A startup trade organization has retained the lobbying arm of McGuire Woods to press federal lawmakers on issues ranging from Taxation to health care.
According to registration documents filed last week a California based Cannabis commerce company The Global Alliance contracted with McGuire Woods Consulting. Lobbyists working on the listed issues are Robert Wasinger, Randal Meyer, Frank Donatelli, Michael Drobac and Amanda Armistead.
On asking about The Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce, a McGuire Woods spokesman said “Membership is being gathered” and no other additional details were available.
The address listed for Global Alliance of Costa Mesa is additionally the address for CMX distribution as reported by Costa Mesa Planning Commission Report. This marijuana distribution chain is owned by Robert Taft Jr. who is the owner of a marijuana distribution chain, also owns a dispensary in a close country city, Santa Ana. Taft was not available for comment on Monday.
This is not the first lobbying client for McGuire Woods. In the past, the firm has represented Surtera Holdings a manufacturer of Cannabis since 2017. The clientele also includes Altria, which purchased a $1.8 billion stake in the Cronos group last year.
Global Alliance turned out to be the least organization to appoint lobbyists this year.
Acreage Holdings and Greenspoon Marder members of the National Cannabis Roundtable retained Squire Patton Boggs in February. In January, the Cannabis Trade Federation announced that it will associate with 15 principal lobbyists and around a dozen associates from law firms to advocate the legislation generated allowing states to regulate Marijuana.
A former Senate and gubernatorial director, Wasinger who campaign for Donald Trump’s Presidential campaign has been the part of McGuire Woods since February 2017 as a Senior Vice President. Along with them, there are various other renowned names like Drobac and Arimstead has also joined the consulting firm.
