The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) Executive Director, Adam Smith, has written an open letter to the cannabis industry, urging collaboration between the industry and advocacy groups. He stresses that both sides "need each other" to combat a "neo-prohibitionist movement" that is gaining momentum. Smith highlights that cannabis advocacy is a movement born out of suffering from the war on drugs and is not "astroturf" created by the industry. He also acknowledges the recent tension between advocacy and industry, partly due to reduced philanthropic support for grassroots organizations. Smith believes that renewed financial support and better strategic alignment are crucial for both parties to achieve their shared goal of ending cannabis prohibition well, ensuring safe access for patients and consumers, and preventing a rollback of progress by prohibitionist groups like Smart Approaches to Marijuana (SAM). He emphasizes that while advocacy organizations maintain their independence, their collective strength is essential for lasting normalization in cannabis.

Leading Cannabis Advocacy Group Calls for Industry Unity Against Neo-Prohibition Efforts

Oct 15, 2025

Source:

Kyle Jaeger

Marijuana Moment

The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is calling for a truce and a team-up between cannabis businesses and advocacy groups. In a recent open letter, MPP Director Adam Smith warned that a well-funded "neo-prohibitionist" movement is gaining ground, even threatening to roll back legalization in states like Massachusetts. While the industry focuses on profits and jobs, Smith reminds us that the movement was born from the struggle for justice and patient access. There’s been some friction lately as funding for grassroots advocates has dried up, but MPP argues that neither side can truly end prohibition alone.

For everyday tokers, this is a crucial reality check. A divided community makes it easier for anti-cannabis groups to pick us apart and push for restrictive laws or even recriminalization. When businesses and advocates align, we get a more stable, fairly taxed market that prioritizes safe and reliable access for everyone. Keeping advocacy groups strong ensures that our progress isn't just a corporate win, but a lasting victory for the entire cannabis culture and community.