Mason Tvert
Communications Adviser
1553 Platte Street
Suite 310
Denver, CO 80202
B.A., cum laude, University of Richmond
Overview
Mason Tvert serves as communications adviser for Vicente LLP, and he is a partner at the firm's policy and public affairs consulting affiliate, VS Strategies. He has been working to change public policies and public attitudes surrounding marijuana since 2005, and he has been called "The Don Draper of Pot" by Politico Magazine, "marijuana's top evangelist" by The Boston Globe, and Colorado's "top thinker" in politics and government by The Denver Post. In 2017, he was named one of the "100 Most Influential People in Cannabis" by High Times magazine.
Prior to joining VS Strategies, he served as director of communications for the Marijuana Policy Project, the nation's largest marijuana policy organization, where he managed strategic communications, media relations, and online outreach in support of its efforts to reform federal, state, and local marijuana laws. While at MPP, he co-directed the successful 2012 initiative campaign to regulate marijuana like alcohol in Colorado and worked on several other state and local campaigns, including the successful legalization initiatives in Alaska, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts. He also coordinated communications efforts that contributed to the adoption of medical cannabis and decriminalization laws in state legislatures around the country.
Previously, Mason co-founded and served as executive director of Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER), a non-profit organization that laid the groundwork for the successful legalization effort in Colorado — including two successful city initiative campaigns in Denver — and facilitated the passage of cannabis-related student referendums on more than a dozen college campuses. He is a co-author of the book, Marijuana is Safer: So why are we driving people to drink?, and he frequently appears in the media discussing marijuana policy.
Experience
- Member, Marijuana Majority Advisory Board, 2012-Present
- Founding Member, Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation (SAFER) Board of Directors, 2005-2012
- Member, SAFER Voter Education Fund Board of Directors, 2006-2012
- Member, Denver Marijuana Policy Review Panel, 2007-2011
- Founding Member, Colorado NORML Board of Directors, 2007-2008
Recognition
- High Times, "100 Most Influential People in Cannabis," 2018
- Cannabis Business Awards, "People’s Choice: Cannabis Activist of the Year," 2014
- Drug Policy Alliance, "Justice Gerald Le Dain Award for Achievement in the Field of Law," 2013
- Cannabis Business Awards, "Most Influential Individual," 2013
- High Times, "Freedom Fighter of the Year," 2012
- Cannabis Business Awards, "Most Valuable Activist," 2012
- Denver Post, "Colorado’s Top Thinker: Politics and Government," 2012
- Westword: "Reader’s Choice: Best Medical Marijuana Advocate," 2010
- High Times, "Freedom Fighter of the Month," March 2006
- High Times, "Freedom Fighter of the Month," November 2006
- NORML, "Outstanding Citizen Activism Award," 2006
In the Media
- CBS Colorado, "Recommendation to ease marijuana restrictions could have big impact on Colorado cannabis companies," September 6, 2023
- Westword, "Colorado Cannabis Leaders React to Potential Schedule III Classification," August 31, 2023
- Marijuana Moment, "SXSW Opens Voting On More Than 100 Marijuana And Psychedelics Panels For 2024 Festival," August 9, 2023
- Benzinga, "SXSW 2024’s Voting Period For 100+ Marijuana & Psychedelics Panels Is On & Upcoming Events Around The Globe – Medical Marijuana Program Connection," August 9, 2023
- DOPEMagazine, "Industry Dominates Cannabis Campaign Funding, Shift From Advocacy Groups, Individuals," January 13, 2023
- MJBizDaily, "Marijuana firms main funders of recent legalization efforts, overtaking advocacy groups," January 12, 2023
- Marijuana Moment, "VS Strategies’ Mason Tvert discussed his work in the reform movement, including helping to lead Colorado’s successful marijuana legalization campaign.," December 14, 2022
- People are the Answer, "Mason Tvert on how they legalized cannabis in Colorado," December 7, 2022
- Sky-Hi News, "Officials Mark 10 Years Since Colorado's Historic Marijuana Vote," November 12, 2022
- Necann.com, "Colorado Sold More than 13B in Cannabis Since Legalization," November 11, 2022