Politics
Marijuana Policy Project Begins Search For New Leader
The U.S.’s largest marijuana legalization organization is launching a search process to find its next executive director on Wednesday, Marijuana Moment has exclusively learned.
The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), which has played a leading role in efforts to reform cannabis policies on the state and federal levels since 1995, was until late last year led by its founder, Rob Kampia.
But Kampia left the organization as greater attention was paid to past allegations of sexual misconduct against him amidst a national focus on workplace sexual harassment and abuse.
Kampia, for his part, denies that the split had anything to do with his behavior and that he simply wanted to pursue “new business opportunities.”
Now MPP, which has been led on a temporary basis by staffer Matthew Schweich, is looking for Kampia’s permanent replacement.
“Our ideal candidate does not necessarily have a background in marijuana. We are looking for political professionals with experience changing laws, such as a successful campaign manager with a winning track record or a former member of Congress or their staff,” Jeffrey Zucker, chair of MPP’s Board Search Committee, told Marijuana Moment. “But we do want someone with a strong personal commitment to marijuana policy reform, justice and personal liberty.”
The group said in a draft press release that the search will take about three months and will involve targeted outreach to “prominent figures in the fields of politics, social justice and business to ensure the most diverse and inclusive candidate pool possible.”
MPP is especially looking for candidates with political management, fundraising and advocacy experience.
“We are excited to launch this search,” Zucker said. “As a movement, we are close to ending marijuana prohibition in the United States. MPP will continue to play an important role, and we are seeking candidates with experience, expertise and passion for the issue.”
Schweich, the current executive director, will continue leading MPP until a successor is in place and will then focus his attention on the ballot initiative efforts the organization is leading this year, a return to his former role at the organization of leading state campaigns.
“It’s been a privilege to lead this exceptional staff,” he said in the release. “After November, I plan to pursue other opportunities in politics. But first, I want to assist the new executive director during their transition and then help finish what we started in Utah and Michigan. I think both of those ballot initiative campaigns are very important for our movement.”
Meanwhile, Kampia has started a new outfit, the Marijuana Leadership Campaign, which is focused on several of the same state and federal priorities MPP has been working on, leading to some concern that the two groups will compete for resources or duplicate efforts. Kampia has already hired at least one former MPP staffer to join him at the new organization.
See the job posting for the MPP executive director position below:
Job Posting: Executive Director
Lead the marijuana legalization movement.
Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the largest organization in the U.S. that’s focused solely on ending marijuana prohibition. The organization is hiring a new Executive Director for the first time since its founding in 1995. MPP works to create a nation where marijuana is legally regulated similarly to alcohol, marijuana education is honest and realistic, and treatment for problem marijuana users is non-coercive and geared toward reducing harm. Marijuana reform is one of the country’s most popular and bipartisan issues, with public support more than doubling over the last 20 years.
MPP has played a leading role in more than half of the current medical marijuana and adult use legalization laws in the country, and the Executive Director should be able to help the organization build on its history of concrete reforms. MPP is lobbying to regulate marijuana like alcohol via several state legislatures: Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Rhode Island. In Michigan, MPP’s coalition is working to legalize and regulate marijuana by voter initiative in 2018. Meanwhile, MPP is also working with patient advocates to advance medical marijuana-related bills in several other states, including Kentucky and South Carolina, while supporting a medical marijuana ballot initiative in Utah. In Congress, MPP has already helped secured protection from federal law enforcement for medical marijuana patients and businesses in the 2018 spending bill and is increasingly lobbying for expanded reforms to banking, research, patient access, and criminal justice.
The Executive Director directly supervises the Chief of Staff and department heads, with responsibility for day-to-day decision-making for the organization. The position develops and implements the organization’s political strategy and goals in conjunction with the staff and Board of Directors. Fundraising is a major part of the job. The position is responsible for the financial stability of the organization and requires a substantial amount of time be dedicated to raising millions of dollars for the organization and campaigns.
Specific responsibilities of the position include, but are not limited to:
- Leading efforts to change laws through political organizing, lobbying, and ballot initiatives.
- Negotiating with a broad range of stakeholders with interests in policy outcomes.
- Raising capital from high net worth individuals, companies, and foundations.
- Creating and executing a fundraising plan with specific outreach goals, timelines, and prospect lists.
- Managing staff and improving individuals’ effectiveness, productivity, and job satisfaction.
- Fostering and maintaining a positive work environment for all staff.
- Communicating with the media to shape public opinion.
- Leading a diverse movement of passionate individuals and organizations with interests in public health and individual liberty.
- Ideal candidate will have a track record for fundraising and a demonstrated ability to run a fast-paced, mission-driven organization of 20 or more employees with a primary focus on changing laws.
Additional qualifications:
- Ten or more years in a professional capacity with increasing levels of responsibility, preferably in politics, public policy, fundraising, or organizational management
- A track record of executive leadership in growing organizations
- Excellence in verbal and written communication and interpersonal skills; ability to motivate teams and to participate in and facilitate group meetings
- Experience in strategic planning and execution; knowledge of contracting, negotiating, and political deal-making
- Ability to adapt and respond to a rapidly changing environment and to encourage and motivate others to do so
- Interest in or personal commitment to marijuana policy reform and individual liberty
This position is required to work out of MPP’s Washington, D.C. headquarters, while also requiring frequent travel and hours commensurate with a C-level position. This position reports to the Board of Directors. Compensation will be commensurate with experience.
For confidential consideration, please send a cover letter, resume, and a list of professional references to [email protected].
Learn more about Marijuana Policy Project, our mission, our accomplishments, and our goals at www.mpp.org.
