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LOBBYING REPORT |
Lobbying Disclosure Act of 1995 (Section 5) - All Filers Are Required to Complete This Page
2. Address
Address1 | 29155 Northwestern Highway |
Address2 | Ste. 443 |
City | Southfield |
State | MI |
Zip Code | 48034 |
Country | USA |
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5. Senate ID# 401106390-50742
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6. House ID# 455060001
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TYPE OF REPORT | 8. Year | 2023 |
Q1 (1/1 - 3/31) | Q2 (4/1 - 6/30) | Q3 (7/1 - 9/30) | Q4 (10/1 - 12/31) |
9. Check if this filing amends a previously filed version of this report
10. Check if this is a Termination Report | Termination Date |
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11. No Lobbying Issue Activity |
INCOME OR EXPENSES - YOU MUST complete either Line 12 or Line 13 | |||||||||
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12. Lobbying | 13. Organizations | ||||||||
INCOME relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period was: | EXPENSE relating to lobbying activities for this reporting period were: | ||||||||
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Provide a good faith estimate, rounded to the nearest $10,000, of all lobbying related income for the client (including all payments to the registrant by any other entity for lobbying activities on behalf of the client). | 14. REPORTING Check box to indicate expense accounting method. See instructions for description of options. | ||||||||
Method A.
Reporting amounts using LDA definitions only
Method B. Reporting amounts under section 6033(b)(8) of the Internal Revenue Code Method C. Reporting amounts under section 162(e) of the Internal Revenue Code |
Signature | Digitally Signed By: Eric Foster |
Date | 10/23/2023 11:37:56 AM |
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code BAN
16. Specific lobbying issues
1. SAFE Banking Act;
2. The CLIMB Act To amend any applicable federal law to permit access to community development, small business, minority development, and any other public or private financial capital sources for investment in and financing of cannabis-related legitimate businesses, and to amend the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to create a safe harbor for national securities exchanges to list the securities of issuers that are cannabis-related legitimate businesses.
3. Amending 2014 FINCEN Treasury guidelines for banking Marijuana-related businesses and 2015 Federal Reserve depository guidelines for Marijuana-related businesses - M4MMs proposed amendments to Department of Treasury and Commerce rules and Fed Reserve depository rules for marijuana related business banking to provide regulatory financial resources for MDIs and CDFIs to provide compliant Marijuana-related banking and open Cross-Border jurisdiction depository rules for MDIs, CDFIs and Marijuana-related businesses.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), Treasury - Dept of, Commerce - Dept of (DOC)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Eric |
Foster |
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Lloyd |
Banks |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code ECN
16. Specific lobbying issues
1.Tribal Cannabis Legalization Independent of State regulations options
2.Guaranteed Hemp Revenue for Farmers Act - Allowing Hemp that tests above the 0.3 THC level, produces a Delta variant that is ruled illegal via the DEA and FDA and Hemp harvested via plant crops in the EPAs Ecological reuse programs to be repurposed for Industrial Hemp Product production, non-Consumable products or foods (increasing revenue opportunities for Minority Hemp farmers specifically).
3.Creating 420 Industrial Hemp Processors in four years Act - Currently, there are only 20 operating Hemp Processors in America, which doesnt the support the development of Industrial Hemp products for domestic usage and exporting opportunities. Providing investment and regulatory support to increase the number of Hemp licensed Processors for the Industrial Hemp Sector and creating new Hemp exporting opportunities (working with the Department of Commerce Global Export Diversity coordinator). Provide funding allocations for lending vehicle through MDIs and CDFIs for capital access for interested Hemp Processors.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Agriculture - Dept of (USDA), Treasury - Dept of
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Lloyd |
Banks |
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Eric |
Foster |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code MED
16. Specific lobbying issues
We are advocating for the passage of the following Medical Marijuana research bills:
1. H.R.2431 - Veterans Equal Access Act Sponsor: Rep. Mast, Brian J. [R-FL-21] - authorizes physicians and other health care providers employed by the VA to provide recommendations and opinions to veterans who are residents of States with State marijuana programs regarding the participation of veterans in such State marijuana programs.
