Flower Power: How MPP is Shaping the Next Chapter of Cannabis Reform
In this week’s Flower Power series, we sat down with Adam Smith, the new Executive Director of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) — one of the most influential advocacy organizations in cannabis reform history. For 30 years, MPP has been at the forefront of legalization efforts, helping to pass many of the laws that built today’s legal cannabis market.
Now, under new leadership, the organization is entering a new era: one focused on sustainability, collaboration, and the path to federal progress.
A Legacy of Legalization
Since its founding in 1995, MPP has played a central role in advancing cannabis reform across dozens of states, from early medical-only programs to the wave of adult-use legalization that took off over the past decade.
Smith reflected on how MPP’s legacy continues to guide its next phase, which is focusing not only on ending prohibition but ensuring legalization delivers real access, safety, and justice.
“We’re seeing adjustments of prohibition, not true legalization,” Smith said. “What we want to see is a system grounded in public health, public safety, and public access. That’s how we move people out of illicit markets and into regulated ones that actually work.”
Redefining the Advocacy Agenda
Under Smith’s leadership, MPP is broadening its mission to address the issues shaping the future of the legal cannabis industry, including equity, taxation, interstate commerce, and federal reform.
He emphasized that while the federal spotlight gets attention, the real power remains where MPP has always excelled: at the state level.
“Every advance we’ve made in cannabis policy over the last 30 years has been at the state level, and that’s where the fight continues,” Smith said. “The rules that matter most to people, who can sell, how products are made, how safe they are, those are all decided by the states.”
Building Partnerships for Progress
For MPP, collaboration with the industry is essential, but independence remains its greatest strength. Smith underscored that effective reform depends on coalition-building between advocates, operators, and communities.
“Industry doesn’t control independent advocacy — and that’s a feature, not a flaw,” Smith said. “Our independence gives us credibility. Advocacy brings together coalitions that can speak to public health, civil rights, and justice in ways industry simply can’t on its own.”
He warned that resurgent prohibitionist groups are well-funded and active, framing their opposition around public safety and “big marijuana.” To counter that, Smith said, the industry must invest in credible, independent advocacy to sustain its decades of progress.
From State Wins to Federal Momentum
As MPP continues to drive reform across the country, the organization is also preparing for the next frontier: federal progress. Smith sees descheduling as the clearest path forward, allowing states to operate in a normalized commercial environment while maintaining flexibility to shape their markets.
“The best thing the federal government could do is deschedule cannabis. That would let states create normal commercial environments and bring real stability to the industry,” Smith said.
How to Get Involved
For those looking to make a difference, MPP remains one of the most effective and respected voices for cannabis reform in the U.S. Whether you’re an individual advocate or an industry leader, there are meaningful ways to contribute, from donations and policy partnerships to grassroots mobilization. Learn more at MPP.org.
Watch the Full Conversation
To hear more about his vision for MPP and the future of cannabis reform, catch the full interview with Adam Smith on LeafLink’s YouTube channel. Be sure to also read Smith’s most recent publication: An Open Letter to the Cannabis Industry.”
About Flower Power
Flower Power is LeafLink’s ongoing interview series celebrating the change-makers, advocates, and organizations using cannabis to drive positive impact in their communities.