Michael Bronstein, Co-Founder of American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp – Interview Series

What subjects did you mainly study while obtaining your Bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Cornell? What percentage of that degree was focused on law and political science?

My American Studies degree at Cornell was interdisciplinary by design, combining history, political science, sociology, literature, and cultural studies to understand American society comprehensively. I also took a number of courses on constitutional and international law, and American culture and institutions. I’d estimate roughly 40-45% of my coursework focused on political science and legal studies, which provided the foundation for my later career in political consulting and policy work.

My particular area of academic interests focused on political party formation in the United States, the party system in the lead up to the Civil War, Lincoln’s early career, electioneering, American political theory, as well as the politics of the progressive (PGR ) era – all of which have come in handy at one point or another in my career. Most people ask what anyone would do with an American Studies major, and I feel that I am basically a practitioner who uses my education in the history, literature, culture, and politics of the United States on a daily basis. The program’s strength was teaching me to analyze complex systems and understand how policy, culture, and politics intersect – skills that proved invaluable in both my political consulting work and later cannabis policy advocacy.

How would you describe the experience of being a Hansard Scholar at the London School of Economics? How did that experience give you a more robust understanding of international business and economics?

Being a Hansard Scholar at LSE changed the course of my entire professional career. The Hansard Scholars Program was established out of a society formed by Winston Churchill to educate others about parliamentary democracy in a period where some were concerned about its very survival. The program exposed me to different approaches to policy analysis and governance that I wouldn’t have encountered in the American system. I had a placement in the House of Commons for James Purnell MP, which helped lead to working for the Labour Party for Tony Blair’s historic third term win in 2005. The experience prepared me for understanding parliamentary systems and the intricacies of British political operations.

How did you first get involved in politics and political consulting? How influential was your White House internship during the Clinton administration in your decision to pursue it as a career?

The White House internship in summer 2000 was absolutely pivotal. Working in the Office of Presidential Scheduling and Advance, preparing itineraries and logistics for President Clinton’s trips, showed me the intricate machinery of government and how policy translates into action. Though I was really in actuality just assisting in a small way in the huge operations that is the president’s schedule as well as everything that goes on with that, seeing the presidency up close – the decision-making process, the coordination required, the impact of effective communication – convinced me that politics and policy work was where I wanted to build my career. The internship was also critical in opening up doors that otherwise wouldn’t have been opened earlier in my career – when people would see that I had participated in the internship, it opened doors that might have remained closed.

Who were some of the most successful or otherwise most noteworthy political campaigns you worked for as a consultant? What crucial committee or legislative roles did those aspiring candidates eventually hold?

I’ve been fortunate to work with some remarkable leaders. Congressman Matt Cartwright’s race was consistently one of the most important Congressional races in the country for several years and often was one of a handful of seats that determined the control of Congress. Congressman Cartwright, who became Dean of Pennsylvania’s Congressional Delegation, was also one of the Cardinals on the House Appropriations Committee, which gave him enormous influence over federal spending priorities. Congressman Rob Andrews served as co-chairman of the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, which was crucial for Democratic policy coordination.

On the state level earlier in my career, I worked with PA State Auditor General Jack Wagner, who brought important fiscal oversight to Pennsylvania, as well as President Pro Tempore of the New Jersey Senate Nia Gill, Deputy Speaker of the NJ State Assembly Upendra Chivukula, and Maryland Assemblyman and Whip Talmadge Branch, along with a number of state level leaders in other states. I also worked with various campaign organizations such as the PA SDCC throughout my career, as well as political marijuana legalization campaigns such as New Jersey United for Marijuana Reform.

What are some of the most illustrious awards and recognitions that you received for your political consulting work? It looks like that list is quite extensive.

I’ve been fortunate to have been recognized spanning several years of my career. The Stanley F. Reed Awards were particularly meaningful – I won or was a finalist eight years in a row for categories such as “Best Campaign Comeback”, “Most Sophisticated Targeting” and “Best Bare Knuckled Street Fight Victory.” The Pollie Award for “Best Television Advertisement for a State Legislative Candidate” in the United States was special because it recognized creative excellence. Being named to the “Dream Team” of American Political Consultants and one of the “Most Influential Political Consultants” list in the US by Campaigns & Elections Magazine.

I noticed that you also worked with the British Labour Party for the reelection campaign for former Prime Minister Tony Blair. What all went into a reelection candidacy for one of the most powerful seats in the world, and what were the most stark differences between American and British politics?

Working on Tony Blair’s 2005 reelection campaign was extraordinary. As Corporate Communications Administrator, I managed communications workflow across all Labour Party departments and oversaw a design and publications team responsible for the party’s national media content. The design work really sparked my interest in political media and gave me a strong background in production. The scale and coordination required was immense – every piece of communication needed to reinforce the broader message while addressing local concerns across hundreds of constituencies.