2. Rep. Dina Tituss Higher Education Marijuana Research Act of 2023 Directs the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), to issue between five to 25 Schedule 1 manufacturing licenses to institutions of higher education (IHE) seeking to manufacture and distribute marijuana for research projects approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Creates a working group housed within the Department of Education to produce recommendations on how to streamline and simplify the registration process for studying marijuana at IHEs. Orders the National Institutes of Health to establish a grant program within the National Institute of Drug Abuse to study marijuana for biological, chemical, or public health research and directs the Secretary of Agriculture to establish a grant program for the agricultural research of marijuana. M4MM recommends the following amendments.
3. S.326 - 118th Congress (2023-2024) VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023. Sponsor: Tester, Jon [Sen.-D-MT] and H.R.1003 - 118th Congress (2023-2024) VA Medicinal Cannabis Research Act of 2023 Sponsor: Correa, J. Luis [Rep.-D-CA-46]- both bills direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to carry out a study and clinical trials on the effects of cannabis on certain health outcomes of veterans with chronic pain and post-traumatic stress disorder, and for other purposes.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Eric |
Foster |
Banks |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code GOV
16. Specific lobbying issues
We are advocating for the following amendments for the 2023 Farm Bill and Marijuana policy:
1. Hemp for American Made Biofuel Production Act - Adding Hemp to the US Biofuel production programs as a strategy to for increasing Hemp licensed Producers and diversifying our clean energy sources for ethanol/auto fuel, blended biofuel, aviation fuel, home heating, commercial heating and other fuel based applications.
2. Rep. David Trones Free to Grow Act - H.R.1428 - To amend the Agricultural Marketing Act of 1946 to repeal the prohibition for certain individuals convicted of a felony offense to participate in hemp production - Removing the 10-year felony ban for employment or becoming a licensee in the Hemp industry.
3. Add statutory language via the 2023 Farm Bill and Environmental Protection Agency regulatory rule to add Hemp as an EPA defined Native Plant to the Environmental Protection Agencys:
oSuperfund Redevelopment Program Ecological reuse
oEcological restoration and revegetation of contaminated sites
oEcosystem services (ES)
oGreen Remediation
oRevegetating Landfills and
oWaste Containment Areas
as a plant crop that can be incorporated into site remediation plans for Superfund and Legacy toxic landfill sites.
4. Crop Insurance reform legislation and State implementation of Hemp programs - making Crop Insurance more accessible and cost effective to minority farmers and providing relief for failed Hemp crop production and/or loss valuation.
5. Increase access for Hemp in the USDA BioPreferred Program designates categories for federal purchasing as well as identifies certification categories for the voluntary labeling initiative. Unique biobased content minimums have been established as part of the process of designating categories for federal purchasing preference. Categories that only fall under the voluntary labeling initiative have a minimum biobased content of 25%.
6. Ensure the applicability of Hemp as an eligible environmental Construction product for the Environmental Product Information Program. This program provides $250 million to support the development and enhanced standardization and transparency of environmental product declaration for construction materials and products.
7. Harnessing Opportunities by Pursuing Expungement Act of 2023 (HOPE Act) - Rep. David Joyce and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Bill
Summary: This bill authorizes the Department of Justice (DOJ) to make grants to states and local governments to reduce the financial and administrative burden of expunging convictions for state cannabis offenses. The bill also requires DOJ to study and report on (1) the effects on an individual of a criminal record report of a conviction for a criminal offense related to cannabis, and (2) the costs incurred for incarcerating an individual for a criminal offense related to cannabis.
