Michael Liszewski Email & Phone Number

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Lobbying firm and consulting specializing drug policy advocacy and helping businesses navigate the ever-changing landscape of state and federal cannabis (marijuana) laws and regulations.• Collaborated with House Judiciary Chairman Nadler’s staff as a member of the Marijuana Justice Coalition on drafting the Marijuana Opportunity, Reinvestment and Expungement (MORE) Act, and the successful whip operation with Congressman Blumenauer and Congresswoman Lee’s teams to pass the bill • Represented the Multidisciplinary Association for Psychedelic Studies to reduce barriers to studying Schedule I substances to treat conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder and depression • Pro-bono policy advisor and mentor to policy interns at Students for Sensible Drug Policy• Led the Drug Policy Alliance’s federal cannabis lobbying efforts from August 2017 through June 2018, working with Senators Warren, Schumer, and Gardener’s offices on the drafting of the STATES Act and Marijuana Freedom and Opportunity Act in the 115th Congress• Drafted questions posed to then-Attorney General Sessions for Senator Leahy when examining the AG’s cannabis policy during a November 2017 Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing• Co-authored 2017 State Cannabis Laws report the National Cannabis Business Industry Association• Researched and wrote state cannabis business license applications, obtaining licensure in MD, MA, and OH

Washington, Dc

• Managed federal affairs and provided support for state government affairs for a licensed cannabis business• Organized a July 2019 sign-on letter of over 100 licensed marijuana business and trade associations urging inclusion of reparative justice and social equity provisions in comprehensive federal legislation in anticipation of introduction of the MORE Act• Worked with cannabis industry partners to build a broad coalition to pass the SAFE Banking Act in the House in September 2019 with strong bipartisan support, winning 321 – 103, including 45% of Republicans• Drafted questions used by Rep. Cárdenas to inquire about the public health implications of maintaining marijuana prohibition at the House Energy and Commerce hearing on the MORE Act in January 2020 • Prepared and filed applications to obtain and renew cannabis licenses to operate AZ, IL, MA, NJ, OH, and PA

Washington, District Of Columbia

+ Passage of Rohrabacher-Farr/Mikulski amendment to the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act - protecting state legal medical cannabis conduct - in 2014 and 2015, currently engaged in effort to reauthorize in the amendment 2016+ House and Senate passage of the Veterans Equal Access Amendment to the Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act - allowing V.A. physicians to recommend medical cannabis under state law - in 2016 (note: amendment was surreptitiously removed in conference committee) + Worked to ensure the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment survived conference committee negotiations + Formulated the legal argument based upon the legislative intent of Rohrabacher-Farr amendment that has been cited by federal judges in the successful cases of U.S. vs. Marin Alliance for Medical Marijuana and U.S. vs. McIntosh+ Organized four Congressional lobby days of 200-300 medical cannabis patients from 30-40 states, as well as five Congressional staff briefings+ Played an active role in the drafting, amending and/or implementation of the following state-level medical cannabis reforms: + Worked to pass bills establishing medical cannabis programs in several states, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Hampshire + Worked to amend program regulations and/or program improvement legislation in Maryland, Massachusetts, Illinois, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the District of Columbia + Wrote legal manuals for patients in 14 medical cannabis states and the District of Columbia+ Coauthor of ASA’s "Medical Marijuana Access in the U.S.," "Where Will Patients Get their Medicine?," and "Third Time the Charm?" reports+ Tasks include bill/regulatory drafting/analysis, oral testimony at civic hearings, researching/drafting white papers, and grassroots organizing

Washington, District Of Columbia

Baltimore, Maryland

* Organized youth reading, art, and sports programs for a community organization and supervised volunteers* Managed a micro-lending program, which benefited the community by creating an easy but organized way for residents to fund projects projects in $100-$1,500 range that benefited the community* Composed program reports for donors for the continued funding of Banner's programming * Supervised part-time staff and volunteers

* Organized youth reading, art, and sports programs for a community organization and supervised volunteers* Composed program reports for donors for the continued funding of Banner's programming * Responsible for general upkeep of the office and ordering of supplies

Washington, District Of Columbia

* Combated “school to prison pipeline” by successfully defending all three DC Public School students represented in expulsion hearings, and worked with their families to develop Individualized Education Plans* Discovered exculpatory video evidence & witness statements in felony case resulting in not-guilty verdict

Washington, District Of Columbia

Council of the District of Columbia, Committee on Health* Researched, wrote, and edited committee reports and memos on B18-622, DC’s medical cannabis law* Conducted meetings with lobbyists, patients, and advocates, then engaged in follow-up correspondence to prepared Chairperson Catania and staff for legislative hearings and votes* Assisted non-committee staff with budget oversight review on home healthcare issues

Washington, District Of Columbia

Jan. - Aug. 2009, May - Aug. 2010* Implemented a successful grassroots lobbying campaign that defeated a bill opposed by the ACLU affiliate* Built coalition and rallied support by speaking before groups such as the NAACP and Advisory Neighborhood Commission meetings* Authored a letter to the editor published in the Washington Post which spurred a meeting with the Post Editorial Board, resulting in the Board ending their support of a position at odds with the ACLU affiliate* Developed educational materials, press releases, flyers, fact sheets for lobbying campaign and other events

Jd, Law

Bs, Political Science