Project Champion

Use Your Voice

Write Your Representatives:

At Project Champion, we know that the cannabis industry can’t thrive until policymakers fully understand the realities of our market. The laws must evolve, and that only happens when we step up as an industry to educate lawmakers on what comes next.

Too often, businesses and advocates want to get involved in policy but don’t know where to start—or assume they don’t have the resources to make an impact. That’s where Project Champion comes in.

We’re making it easier for cannabis businesses, advocates, and consumers to speak directly to lawmakers by providing ready-to-use advocacy letter templates that can be sent to elected officials. These letters may seem old-school, but the legislative process is slow-moving, and direct outreach still works. Grassroots efforts have carried cannabis legalization this far—now it’s time to use those same tactics to shape the future of regulation.

Find your representative’s contact and use the below letter writing templates to get you started. Feel free to customize your message and make your case.

Nothing is more important to these lawmakers than hearing from people in their own districts.

Click to expand:

Stopping the Hemp Ban

Subject: Please Oppose the Hemp Ban and Support Sensible Hemp Regulation

Dear [LAWMAKER],

I am writing as your constituent to urge you to oppose the hemp ban included in the recent government funding bill. This last-minute provision would devastate farmers, small businesses, and millions of Americans who rely on safe, legal hemp products—and it does nothing to create the responsible regulatory structure that is actually needed.

Since the bipartisan 2018 Farm Bill, hemp has supported rural economies, driven innovation, and provided safer alternatives for veterans, athletes, and individuals seeking non-opioid options. A sweeping ban reverses that progress overnight. It would:

  • Destroy an emerging agricultural sector built on clear federal guidance
  • Shut down thousands of compliant small businesses
  • Push consumers back into unregulated and unsafe markets
  • Strip states of their right to regulate hemp within their borders

Instead of banning hemp, Congress should be working toward sensible, consistent nationwide regulation—the approach supported by farmers, industry leaders, veterans, and public health advocates alike. This includes:

  • Age gating to keep products out of the hands of minors
  • Mandatory testing to ensure purity, potency, and safety
  • Licensing requirements for businesses operating in the space
  • Clear compliance standards that promote transparency and consumer trust

These safeguards already exist in many states, and they work. What we need from Congress is a regulatory framework that supports safety, protects consumers, and preserves states’ rights—not one that eliminates an entire industry without due process.

I respectfully ask that you:

  1. Reject the hemp ban in the government funding bill.
  2. Support a responsible national regulatory system that includes age restrictions, testing, licensing, and compliance.
  3. Protect farmers, small businesses, and veterans who depend on stability and fairness in this sector.

Hemp does not need to be prohibited. It needs to be properly regulated—in line with what states, consumers, and responsible businesses already support.

Thank you for your time and attention to this urgent matter. I appreciate your leadership and your service to our community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

STATES Act 2.0

Subject: Please Support the STATES Act 2.0

Dear [LAWMAKER],

I am writing as your constituent to express my strong support for the STATES Act 2.0 (Strengthening the Tenth Amendment Through Entrusting States Act). This bipartisan legislation is a critical step toward modernizing federal cannabis policy and respecting the rights of states to set their own laws regarding cannabis.

For too long, the conflict between federal and state cannabis laws has created unnecessary risk for businesses, patients, and consumers in states with legal programs. The STATES Act 2.0 resolves this by:

  • Exempting state-compliant cannabis activity from the federal Controlled Substances Act
  • Clarifying that legitimate cannabis businesses are not subject to IRS tax code 280E, helping small businesses thrive
  • Establishing a clear federal oversight framework for agencies like the FDA and TTB
  • Maintaining important protections, including prohibitions on underage access and employment of minors

This legislation is not about being “pro-cannabis” or “anti-cannabis”—it is about restoring fairness, stability, and clarity for states, businesses, and consumers. By supporting the STATES Act 2.0, Congress can ensure that states have the authority to manage their cannabis markets safely and responsibly, without the threat of federal interference.

I respectfully urge you to vote in favor of the STATES Act 2.0 and support a bipartisan approach that protects states’ rights, fosters economic growth, and provides certainty to millions of Americans living under legal cannabis programs.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter and for your service to our community.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

SAFE Banking

SUBJECT: Support SAFE Banking – Protect the Cannabis Industry & Our Communities

Dear [LAWMAKER’S NAME],

I am writing to urge your strong support for the Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Banking Act. As a constituent and supporter of a legitimate, job-creating industry, I believe this legislation is critical for the safety, security, and economic stability of cannabis businesses and the financial institutions that serve them.

