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.
• 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.
• 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

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.
• 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.

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.

* 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.

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.

Jd, Law

Bs, Political Science