12. Clean Slate Act - Rep. Lisa Blount-Rochester D-DE-At Larges Bill
Summary: Establishes a framework for sealing records related to certain federal criminal offenses. Courts must automatically seal records related to (1) a conviction for simple possession of a controlled substance or for any nonviolent offense involving marijuana, or (2) an arrest for an offense that does not result in a conviction. Additionally, an individual who meets certain criteria may petition to seal records related to a conviction for other nonviolent offenses.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, U.S. SENATE, Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), Interior - Dept of (DOI)
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Eric |
Foster |
Banks |
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Lloyd |
Banks |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
LOBBYING ACTIVITY. Select as many codes as necessary to reflect the general issue areas in which the registrant engaged in lobbying on behalf of the client during the reporting period. Using a separate page for each code, provide information as requested. Add additional page(s) as needed.
15. General issue area code SMB
16. Specific lobbying issues
Increasing economic opportunities for Minority Depository Institutions and Minority owned Media businesses with the Cannabis and Hemp Industry
1. Amending 2014 FINCEN Treasury guidelines for banking Marijuana-related businesses and 2015 Federal Reserve depository guidelines for Marijuana-related businesses - M4MMs proposed amendments to Department of Treasury and Commerce rules and Fed Reserve depository rules for marijuana related business banking to provide regulatory financial resources for MDIs and CDFIs to provide compliant Marijuana-related banking and open Cross-Border jurisdiction depository rules for MDIs, CDFIs and Marijuana-related businesses.
2. Safe Advertising Act - Senator Ben Ray Lujans Bill - Summary: The Secure and Fair Enforcement (SAFE) Advertising Act, which will permit radio and television stations to accept advertising for legal cannabis products if the station is licensed in states that permit the advertising of medical or adult-use cannabis. The SAFE Advertising Act removes the risk that stations could lose their licenses if they accept ads for legal cannabis products. For stations in states that have not legalized cannabis advertising, the legislation would leave the law as it is today and would not interfere with state regulation of cannabis advertising. Legislation to protect broadcasters from penalty and provide advertising services on-air for Cannabis Companies, which opens up advertising opportunities for Black and Minority Media organizations with the Cannabis Industry.
3. Creating 420 Industrial Hemp Processors in four years Act - Currently, there are only 20 operating Hemp Processors in America, which doesnt the support the development of Industrial Hemp products for domestic usage and exporting opportunities. Providing investment and regulatory support to increase the number of Hemp licensed Processors for the Industrial Hemp Sector and creating new Hemp exporting opportunities (working with the Department of Commerce Global Export Diversity coordinator). Provide funding allocations for lending vehicle through MDIs and CDFIs for capital access for interested Hemp Processors.
17. House(s) of Congress and Federal agencies Check if None
U.S. SENATE, U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, Commerce - Dept of (DOC), Minority Business Development Agency, Treasury - Dept of
18. Name of each individual who acted as a lobbyist in this issue area
First Name | Last Name | Suffix | Covered Official Position (if applicable) | New |
Eric |
Foster |
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Lloyd |
Banks |
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19. Interest of each foreign entity in the specific issues listed on line 16 above Check if None
Information Update Page - Complete ONLY where registration information has changed.
20. Client new address
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21. Client new principal place of business (if different than line 20)
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22. New General description of client’s business or activities
LOBBYIST UPDATE
23. Name of each previously reported individual who is no longer expected to act as a lobbyist for the client
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ISSUE UPDATE
24. General lobbying issue that no longer pertains
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AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
25. Add the following affiliated organization(s)
Internet Address:
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26. Name of each previously reported organization that is no longer affiliated with the registrant or client
1 | 2 | 3 |
FOREIGN ENTITIES
27. Add the following foreign entities:
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28. Name of each previously reported foreign entity that no longer owns, or controls, or is affiliated with the registrant, client or affiliated organization
1 | 3 | 5 |
2 | 4 | 6 |
CONVICTIONS DISCLOSURE
29. Have any of the lobbyists listed on this report been convicted in a Federal or State Court of an offense involving bribery,
extortion, embezzlement, an illegal kickback, tax evasion, fraud, a conflict of interest, making a false statement, perjury, or money laundering?
Lobbyist Name | Description of Offense(s) |