Marijuana Entrepreneurs Wade Into Political Realm with Donations

Marijuana entrepreneurs are starting to become involved in politics by donating to candidates who support their cause, according to the Associated Press. Members of Congress who once returned checks from the industry are now keeping them, the AP notes.

“We’re developing an industry here from the ground up. If we don’t contribute politically and get out there with the candidates, we can’t help shape what happens,” said Patrick McManamon, head of Cannasure Insurance Services, a Cleveland-based company that offers insurance to marijuana growers and dispensaries.

Marijuana initiatives will be on the ballot in November in Alaska, Florida, Oregon and Washington, D.C. Many contributions from the marijuana industry are going toward those campaigns and the candidates who support them, the AP notes. Oregon’s recreational marijuana ballot measure has raised about $2.3 million, while a medical marijuana initiative in Florida has raised almost $6 million.

The Marijuana Policy Project plans to donate $150,000 to federal candidates this year, up from $110,000 last year. Other groups that give directly to candidates include the Drug Policy Alliance and the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws. Tax-exempt industry groups such as the National Cannabis Industry Association are allowed to spend an unlimited amount of untracked funds, according to the article.

While politicians are more likely to accept donations from marijuana groups, they often aren’t eager to talk about it. About a dozen recipients of donations from marijuana groups declined interview requests or did not return calls from the AP. The exception was U.S. Representative Jared Polis of Colorado. “As long as this industry is following our state marijuana laws, their contributions are the same as those from any other legal donors,” he said in a statement.