Campaign for the legalization of cannabis in the US receives support from companies and celebrities
A new campaign is bringing together high-profile celebrities and industry companies seeking to garner support from users to pressure politicians to legalize cannabis at the federal level
Curation and editing by Sechat, with information from Canex
The "Cannabis in Common" initiative was launched this week, with the support of celebrities, including actor, comedian, and cannabis enthusiast Seth Rogen and comedian Sarah Silverman.
The campaign includes the launch of a website , designed to make it easier for voters to send emails or call their representatives in Congress to mobilize them in support of legalization projects. State-licensed marijuana companies and dispensaries also plan to urge their customers to take action through emails and posters.
In an initial video for the campaign, Seth Rogen says: "Cannabis legalization is long overdue and, if we make enough noise, we can make it happen," watch:
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Recreational cannabis has already been legalized in 18 states and in Washington DC, and the medicinal use of the drug is allowed in over two-thirds of US states. However, the drug remains prohibited at the federal level - for both medical and recreational use.
In another promotion of the initiative, Sarah Silverman stated: "Fortunately, there is at least one thing that the majority of Americans have in common: over two-thirds of us agree that cannabis should be legalized, and we have a real chance of achieving federal legalization now if we speak up."
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This ongoing federal prohibition means that many banks are still not engaging with legal marijuana businesses, restricting them from accessing even basic banking services, such as opening a bank account. This leaves many of these companies in a vulnerable position, with many of them being forced to operate on a cash-only basis.
Several bills have advanced in Congress in recent years, including the SAFE Banking Act, which would make it easier for legal marijuana businesses to access banking services. However, none of these bills have been signed into law.
While the initiative has gained substantial support, many pro-legalization groups and advocates are reportedly divided because of Cannabis in Common, or in plain Portuguese, "Cannabis em Comum," as it is not focused on any specific part of the legislation.
However, organizers argue that the initiative is innovative in bringing together industry members and voters.
Steve Hawkins, CEO of the US Cannabis Council - an industry-led coalition organizing the campaign along with HeadCount, a voter registration group - said : "We feel that there is a larger and unexplored group of individuals that we would love to see weighing in."
A large number of cannabis companies have signed up for the initiative, including corporations Canopy Growth, Curaleaf Holdings, and Cronos Group.
Support for the legalization of cannabis in the US is gaining momentum. According to a recent Gallup poll, 68% of Americans are in favor of legalization , including 83% of Democrats, 71% of Independents, and 50% of Republicans.