Politics is a dirty business. Sometimes being feared is the influence you need because access is not the problem.

Politicians say "we'll take care of this." Gretchen Gailey has a different approach: stab them in the back, push them down the stairs, and take credit for the fall. It's time to put fear behind cannabis.

She spent 20 years on Capitol Hill. She's watched cannabis show up once a year for fly-ins, throw money at the wrong politicians, and wonder why nothing changes. This episode breaks down why incrementalism is the only path, why banking matters more than you think, and why the industry needs to stop picking out curtains when it hasn't built a basement.

This week we sit down with Gretchen Gailey:

• Stab them in the back politics
• Curtains before basement problem
• Project Champion playbook

Timestamps:

00:00 - The industry's fundamental misunderstanding about Washington politics

02:35 - Challenges with incrementalism versus desire for rapid change

04:47 - Supporting pro-cannabis politicians like Cynthia Loomis

06:45 - The role of education and public awareness campaigns

10:06 - Building a basic regulatory foundation: banking, safe products, and rescheduling

13:23 - The limitations of state-led models and the need for federal coordination

15:50 - The importance of transparency and federal standards for consumer safety

18:43 - The influence of political operatives and the importance of direct advocacy

22:51 - Using industry tools and data to inform policy and educate policymakers

26:15 - The significance of Congressional engagement and how to make cannabis an urgent issue

30:10 - The importance of political will and executive orders in advancing reform

34:40 - The disconnects within Washington and how industry can better influence policy

37:19 - Opportunities in leveraging symbolism like Veterans issues and Congressional events

41:14 - The disconnect between access and influence, and how to effectively make the case

44:40 - The necessity of creative strategies, public pressure, and celebrity involvement

50:21 - Successful stories: case of Cory Booker and the impact of direct constituent advocacy

52:16 - Final thoughts: how to stay engaged and educate the industry and policymakers

Summary:

In this episode, Gretchen Gailey shares over 20 years of experience navigating Washington's complex cannabis legislation. We explore how industry players can effectively engage with policymakers, the importance of foundational regulations, and strategies to accelerate federal progress on cannabis reform.

Guest Links:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchengailey
• https://projectchampion.org/
• https://x.com/GretchenGailey

Our Links

Bryan Fields on Twitter

Kellan Finney on Twitter

The Dime on Twitter

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