Cannabis Workers, Unemployment Insurance, and the Small Business Administration: What You Need to Know

There is no doubt that the COVID-19 pandemic is adversely impacting businesses around the world, and smaller businesses especially. That is why this week, NORML reached out to our numerous allies on Capitol Hill to ensure that any Unemployment Insurance aid packages considered by Congress provide relief to cannabis-industry personnel who have been or will be either furloughed from their jobs. “Given the tremendous amount of uncertainty in the broader economy, the hundreds of thousands of American workers who are employed by the state-legal marijuana industry must be respected and protected by the emergency actions being taken by elected officials,” said NORML Political Director Justin Strekal. Why this clarification is important According to a recent report by Leafy.com, the state-licensed cannabis industry employs more than 240,000 American workers. To put that total in context, the state-authorized cannabis marketplace employs over four times the number of American workers as does the coal industry.  Yet, despite the economic and political progress that has been made in states around the country, marijuana is still defined by federal law as a Schedule I substance with no medicinal value and a high potential for abuse. In short, federal anti-drug laws continue to define the state-authorized cannabis industry, and those who work in it, as drug felons. That is why these businesses continue to face undue discrimination under federal law, including the lack of access to banking services and a prohibition of standard business tax deductions.  NORML is seeking to ensure that similar discriminatory practices do…

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Source : norml
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