The Marijuana Opportunity and Reinvestment Act or MORE Act (HR 3884) would remove cannabis from the schedule of controlled substances and provide critical reinvestment to communities negatively impacted by the failed, decades-long War on Drugs.
Duration: May 4, 2018
to
December 31, 2020
General Issues: Government Issues , Banking , Consumer Issues/Safety/Protection , Budget/Appropriations , Taxation/Internal Revenue Code , Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs
Spending: about $25,000 (But it's complicated. Here's why.)
It can be tricky to figure out how much an organization spent on a particular lobbying engagement. The law only requires lobbyists to report the amount they were paid for federal lobbying each quarter rounded to the nearest $10,000—and if it's less than $3,000 in a given quarter (or less than $13,000 for organizations with in-house lobbyists), they don't have to disclose it at all. Plus, some organizations include spending that doesn’t belong in the report—for instance, money spent lobbying state governments or other legal work.
Agencies lobbied since 2018: House of Representatives, U.S. Senate
Lobbyists
Lobbyists named here were listed on a filing related to this lobbying engagement. They may not be working on it now. Occasionally, a single lobbyist whose name is spelled two different ways on filings may be represented twice here.
Disclosures Filed
Once a lobbying engagement begins, the lobbyist or firm is required to file updates four times a year. Those updates sometimes change which lobbyists are involved or add new issues being discussed. When lobbyists stop working for a client, the firm is also supposed to file a report disclosing the end of the relationship.
4th Quarter, 2020
The Liaison Group, LLC terminated an engagement in which they represented Oregon Cannabis Association on Feb. 11, 2021.
Original Filing: 301248135.xml
Lobbying Issues
The Marijuana Opportunity and Reinvestment Act or MORE Act (HR 3884) would remove cannabis from the schedule of controlled substances and provide critical reinvestment to communities negatively impacted by the failed, decades-long War on Drugs.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives
4th Quarter, 2020
The Liaison Group, LLC amended a lobbying report for representation of Oregon Cannabis Association in Q42020 on Feb. 4, 2021.
Original Filing: 301247676.xml
Lobbying Issues
The Oregon Cannabis Association supports banking reform for cannabis businesses and encourages the US Congress to enact HR 1595/S 1200, the Secure and Fair Enforcement or SAFE Banking Act. This bill, which passed the House in September 2019, would allow cannabis businesses to have the same banking services enjoyed by their non-cannabis peers - eg. checking accounts and lines of credit.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives
4th Quarter, 2020
In Q4, The Liaison Group, LLC lobbied for Oregon Cannabis Association . The report was filed on Jan. 18, 2021.
Original Filing: 301233154.xml
Lobbying Issues
The Marijuana Opportunity and Reinvestment Act or MORE Act (HR 3884) would remove cannabis from the schedule of controlled substances and provide critical reinvestment to communities negatively impacted by the failed, decades-long War on Drugs.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. House of Representatives
3rd Quarter, 2020
In Q3, The Liaison Group, LLC did no lobbying for Oregon Cannabis Association . The report was filed on Oct. 15, 2020.
Original Filing: 301210522.xml
2nd Quarter, 2020
In Q2, The Liaison Group, LLC did no lobbying for Oregon Cannabis Association . The report was filed on July 22, 2020.
Original Filing: 301203379.xml
1st Quarter, 2020
In Q1, The Liaison Group, LLC did no lobbying for Oregon Cannabis Association . The report was filed on April 17, 2020.
Original Filing: 301170235.xml
4th Quarter, 2019
In Q4, The Liaison Group, LLC lobbied for Oregon Cannabis Association , earning $5,000. The report was filed on Jan. 27, 2020.
Original Filing: 301130473.xml
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 1595/S. 1200 - Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act
Despite a history spanning over two decades (voters passed a medical cannabis program in 1998, and the use of cannabis by all adults over 21 was legalized in 2014) cannabis businesses in Oregon have struggled due to an inability to access banking services. Businesses have faced tremendous tax burdens and have had to store massive amounts of cash onsite. Additionally, Oregon businesses have been burglarized and employees have been violently attacked due to the existing framework we must work within. When our state licensed businesses are forced to operate in cash, our businesses and our costumers are subject to unnecessary risk.
