Crafting Winning Strategies, Expert Lobbyist Shares Insights On Cannabis Advocacy

Reginald Babin, a veteran lobbyist with expertise in gun policy, cannabis policy and legislative politics sheds light on the challenges of prioritizing issues in Congress and the crucial role of advocates and lobbyists in advancing cannabis reform.

"It's a difficult job that involves dealing with generational questions through a slow and deliberate system designed for consensus. Dealing with concerns on both the left and right is necessary to build a coalition in the House and Senate and it's a decade-long project," Babin told Benzinga exclusively.

Tailoring Strategies For Political Realities

Babin notes that while cannabis legalization receives press coverage, it has not garnered significant attention in the general media, highlighting the challenge of agenda scarcity in Congress.

He explained the difficulty of prioritizing issues and elevating their importance to warrant priority consideration over other matters.

“Advocates and lobbyists have spent the past decade building momentum and coalitions to bring the issue to the forefront of people's minds and inch it closer to inevitability. The change-making process is slowed by the nature of the legislative system, which requires consensus to progress,” Babin said.

3 Dimensions For Action

Babin, who spent a decade working on gun policy on Capitol Hill, understands that “building coalitions and addressing deep disagreements is the hard work of advocacy and lobbying.”

He highlights three dimensions that should be addressed to achieve political change: politics, policy and procedural strategy.

• To gain traction, cannabis bills need to reflect the realities of different states and respond to the demands of different constituencies. Only then, cannabis regulation will become an issue of policy-making.
• There are no universal techniques for a successful campaign though campaigners should tailor their strategies to fit their political reality. Babin highlights the importance of reframing and mapping out local politics in advocating for policy changes at the state level.
• Advocates need to make their case and continue trying to reframe the issue until they get the numbers they want. The only option is to change enough minds to take a failed vote and make it a successful vote.
• Crafting a winning strategy tailored to each individual member or senator is essential, and it is a long, laborious process that can take at least a decade.

“It's never instant satisfaction. If it were, there would be no lobbying because things would just get through,” Babin said.

Finding Purpose In The Work

Regarding legislative trends to follow for 2023, Babin advises people interested in cannabis legalization to focus on the work that needs to be done rather than thinking about the outcome.

“One has to commit to the work and let it be its own reward, finding purpose in it,” he said, stressing that the best one can do is the best one can do and that a collective effort is essential to achieve a breakthrough.

“Eventually, if you invest in a sound strategy and do things that are proven to bring about outcomes in Washington, it will pay off. It may take a long time, but if you stay committed, you will eventually reach your ultimate goal,” Babin concluded.

Photo by MIKE STOLL on Unsplash.