MJBizMag October 2022 - 48

RACE FOR REFORM
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
COLORADO, 7TH DISTRICT
One of the marijuana industry's
staunchest allies, SAFE Banking Act
sponsor U.S. Rep. Ed Perlmutter,
is retiring, leaving this seat up for
grabs. Democratic state lawmaker
Brittany Pettersen is facing off against
Republican Erik Aadland, a former
energy executive who first tried
running for the U.S. Senate before
changing races. Though neither of
the two have made marijuana policy
a large part of their platforms during
the race, the biggest impact will be
Perlmutter's notable absence in the
House. The Cook Political Report rates
this race as " Likely D. "
Begich ran Young's 2020 reelection
campaign, but he has not indicated
whether he shares Young's opinions
about legalizing marijuana.
Meanwhile, Palin, Pelota and Sweeney
each told the Alaska Beacon they
believe marijuana should be legalized
nationwide. The Cook Political Report
rates this race as a " Toss-Up. "
Rep. Dina Titus
Mark Robertson
veteran and conservative Republican.
Robertson is an anti-narcotics
Christy Smith
Rep. Mike Garcia
Brittany Pettersen
Erik Aadland
ALASKA, AT-LARGE
The House lost another major
industry ally when U.S. Rep. Don
Young, a Republican and one of the
co-founders of the Congressional
Cannabis Caucus, died in March 2022.
Young held Alaska's sole seat in the
U.S. House for almost 50 years, after
first being elected in 1973.
Democrat Mary
Pelota won a
special election
to fill Young's
seat for the rest
of his term, and
four candidates
will advance
to the general
election: Pelota and
Republicans Nicholas Begich, Tara
Sweeney and Sarah Palin, the former
Alaska governor.
48 October 2022 | MJBizMagazine
CALIFORNIA, 27TH DISTRICT
U.S. Rep. Mike Garcia, a Republican
and somewhat unlikely ally of licensed
marijuana companies, is locked
in a tight race for California's 27th
Congressional District, just north
of Los Angeles. Garcia has been an
outspoken proponent of ramping
up law enforcement's approach to
illegal cannabis cultivation sites that
have sprung up across his state, and
in June, he loudly championed an
increase in federal spending to aid
the " fight against illegal marijuana
grows. " On the ballot, Garcia faces
former state lawmaker Christy Smith,
a Democrat who hasn't made cannabis
a campaign issue. The Cook Political
Report rates the race as a " Toss Up, "
with a four-point advantage to Smith.
Rep. Mary Pelota
NEVADA, 1ST DISTRICT
Yet another cannabis industry ally
whose seat could be at risk this fall
is U.S. Rep. Dina Titus, a Las Vegas
Democrat who has spoken at cannabis
business events as well as backing
marijuana measures such as the
MORE Act. She's being challenged by
Col. Mark Robertson, a 30-year Army
politician who equates marijuana with
" cocaine, meth and prescription drug
abuse, " according to his campaign
website. If Robertson were to beat
Titus, it would be a serious blow to the
industry. The Cook Political Report
lists this race as a " Toss Up, " with Titus
holding a three-point edge.
NEW HAMPSHIRE,
1ST DISTRICT
Another race to
watch is in New
Hampshire's first
congressional
district, where
U.S. Rep. Chris
Pappas-one
of two House
Democrats to
vote against
the MORE Act-is in a close race for
reelection, even though his GOP
opponent hadn't been determined as
of press time. The Republican primary
was scheduled for Sept. 13, with
challengers including multiple former
Trump administration officials, a state
lawmaker and the wife of a former
Republican U.S. senator. Marijuana
policy has not been a real issue in
the race; state Rep. Tim Baxter, one
of the GOP candidates, has a split
voting record on marijuana measures
in the New Hampshire House of
Representatives. The Cook Political
Report rates this race as " Toss-Up,
Dead Even. "
Rep. Chris Pappas
MJBizMag October 2022

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