Saphira Galoob*
Principal and CEO of The Liaison Group
Saphira Galoob is the Principal and CEO of The Liaison Group (TLG), which was the first – and remains the only – Washington, DC-based lobbying firm focused exclusively on the cannabis industry. Previously the Executive Director of NCR, Saphira is now the leading force for combining one vision, one voice, one industry with the US Cannabis Roundtable [uscr.org] (USCR), which leads federal policy initiatives for the country’s leading cannabis operators, including Cresco, Trulieve, Verano, and others. In addition to her work with NCR, Saphira serves as Executive Director of the Cannabis Financial Industry Group (CFIG), a coalition of financial institutions and risk-mitigating service providers serving the state legal cannabis industry.
A keen strategist who prioritizes transparency and collaboration, Saphira works closely with the Congressional Cannabis Caucus and federal cannabis working groups. POLITICO has selected her as Who to Know on K Street for cannabis lobbyists, and she was also named the 2020 Influencer of the Year by the Industry Power Women Awards. Her thought leadership has been featured in The Hill, Forbes, the Proud to Work in Cannabis podcast, and numerous other publications. She serves on the MJBiz Advisory Council and regularly speaks on U.S. cannabis policy at domestic and international events.
Saphira received her Juris Doctorate from the Oklahoma City University School of Law and a Master’s in International and Comparative Law (L.L.M.) from Georgetown University School of Law. She lives in the DC area with her family.
*Not a practicing attorney
Awards
Recognitions
- National Law Journal, “Cannabis Trailblazer,” 2018
Publications
Publications
- Author, “Starting 2023 SAFE and strong,” The Hill, January 5, 2023
In the News
- Quoted, “Who benefits from incremental cannabis reform?” Weed Week, March 5, 2021
- Quoted, “US marijuana reform leaders lower post-election expectations, including legalization hopes” Marijuana Business Daily, November 4, 2020
- Quoted, “How Lobbyists Broke the Logjam On Cash and Cannabis,” Politico, October 14, 2019
- Quoted, “Marijuana Banking Law Could Create New Opportunities For Main St. Investors,” Yahoo Finance, September 27, 2019
- Quoted, “Curaleaf, Surterra Among Big Spenders On Federal Marijuana Lobbying,” Marijuana Business Daily, September 5, 2019
- Quoted, “Marijuana Hearings, Reform Payments and How They Might Have An Effect On the MJ,” Weedly Update, July 29, 2019
- Quoted, “New Norman in US Congress,” Marijuana Business Daily, July 29, 2019
- Quoted, “Historic US Senate Hearing Eyes Cannabis Banking Hurdles, But Major Reform Seen As Long Shot,” Marijuana Business Daily, July 24, 2019
- Quoted, “Three Republicans Stand in the Way of Federal Weed Legalization,” 420 Magazine, July 22, 2019
- Quoted, “Three Republicans Stand in the Way of Federal Weed Legalization,” Rolling Stone, July 17, 2019
- Quoted, “The Politics of Pot,” Green Entrepreneur, June 20, 2019
- Quoted, “Charlie Crist Scores Major Win For Medical Cannabis Patients,” MJF.LA, June 14, 2019
- Quoted, “Cannabis Takes The Capitol By Storm,” MgRetailer, May 20, 2019
- Quoted, “Paypal Joins Cannabis Banking’s Lobbying Ranks in First Quarter,” Bloomberg Government, May 2, 2019
- Quoted, “Beer and Cigarette makers Join The Pot Lobbying Parade,” Politico, April 24, 2019
- Quoted, “Greenspoon Marder Unit, Squire Patton Back Pot Roundtable,” Law360, February 23, 2019
- Quoted, “Inside the Alcohol Industry’s Lobbying Blitz on Cannabis,” National Law Journal, February 13, 2019
- Quoted, “Pro-Cannabis Lawmaker Laments Shutdown: ‘We Really Did Just Get Knocked Back On Our Heels’,” The Hill, January 29, 2019
- Quoted, “$86 Billion in Additional U.S. Tax Revenues by 2025: New Frontier Data Projects Federal Cannabis Legalization Will Boost Growth Across Many Industries as 116th Congress Discusses Cannabis Policy,” GlobalNewswire,” January 28, 2019
- Quoted, “US Attorney General Nominee Will Not Target Marijuana Businesses,” Raw Story, January 15, 2019
- Quoted, “Art of the Deal: Trump Looks to Trade Cannabis Legalization for Justice Department Nominees,” Forbes, June 13, 2018
- Quoted, “Legislation Would Protect Cannabis in Legal States, Enable Banking,” Marijuana.com, June 8, 2018
- Featured, “Washington Wrap: DC Law Firms See Revenues Bloom,” The National Law Journal, May 25, 2018
- Mentioned, “Higher Law: Protecting Pot Brands | Cannabis Banking Updates,” Law.com, May 24, 2018
- Quoted, “Greenspoon Marder Acquires Cannabis Advocacy Firm,” South Florida Business Journal, May 23, 2018
- Quoted, “Greenspoon Marder Acquires DC Cannabis Lobbying Firm,” Law360, May 23, 2018
- Quoted, “Greenspoon Marder Snaps Up Pro-Pot Lobbying Group in DC,” The American Lawyer, May 23, 2018
- Featured, “Greenspoon Marder Acquires The Liaison Group,” CityBizList, May 23, 2018
- Mentioned, “Wake Up Call,” Bloomberg Law: Big Law Business, May 23, 2018
News & Videos
- ICYMI: National Cannabis Roundtable in The Hill: Starting 2023 SAFE and Strong
- Webinar: Year-End Cannabis Legislative Update
- Webinar: Cannabis Banking: Post-Election Briefing
- CANNABIS BANKING: POST-ELECTION BRIEFING
- Webinar: Cannabis Legislative Update
- Greenspoon Marder Hosts U.S. Cannabis Regulatory Update in Toronto
- Greenspoon Marder Presents the Denver Business Journal’s The Business of Cannabis: The State of the Industry
- Greenspoon Marder Supports The Cannabis Law Institute Produced by the National Cannabis Law Association in Partnership with the George Washington University Law School
