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Federal cannabis reform will be created in the image and likeness of whichever political party is in office when it finally happens.

And dont we know it. In fact, last week Bill Maher bemoanedthat Republicans are going to steal the issue, I think eventually.The RealTime talk show host, who was speaking withformer attorneyGeneral Eric Holder,is probably right.

Republicans, with their keep taxes low and government regulation to a minimum approach, might bebetter equippedpsychologically and practically to legalize cannabis, their conservative Christian wing notwithstanding.

Whereas the Dems are more disposed to taxes,regulationsand,to their credit, a strong emphasis onsocial equity andjustice as seen by an across-the-boardpush for expungement, their prohibitionist President notwithstanding.

Just take a look at the two major cannabis reform proposals one from each party that have been circulating in and out of the halls of Congress as well as state legislatures.

Senate Majority leader Chuck Schumeralong withSens. Cory Booker and Ron Wydenlaunched theirCannabis Administration and Opportunity Act(CAOA), whichwill, were told, beintroduced in Augustafter several false starts.

RELATED: Why Chuck Schumer Might Act On Cannabis Banking Sooner Rather Than Later

Then theresRep. Nancy Maces(R-SC)States Reform Act(SRA), which when introduced in 2021 was warmly greeted.

Both bills would remove cannabis from theControlled Substances Act, thuslegalizing it federallya good start. Many in the industry concur thattheDems CAOAleansmore toward social justiceand therefore enjoys support from theMarijuanaJustice Coalition, which includes theACLUandHuman Rights Watch.

MacesSRAis more big-business centered and enjoys the backing of theCannabis Freedom Alliance, which includes the Koch-funded groupAmericans for Prosperity.

RELATED: Sen. Lindsey Graham Open To Medical Marijuana, Rep. Nancy Mace Votes Against MORE Act

So, whoselegalization billand by extensionwhich congressional candidatesare executives of the U.S.s highest-valued cannabis companies supporting?

If you guessed NancyMace, go to the head of the class.

Cannabis Wiredid some digging into the Congressional campaign contributions made byexecutives of the following multistate operators:

Ascend Wellness

Ayr Wellness

CanopyGrowth

ColumbiaCare

Cresco Labs

Curaleaf Holdings

GreenThumbIndustries

TerrAscend

Trulieve

Verano Holdings

Of these companies, six CEOs made a campaign contribution in 2022. Four of them gave to Mace alone. One gave to Mace and toGary Chambers, a Democrat fromLouisianawho is running for Senate. And one gave only to Chambers, who made headlines in January when hesmoked a joint in one of his campaign ads.

So yeah, Bill Maher might have a point.

Link:
Nancy Mace Or Chuck Schumer: Whose Cannabis Reform Bill Are Big Weed Companies Supporting? - The Fresh Toast