About Us
Dedicated to advancing evidence-based cannabis policy reform
Our Mission
The United States of Ganja is dedicated to advancing evidence-based cannabis policy reform through research, education, and advocacy. We believe that informed citizens and policymakers are essential to creating sensible, just cannabis laws.
What We Do
Research
Research and publish findings on cannabis policy impacts and reform outcomes
Education
Educate the public and policymakers with accurate, evidence-based information
Advocacy
Advocate for sensible cannabis reform that respects democratic principles
Our Founder
Anthony, the founder of the United States of Ganja, has been deeply engaged in cannabis policy reform for many years. When Colorado and Washington became the first states to fully legalize cannabis in 2012, he recognized a historic opportunity and began exploring how he could contribute meaningfully to the emerging industry.
During his research, Anthony identified a critical challenge facing legal cannabis businesses: the inability to access traditional banking services. Operating on a cash-only basis, these legitimate enterprises were effectively excluded from the financial system—a barrier that persists to this day.
His focus sharpened when Colorado’s governor announced legislation permitting the formation of Cannabis Credit Cooperatives. Anthony became deeply interested in financial vehicles that would allow industry participants to organize cooperatives for the purpose of integrating funds into the regulated banking system. Compelled by the legal and civil rights implications of this issue, he registered CannabisCreditCo-Op.com and initiated a petition in Colorado to obtain a permit for the first Cannabis Credit Cooperative.
Although the inaugural permit was ultimately awarded to another Colorado cooperative, Anthony continued to monitor the evolving landscape. After years of observing state after state legalize cannabis—while the banking access problem remained unresolved—he determined it was time to reinvigorate his efforts.
To address this issue on a national scale, Anthony established the United States of Ganja. This broader initiative enables advocates from every affected state to unite in demanding that the federal government respect the democratic will of the people and provide legitimate financial access to legal cannabis businesses.
The Challenge We Face
Despite significant progress in legalizing cannabis across the country, it remains classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law—placing it in the same category as heroin, MDMA, mescaline, and GHB. This classification stems from the Controlled Substances Act of 1970, legislation crafted during an era marked by limited scientific understanding and widespread misinformation.
More than five decades later, despite overwhelming evidence of cannabis’s medical benefits and the clear mandate expressed through countless state-level legalization votes, this antiquated classification persists. The consequences are profound: it grants federal authorities broad enforcement powers that effectively override the democratic will of the people.
The Banking Paradox: Under current federal interpretation, revenue from legal cannabis operations is classified as “drug money,” and its entry into the banking system constitutes “money laundering.” Federal agencies retain the authority to seize these funds whenever they identify what they deem “suspected money laundering activity.” In essence, the government forces legitimate business owners to operate outside the banking system, then penalizes them when they attempt to participate in it.
This approach is fundamentally unjust in a democratic society. When government actions contradict the expressed will of the electorate and employ enforcement tactics that many view as ethically questionable, the result is an erosion of public trust in our institutions. We believe it is time to align federal policy with democratic principles and the will of the American people.