The SAFE Banking Act promotes public safety, encourages community reinvestment and facilitates payment processing, access to capital for minority and female business owners and would allow more banks to offer conventional loans to cannabis operators.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
As Oregons collective voice for the cannabis industry, the Oregon Cannabis Association (OCA) stands ready to do its part to end the epidemic of illnesses and deaths attributed to e-cigarettes and vaping products. OCA represents over 200 Oregon businesses and is a diverse group of cultivators, processors, retailers, entrepreneurs and allied businesses. Our mission is to help our businesses thrive through networking events, educational workshops and political engagement and representation. Our members can play an important role in increasing consumer safety by continuing to uphold some of the strongest testing and consumer safety regulations for cannabis products in the nation.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate
Type of Issue
Consumer Issues/Safety/Protection
3rd Quarter, 2019
In 3A, The Liaison Group, LLC did no lobbying for Oregon Cannabis Association . The report was filed on Oct. 17, 2019.
Original Filing: 301067336.xml
3rd Quarter, 2019
In Q3, The Liaison Group, LLC did no lobbying for Oregon Cannabis Association . The report was filed on Oct. 14, 2019.
Original Filing: 301065223.xml
3rd Quarter, 2019
The Liaison Group, LLC filed a lobbying registration on July 24, 2019 to represent Oregon Cannabis Association, effective July 24, 2019.
Original Filing: 301059772.xml
Issue(s) they said they’d lobby about: Access to banking services for cannabis businesses, continued protections for state-based medical marijuana programs and expansion of those protections to include adult use programs. .
2nd Quarter, 2018
The Liaison Group, LLC terminated an engagement in which they represented Oregon Cannabis Association on July 20, 2018.
Original Filing: 300973665.xml
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 2215/S. 1152 - Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2017: A bi-partisan bill that provides explicit permission to financial institutions to serve Marijuana Related Businesses, its vendors, and allied businesses without reducing the regulatory requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act or FINCEN Guidance. If enacted, banks would no longer face the threat of federal sanction for working with marijuana-related businesses, entrepreneurs, and allied businesses.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 1810/S. 777 - Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2017: The legislation will repeal the tax penalty that singles out state-legal marijuana businesses and bars them from claiming deductions and credits.
Under current federal law, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
As a result, businesses in states with legalized marijuana may not deduct the usual expenses a small business incurs.
This bill would create an exception to IRC section 280E to allow business operating in compliance with state law to claim the same deductions and credits as any other legal business.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate
Type of Issue
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
Lobbying Issues
PROTECT AND EXPAND PATIENTS - including Veterans - Access to Medical Cannabis
Since 2014, Congress has restricted the U.S. Department of Justice from spending appropriated funds that interfere with a states implementation of its legal Cannabis programs. This language remains the law today following passage of FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Further, the House Appropriations Committee recently voted to include language protecting medical Cannabis programs from federal interference within the base text of the FY2019 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
Congress commitment to maintain this longstanding policy comports with the April 2018 poll by Quinnipiac University that found 70% of Americans oppose federal government interference in states that have enacted Cannabis programs. Americans do not think the federal government should try to prohibit the sale and use of Cannabis in the states where it has been legalized. Protecting access to Cannabis as medicine may also be an option as the country looks to address the opioid epidemic. Studies published in Health Affairs found that use of prescription opioids decreased in states with legal medical medical programs.
Research into the potential benefits of medical Cannabis as an alternative to opiods - and other medications - is particularly critical for Americas veterans who often lack effective treatments for their complicated, service-related injuries and illnesses. The passage of H.R. 5520 - the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 - in April 2018 authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to advance scientific and medical research into the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis usage by veterans with diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. This is a critical step toward offering broader choices for treatment to service members, but it is only a first step. We need to continue to support not only the research of, but also the access to, medical Cannabis for veterans in an effort to provide them with the best care that this country can provide.
Endorsed Legislation:
Continuation of the Joyce | Leahy Amendment in the Appropriations Process
H.R. 331 - States Medical Marijuana Property Rights Protection Act
H.R. 1820 - Veterans Equal Access Act
H.R. 2273 - Charlottes Web Medical Access Act of 2017
H.R. 2920/S.1374 - Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act of 2017
H.R. 1824/S. 780 - Responsibly Addressing the Marijuana Policy Gap Act of 2017
H.R. 5220 - The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate
Type of Issue
Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs
2nd Quarter, 2018
The Liaison Group, LLC terminated an engagement in which they represented Oregon Cannabis Association on July 16, 2018.
