United States: parliamentarians form an association to coordinate the legalization of cannabis

While the U.S. cannabis industry hopes for federal decriminalization during Joe Biden's presidency, lawmakers from 19 states have formed an independent association to help implement cannabis policy changes.

According to a press release published Last Thursday, regulators formed the Cannabis Regulators Association (CANNRA) to coordinate the implementation of legalization. Although the association is not actively involved in the legalization process, it aims to inform regulatory best practice.

Capitalizing on the experience of other countries

In particular, CANNRA will draw on the experience of its members in coordinating current cannabis programs in their respective states.

«The Cannabis Regulators Association will provide an indispensable forum for regulators to engage with each other to identify and develop best practices, create model policies that protect public health and safety, and promote regulatory certainty for industry participants,» said Norman Birenbaum, CANNRA's inaugural chairman.

In addition, CANNRA has stressed that it will not advocate for or against cannabis reform. Instead, the association will provide «unbiased information to help make informed decisions when considering whether or how to legalize or expand regulated cannabis.».

The scope of CANNRA's recommendations will cover areas such as «packaging, labeling, advertising, testing, social equity, licensing, seed tracking at scale, application, inspections, pesticide use, tax structures, product approval, tax collection, patient qualification and registration, product processing and manufacturing, industrial hemp and CBD products, banking and payment processing».

The creation of CANNRA comes at a time when 5 new US states legalize cannabis in one way or another this November.

Regulated framework and cannabis market

Norman Birenbaum is currently director of cannabis programs in New York State. Regarding his presidency at CANNRA, he added that the association «will also work to ensure that the federal government draws on the vast experiences of states across the country to ensure that any changes to federal law adequately address state needs and priorities.»

CANNRA's first members come from 19 different states, including Colorado, Hawaii, Delaware, Iowa, Maine, Michigan, New York, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Nevada, Massachusetts, Maryland, Louisiana, Minnesota, New Jersey, North Dakota, Illinois, and Rhode Island.

Other states are expected to join the association soon.