What started with the formation of the New Federalism Fund back in March of 2017, has taken on increasing momentum as the Cannabis Trade Federation (CTF) has clearly emerged as the professional “Voice of the Cannabis Industry”. After many months of building a formidable team to represent the Cannabis Industry’s interests at the federal level on Capitol Hill, […]
Neal Levine
Congressman Carlos Curbelo Joins Cannabis Trade Federation Executive Team
PRESS RELEASE WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Cannabis Trade Federation (CTF) announced that former Congressman Carlos Curbelo, who served as the U.S. representative for Florida’s 26th congressional district from 2015 to 2019, has joined the organization’s Executive Team as a strategic advisor. “During my time in Congress, I worked closely with the Cannabis Trade Federation,” said […]
NCIA Co-Founder Joins Cannabis Trade Federation Leadership Team
The Cannabis Trade Federation (CTF) will introduce its leadership team shortly and CBE has learned that National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) co-founder Steve Fox, President of VS Strategies, has resigned his position as a strategic advisor to NCIA’s DC lobbying efforts, after 8 years of dedicated service, to join CTF’s leadership team. VS Strategy’s sister company, Vicente […]
Cannabis Trade Federation Announces Federal Lobbying Team
PRESS RELEASE Cannabis Trade Federation Announces Federal Lobbying Team WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, the Cannabis Trade Federation (CTF) announced it has formed the largest and most diverse federal lobbying team ever assembled by the cannabis industry or movement. This group will support CTF’s mission of passing the Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States (STATES) Act […]
Sen. Cory Gardner fails to get marijuana reform into criminal justice bill
The Colorado Republican says he “will not give up this fight” U.S. Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, had hoped to attach an amendment to the proposed First Step Act to remove the threat of federal prosecution in states where cannabis is legal and lift restrictions on federally insured banks, which are currently barred from working with […]
Cory Gardner will try to pass marijuana banking, other reforms in the Senate next week
“It would be monumental,” says a cannabis industry leader Marijuana businesses in Colorado and across the country are anxiously awaiting a move by Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colorado, next week that could completely transform the way they do business. Gardner plans to introduce an amendment Monday that, if passed, would let cannabis businesses open bank accounts […]
Senator Cory Gardner (R-CO) to Push for STATES Act to Be Amended to Drug Disparity Reform “First Step Act” Bill “First Step Act”
Lame Duck Congress Creates the Opportunity For Gardner and The Cannabis Industry to Achieve the Trifecta Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said this past Tuesday he would bring a bipartisan criminal justice reform Bill “First Step Act” to a vote. He also shepherded the recently congressionally approved 2018 Farm Bill that legalizes Hemp thereby removing […]
Cannabis Trade Federation Announces Industry Leaders as Founding Board Members
PRESS RELEASE New Organization to Focus on Passing the STATES Act, Hires Industry Veteran Neal Levine as CEO WASHINGTON, D.C. (07/25/18) – The Cannabis Trade Federation (CTF) proudly announced 14 founding board members today, building on the organization’s initial formation just a few months ago. CTF is a newly formed national coalition of cannabis-related businesses that […]
This, That and the Other Things
A big shout out goes to Neal Levine, Senior VP of Government Affairs of LivWell Enlightened Health and the Chairman of the New Federalism Fund (NFF) for the work that they have done lobbying Capital Hill and, specifically Senator Cory Gardner to fix the 280 E and banking problem that the Cannabis Industry faces. The […]
Smith’s Act of Contrition and the Battle to be “The Voice of the Cannabis Industry”
Over the last few weeks, there have been a number of announcements and articles that are connected to the behind the scenes posturing taking place to determine the “Voice of the Cannabis Industry”. Two weeks ago, we all read about the deal struck between Trump and Cory Gardner of Colorado and CBE even posted an […]
New Federalism Fund and American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp Join Forces to Form New Industry Effort
CBE is excited to announce the partnership of the New Federalism Fund and The American Trade Association for Cannabis and Hemp (ATACH). The below press release lays out the mission of the newly formed group and is intended to push the ball over the line to provide the Cannabis Industry with the tools it needs […]
Two Board Members Resign at NCIA
Breaking News Amid allegations of multiple problems at the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) that went public in the pages of CBE Press over the past couple of weeks, two board members have officially resigned. CBE Press has learned that Neal Levine, Senior VP of Government Affairs at LivWell Enlightened Health, has stepped down as […]
Why did Khalatbari Really Resign from the NCIA board?
By Rob Meagher Just before the holidays, Marijuana Business Daily (MBD) published a brief article about the resignation of Kayvan Khalatbari from the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) board of directors that could have a major impact on the future of the organization. It came on the heels of the Aaron Smith’s (NCIA’s Executive Director) […]
Why did Khalatbari Really Resign from the NCIA board?
By Rob Meagher Just before the holidays, Marijuana Business Daily (MBD) published a brief article about the resignation of Kayvan Khalatbari from the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) board of directors that could have a major impact on the future of the organization. It came on the heels of the Aaron Smith’s (NCIA’s Executive Director) […]
2017 Recap and New Year’s Wishes from Cannabis Industry Leaders!
The cannabis industry began 2017 with a high degree of optimism but also a great deal of uncertainty. The fall of 2016 saw tremendous movement towards legalization with new initiatives in the form of full legalization in California, Nevada, Maine and Massachusetts. Four other states, Arkansas, Florida, Montana and North Dakota moved towards legalization of […]
The 2017 CBE Political 100: Movements on the International Scene as the Attention Shifts to the U.S. Congress
By Rob Meagher, CBE President & Editor-in-Chief, and David Hodes, Managing Editor Last November marked a significant shift in a number of ways. Not only did seven states approve marijuana legalization initiatives, but a new administration came to power in Washington D.C. that has yet to show its cards regarding moves related to the […]
LivWell Announces Solidarity with Pueblo Cannabis Growers
PRESS RELEASE Colorado’s leading cannabis company announces Pueblo-grown cannabis now available in its stores to support the county’s cannabis industry in light of efforts to ban recreational sales. DENVER—October 27, 2016 — LivWell Enlightened Health announced today that it will begin offering Pueblo-grown cannabis for sale at its adult-use stores to support Pueblo’s legal cannabis […]
Company Update: LivWell Enlightened Health
LivWell Enlightened Health, which was ranked as number 1 on the 2015 CBE 100 PPR list, continues to lead the way in Colorado and nationally as one of the (if not the largest revenue producing) vertically integrated operators. CEO John Lord, who has also been one of the most transparent industry leaders, recently shared an […]
