The Washington, DC-based Marijuana Policy Project has a new interim executive director: Lauren Daly. She previously worked at ACLU of the District of Columbia and Students for Sensible Drug Policy. We sent six questions for Daly to answer.
1. What are the most important issues facing cannabis law reform today?
From a policy perspective, addressing the ongoing harms and disproportionate impact of cannabis prohibition is crucial. This includes preventing further arrests, expunging of past convictions, ensuring minority participation in the legal industry and reinvesting tax revenue into affected communities. Ensuring patients have safe and affordable access to medical cannabis also remains a priority.
As Interim Executive Director, one of my challenges will be to re-energize our fundraising efforts. An important piece of that is going to be raising awareness of how much work there still is to do on cannabis reform.
2. Which states will be the next to pass recreational and/or medical legalization?
MPP is focusing our efforts and resources in several states that may be ripe for legalization in the coming year or two. That includes Hawaii, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania. We’re also working toward legalization in Louisiana, although that may be a longer-term effort. On the medical front, we have opportunities in Kansas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Wisconsin. We’re also exploring the possibility of a 2026 medical initiative in Idaho or Wyoming.
“MPP is in favor of a more uniform approach to the hemp industry that focuses on regulation, not criminalization.”
3. How receptive do you think the Trump administration – specifically the Justice Department, DEA, FDA and HHS – will be to changing the scheduling designation or even legalizing cannabis?
The Trump administration has opportunities to reform cannabis policies at the federal level. We’re hopeful that the administration will listen to the majority of Americans that want to see an end to prohibition, especially considering President Trump signalled his support for adult-use legalization in Florida during his campaign. However, it remains to be seen how the new administration might navigate cannabis issues and the push for reform may be complicated in 2025.
(MPP and NORML recently published marijuana policy recommendations to the Trump Administration.)
4. Where does MPP stand on the divisive hemp-derived THC issue?
States continue to face numerous challenges in regulating the hemp market. Hemp-derived products are not held to the same testing and labeling requirements as state-licensed medical and adult-use marijuana products. MPP is in favor of a more uniform approach to the hemp industry that focuses on regulation, not criminalization.
“MPP is focusing our efforts and resources in several states that may be ripe for legalization in the coming year or two. That includes Hawai’i, New Hampshire and Pennsylvania.”
5. Only one other woman has directed the MPP – Toi Hutchinson. How do you feel about being the second?
I’m honored to lead the organization. There are actually several women leading major drug policy reform organizations right now, such as Kat Murti with SSDP, Kassandra Frederique with DPA and Betty Aldworth with MAPS, who’s also the chair of MPP’s board. The cannabis movement has a lot of outstanding female leaders, including those who came before us. I stand on their shoulders, and I’m committed to building on the progress they made and continuing to advance MPP’s mission.
6. Last year there was a merger discussion between MPP and NORML. That discussion was tabled. Do you support or oppose the idea of a merger?
I will follow the Board’s direction as it relates to a potential merger between MPP and NORML. In the meantime, we’re committed to fostering collaboration between the two organizations as we work to advance our shared goal of ending cannabis prohibition across the country.
According to MPP’s Communications Manager Violet Cavendish:
“Lauren will remain in the role through the summer, giving us time and support to conduct another search for the permanent ED. While Lauren was on the shortlist for ED recruitment, she may be moving to Europe, so she declined to apply for the permanent position.”
H/T: news.google.com
