A website makes it easier for supporters email or call their congressional representatives and push for making marijuana legal.
“Legalizing cannabis is long past due, and if we make enough noise, we can make it happen,” actor Seth Rogen, co-founder of a cannabis company and enthusiastic user of the drug, says in a kickoff video.
Eighteen states and Washington, D.C., have legalized recreational adult use of marijuana and a voter-approved measure in a 19th state, South Dakota, is undergoing a court challenge.
That conflict has left many legal growers and sellers in a dilemma, shutting them out of everyday financial services like opening a bank account or obtaining a credit card.
Pro-legalization groups have mounted state and federal campaigns for years, and advocates are split about “Cannabis in Common,” which isn’t focused on any particular piece of legislation.
“We just feel there’s a larger, untapped group of individuals that we would love to see weigh in,” said Steve Hawkins, CEO of the U.S.
Some nonprofit, pro-legalization groups are joining the “Cannabis in Common” initiative.
A proposal to decriminalize and tax marijuana, expunge federal pot convictions and direct pot tax money to communities beleaguered by the “war on drugs” passed the House last year.
A Gallup poll released last week found 68% of Americans favor legalization, including 83% of Democrats, 71% of independents and 50% of Republicans.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer in July became the chamber’s first leader to back legalizing marijuana, pledging to “make this a priority in the Senate,” where Sens.
It’s not clear that all Senate Democrats would vote for marijuana legalization, let alone find enough Republican supporters to avoid a filibuster.