Marijuana businesses and related trade associations, eager to shape emergency regulations governing California’s new recreational market, spent more than $1.6 million in 2017 lobbying state policymakers, according to new disclosures released this week.
Advocacy spending in the cannabis space last year was nearly double the amount reported in 2016, growth fueled by growing dispensaries, specialty services and holding companies. Here’s a snapshot of some of the top lobbying spenders:
Weedmaps ($242,000), the site for finding legal marijuana shops nearby and product reviews. The Irvine company gave $1 million to the successful campaign to pass Proposition 64, the recreational legalization measure, in 2016. Two firms lobbied for Weedmaps: California Strategies & Advocacy and Lang, Hansen, O’Malley and Miller Government Affairs.
Privateer Holdings ($162,500), the seven-year-old private equity firm. Its portfolio includes Tilray, a Canadian-based medical marijuana research and production operation and Marley Natural, “the official cannabis brand of Bob Marley.” California Strategies & Advocacy lobbied on behalf of Privateer Holdings.
Cannacraft Inc. ($153,445), the Santa Rosa-based medical marijuana manufacturer. Platinum Advisors and RIA lobbied for Cannacraft.
Harborside Health Center ($130,000), one of the biggest and best-known dispensaries in the country. Milo Group of California lobbied for Harborside.
Eaze Solutions Inc. ($111,201), the San Francisco-based medical marijuana delivery startup. Eaze’s lobbyist is Governmental Advocates Inc.
The trade group spending the most on lobbying in 2017 was the California Cannabis Industry Association, which represents dispensaries, labs, manufacturers and other marijuana-related businesses.
The lion’s share of the lobbying work for the cannabis industry went to California Strategies & Advocacy, a large Sacramento shop with ties to the Yes on Proposition 64 campaign. The firm’s roster of lobbyists includes Jason Kinney, who worked on the strategy to legalize recreational marijuana use and sales in California.
credit:law.com