The biggest difference from American politics is the parliamentary system’s emphasis on party discipline and collective messaging. In the US, candidates often run more individualized campaigns, but in the UK, the party brand and leader are inseparable. The campaign timeline is also shorter – while American presidential campaigns span years, British general election campaigns are typically months. The media environment is more concentrated and television isn’t really a factor outside of a few national commercials each party is allowed to run at a given time, with national newspapers playing a larger role in shaping public opinion.

What inspired you to co-found the American Trade Association for Cannabis & Hemp? Did you feel like hemp and cannabis businesses didn’t have as much advocacy and strength through trade organizations as other industries and sectors do?

When I co-founded ATACH in 2015, the cannabis industry was fragmented with limited professional representation at the federal level. Traditional industries have powerful trade associations that provide unified voices for policy advocacy, but cannabis businesses were operating in isolation, often competing against each other rather than collaborating on shared challenges like banking access, federal taxation issues, and regulatory inconsistencies between states.

I saw the need for a professional 501(c)(6) trade organization that could represent the industry’s diverse sectors – from cultivation and processing to testing and retail – while maintaining the credibility necessary to engage with federal policymakers, attorneys general, and regulatory bodies. The industry needed to mature beyond its historical roots and present itself as the legitimate business sector it had become. Now ATACH is the largest and most impactful trade association in the industry.

What have been some of the most notable or otherwise important ways that ATACH has helped the needs and interests of hemp and cannabis businesses? How have ATACH’s actions assisted in the success of those businesses?

ATACH has achieved several industry firsts that demonstrate our leadership role. We were the first cannabis trade association to throw events at the presidential conventions, participate in Attorneys General conferences, and establish a historic memorandum of understanding with ASTM International to develop industry standards. Additionally, we passed the first federal cannabis and hemp standard ever recognized under federal regulation – a breakthrough in legitimizing the industry.

ATACH played a critical role in medical marijuana legalization in Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, and continues our work in so many other states. We’ve been recognized as “Trade Association of the Year” and “Corporate Grassroots Organization of the Year” by Campaigns & Elections magazine, which reflects our impact. We’ve built over twenty organizational memorandums of understanding with state-level associations and national organizations, creating a unified network that amplifies our advocacy power.

What sectors and departments of the cannabis and hemp industries are represented through ATACH’s membership and Board of Directors? How do you think those diversities in specialties and subject matter expertise make the organization stronger and more efficient overall?

ATACH’s membership spans the entire cannabis and hemp supply chain – from cultivation and genetics to processing, manufacturing, testing, retail, and ancillary services. Our Capital Markets Council includes some of the industry’s most influential leaders, while our general membership includes both established operators and emerging companies.

This diversity is our strength because cannabis policy affects every sector differently. When we’re advocating for banking reform, our financial services members provide technical expertise. When addressing testing standards, our laboratory members guide the conversation. When discussing cultivation regulations, our growers and processors share operational realities. This comprehensive perspective ensures our policy positions are practical and implementable, not just theoretical. It also means we can anticipate unintended consequences that might harm one sector while helping another.

What are the specific committees within ATACH, and how do each of those committees address and tackle certain issues impacting cannabis business owners and employees?

ATACH operates several specialized committees that address different aspects of industry advocacy. Our Capital Markets Council focuses on access to traditional banking, capital markets, and stock exchange listings – addressing one of the industry’s most fundamental challenges. The Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform coordinates our federal rescheduling advocacy efforts. Our ATACH Standards Committee works on developing industry standards through partnerships with organizations like ASTM International.

The Beverage Council addresses the growing cannabis beverage sector, while our CBD Task Force tackles the complex regulatory landscape surrounding CBD products. The National Council of State Organizations coordinates with state-level associations across the country to ensure unified messaging and shared advocacy strategies. Each committee brings together relevant expertise to develop targeted advocacy strategies that address specific sector needs while advancing the broader industry’s interests.

How does ATACH plan on advocating for either the rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule III or another similar reform on the federal level?

ATACH’s Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform is housed at ATACH and is where industry is coordinating advocacy on and advancement of rescheduling of cannabis to Schedule III. You can see more information at https://schedulingreform.org/. The Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform (CCSR) unites leading cannabis companies and organizations with prominent legal and scientific experts to advance cannabis scheduling reform, and ATACH has helped lead the coalition through the entire process.

This has entailed engaging with stakeholders to provide critical information and analysis concerning the urgent need for scheduling reform, releasing a comprehensive report on the classification of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act, and submitting extensive comments to the Drug Enforcement Administration in July 2024 in support of the Biden Administration’s proposal to move cannabis down to Schedule III.

The importance of this work cannot be overstated – it’s about recognizing cannabis as medicine and moving it from being wrongly classified alongside heroin to a more appropriate category that reflects its medical value and low abuse potential. Moving cannabis down to Schedule III represents the greatest single cannabis reform in US history. Our coalition approach demonstrates that federal cannabis reform isn’t just about marijuana policy – it’s about creating rational, consistent regulatory frameworks that support legitimate businesses while maintaining appropriate public health and safety protections.