Debra Borchardt
The National Cannabis Roundtable (NCR) was announced on Friday by the group’s new leader former speaker of the House John Boehner. The group will be lobbying to remove federal restrictions that stand in the way of medical research on cannabis and encourage the development solutions to help patients.
Other agenda items for the group include working to correct the tax code and improve the banking situation for cannabis companies. NCR will also be working to help states enact their own cannabis legislation.
Boehner has come a long way since his days as the Speaker. At one time he was very vocally anti-marijuana and opposed the very legislation he will now be fighting for. Since his time as Speaker, Boehner joined the board of one of the largest cannabis companies Acreage Holdings Inc. (ACRG.U) and has described his opinion towards cannabis as “evolved.”
“As the cannabis industry grows and matures, it’s vital that we work together for a common-sense legal framework for cannabis policy,” Speaker Boehner said in a statement. As membership grows, he says, NCR will be comprised of growers, processors, retailers, wellness centers, investors, entrepreneurs, and publicly traded companies. Acreage Holdings is a founding member of the group.
Edible company Plus Products is another company that has joined forces with the group. “As the Cannabis industry matures, leading companies have a responsibility to help keep the public safe and well informed,” said Jake Heimark, CEO of PLUS. “Our mission at PLUS is to make cannabis safe and approachable and we are excited to help further that mission by being an inaugural participant in the National Cannabis Roundtable.”
“As the top edible company in the largest state, we look forward to helping shape the national dialog around cannabis consumption and make sure the cannabis industry takes a responsible role in keeping consumers safe,” said Jennifer Tung, PLUS’ Chief Risk Officer.
