Marijuana Policy Project Announces Leadership Changes, Begins National Search for New Executive Director

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Marijuana Policy Project (MPP), the nation’s leading marijuana policy reform organization, has announced changes to its leadership structure, according to a press release.

Rob Kampia, who co-founded the organization in 1995, will transition to the new position of director of strategic development. Kampia will continue to serve on the two boards of directors for both MPP and MPP Foundation. The two boards made the decision last week.

“I want to thank the MPP board for dedicating sufficient resources to allow me to focus on strategy and fundraising, while liberating me from managerial duties and other responsibilities," Kampia said. “I’m looking forward to spending more time on Capitol Hill to help craft and pass the best possible legalization law nationally. I also want to focus on legalizing marijuana in three of the 10 most populous states – Texas, New York, and Michigan."

Matthew Schweich, who joined MPP as the director of state campaigns in early 2015, will serve as interim executive director as the organization searches for a permanent executive director.

“I'm honored to have served as executive director, I'm excited the board chose the person I nominated to serve as interim executive director, and I'm energized to help identify a new executive director to finish the job of ending marijuana prohibition in the U.S," Kampia said.

“This transition has been considered carefully by Rob and the board. We desired to shift Rob's workload one year ago after his intense work on the Nevada and Arizona campaigns,” said Troy Dayton, who sits on the boards of directors for MPP and MPP Foundation. “Shortly after Election Day, Rob quickly shifted gears in December to start the Michigan 2018 legalization campaign. With the Michigan signature drive now complete, it is the right time to shift Rob’s focus to new and bigger projects.”

“As the founder and leader of MPP, Rob has made enormous and unparalleled contributions to marijuana policy reform efforts across the country for over two decades,” said René Ruiz, who serves as board treasurer for both MPP and MPP Foundation. “We, as both board members and supporters of this historic movement, thank him for his years of hard work, which have yielded so much success. As a board, we agreed it was time to dedicate Rob to the crucially important tasks of high-level strategy and fundraising.”

Matthew Schweich, the newly appointed interim executive director, joined MPP in March 2015 and served as campaign director for the 2016 legalization ballot initiative campaigns in Maine, Massachusetts and Arizona. He also worked on the successful 2016 Nevada campaign.

“I saw Matthew play an integral leadership role in the legalization victories in Maine and Massachusetts last year,” said Ruiz. “He successfully managed multiple teams across the country during the 2016 election cycle, and he’s the perfect choice to guide MPP through this transition period.”

“I look forward to continuing the important work of our organization,” said Schweich. “I’ve worked closely with Rob for two-and-a-half years, and I am grateful to have his support and assistance as I chart our path forward.”

The boards for MPP and MPP Foundation will begin a national search for a permanent executive director that is expected to last approximately six months.