FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Wednesday, February 5, 2025

Contact: Violet Cavendish
vcavendish@mpp.org

Washington, D.C. — The Marijuana Policy Project (“MPP”), the nation’s leading cannabis organization, announced that Lauren Daly will join the organization as Interim Executive Director. Lauren is returning to MPP after working as a frontline fundraiser for more than a decade in impactful nonprofit organizations. 

"The Board of Directors is delighted to work with Lauren to strengthen MPP and ensure that the values and voice of the cannabis policy reform movement remains central in the critical work ahead to end prohibition in every state and the nation. Lauren's demonstrated her dedication to patients, consumers, and people who are marginalized by marijuana laws through her years of work in the movement, and we're grateful that she's bringing her skills and insights to MPP," said Betty Aldworth, Chair of the MPP Board of Directors.

Lauren first joined the cannabis movement as a volunteer in 2013 and soon after joined the MPP as a Membership Assistant. In 2014, she joined Students for Sensible Drug Policy (“SSDP”) and became the organization’s first Development Director, leading fundraising efforts during one of the largest growth periods in SSDP’s history. In 2020, she became a Development Officer for the American Civil Liberties Union of the District of Columbia, where played a key role in steering ACLU-DC’s fundraising strategy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Most recently, she managed a multi-million dollar portfolio of donors at Brown University. 

“I'm thrilled to be back at MPP and am looking forward to serving the organization during this interim period. There’s much more work to be done as we continue our efforts to end cannabis prohibition. With a talented, driven staff and a proven strategy for achieving meaningful reforms, MPP is well-positioned for success in 2025 and beyond. I’m honored to be part of this organization,” said Lauren Daly, MPP’s new interim executive director.

In 2025, MPP is focused on legalizing and regulating cannabis via the state legislatures in Hawaii, Louisiana, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania; working with local allies to pass medical cannabis laws in the remaining states without medical cannabis programs; protecting and expanding access in Nebraska and the 38 other states with existing medical programs; and advancing federal cannabis reforms.

"For thirty years, MPP has been the leader on state-level cannabis reforms. This year, we’ve set our sights on advancing cannabis reform opportunities in key states and re-prioritizing our efforts at the federal level. We look forward to working together with allies to maximize pressure for full federal legalization," said Daly.

Current Interim Executive Director Matthew Schweich, who has led the organization since the summer of 2023, will revert to his role of Deputy Director.

“I’m very excited to hand the reins to Lauren and lend whatever assistance I can as she leads MPP into its next chapter,” said Schweich.

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Founded in 1995, the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) is the nation’s leading cannabis policy reform organization. MPP has played a central role in passing dozens of cannabis policy reforms in states across the country, including 14 successful cannabis legalization campaigns, and also works to advance federal reforms.

Visit www.mpp.org for more information.