Greetings readers!
So the primary focus of this blog was going to be on simply sharing the disclosure statements of the marijuana industry’s cadre of lobbyists. However, per usual, they have opted to try and cover their skunk scented trail with refusing to comply with simple regulatory guidelines that they are bound to.
Take Josh Hanfling and RD Sewald’s firm for example, Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs. Not only do they regularly pay late fees for not filing disclosures, but they do not disclose what each of their clients like, Medicine Man, actually pay them. (Thing that are not in line with the statutes which are supposed to be regulating this space. Learn more here: How to be a good lobbyist statutes)
Take a looksee at the other lobbyists hitting the revenue bong of big industry:
| Lobbyist | Firm | Client | Compensation (monthly) |
| Shannon Fender | Native Roots Dispensary | Native Roots Dispensary | $2,100-$3,125 |
| Kara Miller | Gold Dome Access | Marijuana Industry Group | $12,000 |
| Capitol Focus | Gold Dome Access | $6,000 (as listed as subcontractor from Kara Miller’s disclosure, but is only $3,000 on Capitol Focus’ disclosure) | |
| Landon Gates | Capitol Focus | Capitol Focus | ? – but we know they worked on marijuana legislation for Gold Dome Access in 2017 |
| Brock Herzberg | Capitol Focus | Capitol Focus | ? – same issue as Landon Gates |
| Vicente Sederberg, LLC | Inspyre, but we don’t really know because –> | Doesn’t have an account on SoS | |
| Christian Sederberg | Vicente Sederberg, LLC | Inspyre and Vicente Sederberg, LLC | Reports $0 – but we know Vicente Sederberg, LLC participated in the 2017 legislative session with regards to marijuana and we doubt that was volunteer. |
| Jordan Wellington | Vicente Sederberg, LLC | Inspyre | $4,795 (April only) |
| Saskia Young | Young Public Affairs | LivWell | $8,000 |
| Shawn Coleman | Renaissance Solutions | $8,000 | |
| Solomon Malick | Peak Government Affairs | Colorado Cannabis Chamber; OnTheBallotConsulting | $2,000-$3,000 |
| Stephanie Fransen | Peak Government Affairs | Peak Government Affairs | ? – we cannot say for sure she is taking money from the industry just that she works under a firm that takes money from the industry |
| Axiom Strategies | Colorado Cannabis Chamber Of Commerce | $3,000-$4,800 | |
| Micki Hackenberger | Axiom Strategies | Axiom Strategies (Colorado Cannabis Chamber Of Commerce is a client of Axiom) | ? – hard to specify because she is paid by Axiom, but lists working on MJ legislation. The Colorado Cannabis Chamber Of Commerce pays Axiom $3,000-$4,800 |
| Erin Goff | Axiom Strategies | Axiom Strategies (Colorado Cannabis Chamber is a client of Axiom) | ? – we cannot say for sure she is taking money from the industry just that she works under a firm that takes money from the industry |
| Melissa Osse | Axiom Strategies | Axiom Strategies (Colorado Cannabis Chamber is a client of Axiom) | ? – hard to specify because she is paid by Axiom, but lists working on MJ legislation. The Colorado Cannabis Chamber pays Axiom $3,000-$4,800 |
| Michael Steppat | Axiom Strategies | Axiom Strategies (Colorado Cannabis Chamber is a client of Axiom) | ? – same issue as Erin Goff |
| Kristen Thomson | Heizer Paul LLP | MiNDFUL | $3,500-$3,600 |
| Brett Moore | OnTheBallot Consulting | Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce; Peak Government Affairs (is both a client and a subcontractor) | ? – but we know OnTheBallot and Brett Moore worked on MJ legislation in 2017 |
| Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs | Dixie Brands; Medicine Man (derived from Josh Hanfling & RD Sewald’s disclosure reports) | Doesn’t have an account on SoS | |
| RD Sewald | Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs | Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs | ? – hard to specify because he is paid by Sewald Hanfling, but lists working on MJ legislation and Sewald Hanfling doesn’t itemize their client payments or have an account on SoS |
| Josh Hanfling | Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs | Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs | ? – same issue as RD Sewald |
| Sami Davis | Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs | Sewald Hanfling Public Affairs | ? – same issue as RD Sewald & Josh Hanfling |
| Rev Brandon Mark Baker | Green Faith Ministry | Green Faith Ministry | $0 reported yet says they were active on legislation |
Why all the secrecy? One of the faux claims to fame big industry prides itself on is their “legitimacy” – this is NOT legitimate. It stinks to high hell and suggests that they thrive in the purple haze they so covet. Legitimate businesses have no issues with being transparent, they do not convolute their operations to make it complicated for the people (which the people deserve) to see how they operate, which is why there are statutes. Maybe Josh and RD went to the ENRON school of business? Or maybe all of the big industry lobbyists did, that would explain a lot.
I challenge the big industry to allow an objective firm, selected by the people, to compile a report on the lobbyists that they employ, the amounts they pay them, the expenses incurred to carry out their operations, and while they are at it, show where / how their other money is going to improve communities.
Perhaps we should all flood the system with ethics complaints? Ping me if you are interested.