Original Filing: 300965561.xml
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 2215/S. 1152 - Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act of 2017: A bi-partisan bill that provides explicit permission to financial institutions to serve Marijuana Related Businesses, its vendors, and allied businesses without reducing the regulatory requirements under the Bank Secrecy Act or FINCEN Guidance. If enacted, banks would no longer face the threat of federal sanction for working with marijuana-related businesses, entrepreneurs, and allied businesses.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate
Lobbying Issues
H.R. 1810/S. 777 - Small Business Tax Equity Act of 2017: The legislation will repeal the tax penalty that singles out state-legal marijuana businesses and bars them from claiming deductions and credits.
Under current federal law, marijuana is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under the federal Controlled Substances Act (CSA).
As a result, businesses in states with legalized marijuana may not deduct the usual expenses a small business incurs.
This bill would create an exception to IRC section 280E to allow business operating in compliance with state law to claim the same deductions and credits as any other legal business.
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate
Type of Issue
Taxation/Internal Revenue Code
Lobbying Issues
PROTECT AND EXPAND PATIENTS - including Veterans - Access to Medical Cannabis
Since 2014, Congress has restricted the U.S. Department of Justice from spending appropriated funds that interfere with a states implementation of its legal Cannabis programs. This language remains the law today following passage of FY2018 Omnibus Appropriations Act. Further, the House Appropriations Committee recently voted to include language protecting medical Cannabis programs from federal interference within the base text of the FY2019 Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill.
Congress commitment to maintain this longstanding policy comports with the April 2018 poll by Quinnipiac University that found 70% of Americans oppose federal government interference in states that have enacted Cannabis programs. Americans do not think the federal government should try to prohibit the sale and use of Cannabis in the states where it has been legalized. Protecting access to Cannabis as medicine may also be an option as the country looks to address the opioid epidemic. Studies published in Health Affairs found that use of prescription opioids decreased in states with legal medical medical programs.
Research into the potential benefits of medical Cannabis as an alternative to opiods - and other medications - is particularly critical for Americas veterans who often lack effective treatments for their complicated, service-related injuries and illnesses. The passage of H.R. 5520 - the VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018 - in April 2018 authorized the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to advance scientific and medical research into the safety and efficacy of medical cannabis usage by veterans with diagnoses such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and chronic pain. This is a critical step toward offering broader choices for treatment to service members, but it is only a first step. We need to continue to support not only the research of, but also the access to, medical Cannabis for veterans in an effort to provide them with the best care that this country can provide.
Endorsed Legislation:
Continuation of the Joyce | Leahy Amendment in the Appropriations Process
H.R. 331 - States Medical Marijuana Property Rights Protection Act
H.R. 1820 - Veterans Equal Access Act
H.R. 2273 - Charlottes Web Medical Access Act of 2017
H.R. 2920/S.1374 - Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act of 2017
H.R. 1824/S. 780 - Responsibly Addressing the Marijuana Policy Gap Act of 2017
H.R. 5220 - The VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2018
Agencies Lobbied
U.S. Senate
Type of Issue
Medical/Disease Research/Clinical Labs
2nd Quarter, 2018
The Liaison Group, LLC filed a lobbying registration on May 31, 2018 to represent Oregon Cannabis Association, effective May 4, 2018.
Original Filing: 300960870.xml
Issue(s) they said they’d lobby about: H.R. 975 - Respect State Marijuana Laws Act of 2017
H.R. 1227 - Ending Federal Marijuana Prohibition Act of 2017
H.R. 1824/S. 780 - Responsibly Addressing the Marijuana Policy Gap Act of 2017
H.R. 2920/S.1374 - Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act of 2017
Continuation of the Joyce | Leahy Amendment in the Appropriations Process
H.R. 331 - States Medical Marijuana Property Rights Protection Act
H.R. 1820 - Veterans Equal Access Act
H.R. 2273 - Charlottes Web Medical Access Act of 2017
H.R. 2920/S.1374 - Compassionate Access, Research Expansion, and Respect States (CARERS) Act of 2017
H.R. 1824/S. 780 - Responsibly Addressing the Marij .
Source: Clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives and Secretary of the Senate
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