marijuana makes up more than half of all drug arrests across the country. The disproportionate impact that drug laws have had on minorities is a point of concern for Charlotte’s as it should be for any responsible entity and individual. The decriminalization of marijuana is not just about growing the companies revenues but alleviating the imbalance that has defined our criminal justice system.

Polarization in Congress

The likelihood of enacting this legislation is not guaranteed since Republicans have already raised their concerns that the bill has gone too far, and Senate is unlikely to take up the bill. Majority of Republican Senators will not support the bill especially because of the influence of Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (Lovelace Jr., 2019). The Senate is even less likely to take it up. There is not much bipartisan support for this particular bill.

However, Charlotte will lobby to support an idea where House democrats will negotiate with the Senate and consider their concerns since it is clear they will not take up the bill as it is. As an advisor, I would not say that Senate will not take up the idea because if a bill passes the House then the process is rolling. It is not an end process.

Strategy for Influencing Senate Decision

Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. will engage Colorado Senator Cory Gardner to help mobilize the Republican Senate. The first step will be to increase the Senator’s involvement with the Cannabis industry. The Company will not use its financial power to influence this decision, initially lest it is translated into arrogance or attract sanctions due to violations. Modesty will apply with Senator Cory Gardner, although the Company will pledge their financial support coming to the next elections up to the limits of the law. I believe that the Senator does not understand how the cannabis industry has grown in Colorado with Charlotte’s at the center of it.

The Company will mobilize its employees during the legislative process since people are the ones that make a difference. We will develop a grassroots policy in the Company, which will begin by following the legislative process closely. There will be alerts through mail on legislative action as well as a policy outline on how to respond to these alerts. The Company will issue a procedure for distributing alerts to every employee and insist that the employee participates. We understand that our employees have great steak in the affairs of the Company and have an interest in the bill that proposes the removal of cannabis from Schedule 1 of the Controlled Substances Act. The more people are contacting Senator Cory Gardner on this bill, the more effective his response.

The Company will also engage the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, which is an institution with massive social capital. The association is useful because it is able to establish a grassroots alert that does not only cover states but also national grassroots alerts. The National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws has the ability to reach beyond the national membership base and will broaden the reach of the original alert.

The Company will also organize a meet and greet at the company premises that seeks to bring together Senator Cory Gardner, Rep. Ed Perlmutter, and Rep. Denny Heck. The Senator should be able to see how many people are reliant on the cannabis industry and its potential in contributing to the economy beyond the myths going around. Bringing Rep. Ed Perlmutter and Rep. Denny Heck together with Cory Gardner is for the effect of initiating a compromise discussion between House Democrats and the Republican Senate to ensure the bill is taken up.

We are hoping that Senator Cory will be able to return for another facility tour with Majority Leader Mitch McConnell so that they can expand their understanding of how the Cannabis industry works and the importance of an entity such as Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc. in the community (Monte, Zane, & Heard, 2015). These lawmakers will see how these issues are affecting not only the Company by the people it serves in growers, distributors, and consumers, most of whom have medical prescriptions. The Company hopes to include the increase of the scope of research on marijuana so that certain uncertainties can be cleared as part of the compromise that will see the bill adopted by the Senate.

To support the Senator’s argument on the floor of the House, if things go as planned, the business will take up the responsibility for message delivery using certain principles. The business, along with the stakeholders that it is associating with ensuring that the information given to the Senator, will be factual and accurate. The information ought to be personal because it deals with the intricate needs of the general population first, the population that has made Charlotte’s essential as demonstrated by the revenue the Company generates in the last few quarters. The information will raise problems but also outline solutions perfectly.

Charlotte’s Web Holdings Inc., through its co-founders, will arrange a fundraiser for Senator Cory for the upcoming elections. The Company has been monitoring the Senator’s campaign pledge and would like to be an active member of his course.

The Company will use its vast resources to engage the media through letters to editors. Using the media is an invaluable way of enacting a bill that eases the restrictions of marijuana. The letters to the editor will include information that educates the public and influence members of congress. The letter will hopefully generate public support and mention the Senator to put him in the spotlight. If it’s the will of the people to have marijuana legalized, he should be able to represent this will.

References

Galston, W. A., & Dionne Jr, E. J. (2013). The new politics of marijuana legalization: Why opinion is changing. Governance Studies at Brookings, 1-17.

LaVito, A. (2019, July 23). Senate Panel Looks at Easing Laws That Restrict the Cannabis Industry’s Access to Mainstream Banking Services. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/23/us-senate-looks-at-easing-cannabis-laws-that-restrict-access-to-banking-services.htmlLovelace Jr., B. (2019, November 21). House Committee Approves Landmark Bill Legalizing Marijuana at the Federal Level. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/20/house-committee-approves-bill-decriminalizing-marijuana-on-the-federal-level.htmlMonte, A. A., Zane, R. D., & Heard, K. J. (2015). The implications of marijuana legalization in Colorado. Jama, 313(3), 241-242.