Despite growing bipartisan support for cannabis reform and state-level legalization efforts, the lack of access to traditional banking services forces cannabis businesses to operate primarily in cash. This outdated restriction makes businesses, employees, and communities vulnerable to robbery and financial insecurity, while also making it harder to ensure compliance and transparency.

The SAFE Banking Act would fix this issue by allowing financial institutions to serve cannabis businesses without fear of federal penalties. This would:

  • Open up access to essential banking services like loans and credit lines, helping small and minority-owned businesses thrive.
  • Create jobs and generate tax revenue that benefits local communities.
  • Provide financial oversight and stability, ensuring compliance and accountability across the industry.
  • Increase public safety by reducing cash-heavy transactions that attract crime.

This is not just a cannabis issue—it’s a public safety and economic development issue. I urge you to support the SAFE Banking Act and advocate for its passage to ensure a safer, more equitable, and more transparent financial system for the cannabis industry.

Thank you for your leadership on this important matter.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Federal Legalization

SUBJECT: Support Federal Cannabis Legalization

Dear [LAWMAKER’S NAME],

I am writing to urge your support for the federal legalization of cannabis. As a constituent in your district, I believe it is time for Congress to address the outdated and harmful federal prohibition of cannabis and establish a legal, regulated market that benefits consumers, businesses, and communities alike.

The current conflict between state and federal cannabis laws has created unnecessary legal confusion, financial barriers, and public safety risks. While a majority of states have enacted some form of legalization, federal law still classifies cannabis as a Schedule I drug, putting businesses, patients, and individuals at risk. This contradiction fuels economic and social injustices, including the continued criminalization of non-violent cannabis offenses.

Federal legalization would:

  • Create a regulated market that ensures consumer safety and product quality.
  • Generate tax revenue to fund essential public services.
  • Open access to banking and financial services for legitimate cannabis businesses.
  • Reduce the burden on law enforcement and the criminal justice system.
  • Allow for research and federal oversight of cannabis medicines and products.
  • Provide relief and expungement opportunities for individuals impacted by outdated cannabis laws.

The cannabis industry is here to stay, and it’s time for federal policy to reflect that reality. Legalization would not only stimulate economic growth but also ensure fair and equitable participation in this industry while addressing decades of harm caused by prohibition.

I urge you to support and advocate for comprehensive federal cannabis legalization to create a safer, more just, and economically beneficial future for all.

Thank you for your leadership on this critical issue.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]

Pennsylvania Adult Use

SUBJECT: It’s Time for Pennsylvania to Lead on Cannabis Reform

Dear [LAWMAKER’S NAME],

I’m reaching out as a Pennsylvanian who believes it’s time for our state to step up and legalize adult-use cannabis. While neighboring states like New York, New Jersey, and Maryland have moved forward, Pennsylvania continues to fall behind—losing out on jobs, tax revenue, and economic opportunities that could be reinvested into our communities.

Legalization isn’t just about catching up; it’s about leading the way with smart, responsible policy that supports businesses, consumers, and public safety. A well-regulated cannabis industry would:

  • Create thousands of jobs across agriculture, retail, and ancillary services, empowering small businesses and entrepreneurs.
  • Generate critical tax revenue to fund education, infrastructure, and social programs instead of allowing profits to flow into an unregulated market.
  • Ensure product safety by replacing illicit sales with lab-tested, properly labeled cannabis, protecting consumers from harmful contaminants.
  • Advance criminal justice reform and end the failed War on Drugs and expunge outdated convictions that have held so many individuals back from economic and social mobility.

The cannabis industry is here, whether Pennsylvania embraces it or not. The question isn’t if legalization will happen, but who will benefit when it does. We have a chance to build a fair, thriving, and well-regulated market that prioritizes Pennsylvanians, rather than letting business and tax dollars go elsewhere.

I urge you to support comprehensive cannabis reform in Pennsylvania and help shape a responsible, forward-thinking policy that works for our state. Please let me know where you stand on this issue—I would welcome the opportunity to discuss how we can move forward together.

Thank you for your time and leadership. I look forward to your response.

Sincerely,
[Your Name]