On the heels of five states passing cannabis legalization measures, coupled with the incoming Biden presidency, some industry bigwigs are pondering how these major developments will affect business. Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve, Florida’s largest medical cannabis company, feels it may be too early to make predictions, particularly because the composition in the Senate is still undetermined. However, she is hopeful that the industry is moving closer toward policy and taxation reform as well as greater equity in minority representation.
This interview has been edited for conciseness and clarity.
Kim Rivers, CEO of Trulieve
Trulieve
Iris Dorbian: What message can industry professionals glean from the election results?
Kim Rivers: Every single state that had a cannabis measure passed overwhelmingly regardless if it was a red or blue state. Cannabis is no longer a partisan issue—it’s a human issue. I’m hoping that message was received and will result in policy action in D.C.
Dorbian: What about some of the bills that have been floating around in Congress like the SAFE Banking Act, which would prevent federal banking regulators from sanctioning banks for working with legal cannabis businesses, and the MORE Act, which decriminalizes marijuana?
Rivers: The SAFE Banking Act is poised for passage. We’ve seen it close to the finish…
