Detroit, MI – As cannabis enters a pivotal phase of federal reform, industry leaders are calling for a unified, education-first conversation around consumer safety and public health with the launch of the Cannabis Consumer Protection Alliance (CCPA).
The CCPA is a voluntary, non-binding coalition designed to bring together operators, laboratories, regulators, medical professionals, researchers, trade associations, and policymakers to establish a shared understanding that consumer safety inconsistencies exist across cannabis markets today and must be addressed before larger regulatory decisions are finalized.
Founded and coordinated by cannabis industry entrepreneur and advocate Adam Rothstein, the CCPA does not propose regulatory thresholds, enforcement mechanisms, or legislative language. Instead, it focuses on aligning stakeholders around the reality that cannabis consumer safety has not kept pace with legalization, commercialization, or recent federal momentum.
The supporting memorandum outlines documented patterns, data points, and repeatable issues observed across multiple markets, providing a factual foundation for stakeholders to review and assess for themselves.
“Cannabis has reached a turning point federally, culturally, and economically,” said Rothstein. “Consumer safety hasn’t caught up yet. The CCPA exists to acknowledge that reality openly and invite the industry to help define the problem together before decisions are made without us in the room.”
Safety Matters Now More Than Ever
Federal movement around cannabis is no longer theoretical. Conversations on how to handle recent rescheduling, hemp reform, expanded research access, banking legislation, and interstate commerce conversations are all advancing simultaneously. Without alignment on consumer safety, definitions and frameworks risk being shaped reactively or without sufficient industry participation.
The CCPA positions consumer safety as the common denominator across all forms of cannabis reform, including medical use, adult use, hemp-derived products, banking, interstate commerce, and international engagement. Before we can even entertain defining “safety” though, we must all agree on current issues that exist.
How the Cannabis Consumer Protection Alliance Was Shaped
The coalition was informed by months of conversations with trade associations, laboratory professionals, industry operators, and legislative offices. Early feedback led to a significant reduction in the size and scope of the original memorandum to ensure clarity, accessibility, and broad participation. Advisors and contributors helped refine the coalition’s name and action plan, ensuring its focus clearly centered on consumer safety.
What Participation in CCPA Looks Like
The CCPA officially launched on January 15, 2026, beginning an initial 180-day engagement phase focused on bringing diverse industry voices into the conversation.
Participants can expect:
- Monthly email updates on progress and contributions
- Optional monthly group calls to discuss updates and next steps
- Opportunities to contribute perspective, data, feedback, or endorsements
Participation is voluntary and non-binding. Joining the CCPA does not imply endorsement of any future policy or regulatory outcome.
How to Get Involved in the Cannabis Consumer Protection Alliance
Industry stakeholders are invited to:
- Review the Cannabis Consumer Protection Alliance memorandum
- Join the CCPA as a participant
- Contribute insight, expertise, or feedback (optional)
The memo and participation details are available here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1guiZeRPA1hhC1-AGsFAGIjGhaNSOjhhRrIJy6WGJ0A8/edit
To join, participants can email their name, organization, and preferred contact information to:
adam@theplugsociety.com
About the Cannabis Consumer Protection Alliance
The Cannabis Consumer Protection Alliance is an open, education-first coalition focused on consumer safety and public health in the cannabis industry. It exists to align stakeholders on the presence of safety challenges as a prerequisite to responsible reform, without advocating for specific regulatory or legislative outcomes.
