Congress’ new SHIP bill would allow small producers to ship weed directly to consumers. Damn yes!

Talk about standing up for the little guy.

Yesterday, September 14, Congressmen Jared Huffman (D-CA) and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) introduced new federal legislation with a clear focus: to allow small cannabis growers and manufacturers to sell both floral and marijuana products within Ship within a state and across state lines using either the US Postal Service or a private shipping company.

The bill, titled the Small and Homestead Independent Producers Act (SHIP Act), would only go into effect after Congress repealed cannabis and eliminated federal penalties for possessing, manufacturing and distributing cannabis. In other words, it is a post-legalization trigger bill.

If Congress legalizes, the SHIP Act would give smaller cannabis players a crucial tool to compete against large corporations in a federal legal landscape. Customers across the country would be able to access coveted products, and producers themselves would save big on third-party distribution fees. Barring future legislation, only these small businesses could benefit from the shipping policy.

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Help for small farmers in competition

Huffman, whose home county includes California’s cannabis-growing mecca known as the Emerald Triangle, considers federal legalization “inevitable.”

“It’s a daunting business environment that [small businesses] look at. Markets are consolidating,” Huffman told Marijuana Moment’s Kyle Jaeger. “The big multinationals will certainly do very well, but we want to make sure the smaller operations have a chance to compete and thrive.”

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Still waiting for federal legalization though

While members of Congress have introduced several federal legalization bills, none have made it through both the House and Senate.

The MORE Act has passed the House of Representatives twice but has stalled in the Senate.

Most recently, in July 2022, Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY), Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), and Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) formally introduced the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. While the federal legalization bill may not pass the Senate this year, it shows a growing interest in getting legalization across the finish line.

In addition, President Joe Biden championed the promise of federal decriminalization. He still has to fulfill this obligation.

Who qualifies for the SHIP Act?

The SHIP Act provides clear guidelines for businesses that can benefit from the interstate direct-to-consumer policy. On the grower front, SHIP would apply to those growing up to an acre of mature canopy outdoors, up to 22,000 square feet in greenhouses, or up to 5,000 square feet indoors.

It would also apply to manufacturers making less than $5,000,000 in gross annual sales.

Broad support across the industry

The SHIP Act has already received support from a variety of trade and advocacy groups including Origins Council, Humboldt County Growers Alliance, FARMS Inc, Washington Sun & Craft Growers Association, Vermont Growers Association, Maine Craft Cannabis Association, Farm Bug Co-Op , Big Sur Farmers Association, Nevada County Cannabis Alliance, Mendocino Cannabis Alliance, Trinity County Agricultural Alliance and Sonoma County Growers Alliance.

Even organizations that are normally silent on federal legalization have spoken out in favor of the SHIP Act.

“Today we are approving a federal law for the first time! We are proud to support the SHIP Act and all the small business organizations that developed it [Reps. Huffman and Blumenauer]’ the non-partisan Parabola Center for Law and Policy wrote on Twitter. “Craft growers should be allowed to ship directly to consumers.”

Max Savage Levenson

Max Savage Levenson probably has the lowest cannabis tolerance of any author on the cannabis beat. He also writes about music for Pitchfork, Bandcamp and other bespectacled people. He is the co-host of the Hash podcast. His dream interview is Tyler the Creator.

Check out Max Savage Levenson’s articles

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