How to Make Interstate Cannabis Sales Legal

A coalition of advocacy groups and marijuana businesses have unveiled a unique plan to legalize interstate cannabis commerce regardless of ongoing federal prohibition.

The Alliance for Sensible Markets campaign will be pushing governors from legal and likely soon-to-be legal marijuana states to enter into an interstate compact—a constitutionally recognized agreement between two or more states—establishing a framework for cannabis to be transported and marketed across state lines.

Such an arrangement hasn’t been tried before for marijuana, but if the new effort succeeds in getting at least two states to sign on, the compact would then be transmitted to Congress, where lawmakers would have the choice to codify the agreement. It could be passed as standalone legislation or attached as an amendment or rider to a broader bill.

Our featured guest is Adam Smith, founder and president of the Alliance for Sensible Markets. Adam will discuss their program which calls on governors of legal and soon-to-be-legal states to join an interstate compact to regulate commerce in legal cannabis between them, and to seek Congressional approval in 2021.

Groups involved in the campaign with the Alliance for Sensible Markets include the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), New York City Cannabis Industry Association, Craft Cannabis Alliance, Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce and approximately 50 others organizations and companies.

Listen in and learn how this perfectly legal way to open up interstate cann