A lifelong Ohioan, Congressman Joyce has dedicated his life to public service. After graduating with his Juris Doctorate from the University of Dayton, Congressman Joyce worked as a public defender before being elected as Geauga County Prosecutor—a position he held for nearly 25 years.

In November of 2012, Congressman Joyce was elected to represent the 14^th District of Ohio in the U.S. House of Representatives and is currently serving his sixth term. Since coming to Congress, Congressman Joyce has been committed to enacting sensible cannabis reform. As a Republican co-chair of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus, he has introduced numerous pieces of hallmark cannabis reform legislation. In 2018, he introduced the STATES Act, the first bipartisan, bicameral bill to prevent federal interference with states that had legalized marijuana. In 2021, he introduced the Common Sense Cannabis Reform Act, the first Republican bill to end federal prohibition—and the first and only bipartisan one to call for federal regulation—and the HOPE Act, a bipartisan bill to help states with expunging cannabis offenses by reducing the financial burden through federal grants. In 2022, he introduced the PREPARE Act alongside Minority Leader Hakeem Jefferies to create a fair and publicly transparent process for the federal government to establish effective regulation to be enacted upon the termination of its 85-year prohibition of cannabis. Most recently, he re-introduced the SAFE Banking Act in 2023, to ensure that legal cannabis businesses have access to critical banking and financial services.

Congressman Joyce is a senior leader on the House Appropriations Committee where he secured and enacted into law the only federal programming to allow for the cost of state and local cannabis expungements, as well as novel language to protect tribal authority in regard to cannabis. Most recently, he secured language in the House-passed appropriations bill that prevents the VA from interfering with a veteran’s ability to participate in a state medical cannabis program. Congressman Joyce also serves on the House Ethics Committee.

Congressman Joyce remains committed to remedying the consequences of the war on cannabis and has become unwavering in the necessity for sensible federal regulations that address the individual needs of each state, while simultaneously guaranteeing products that are reliable and safe for consumption.

To learn more about Congressman Joyce, who was recently named one of the most effective and bipartisan lawmakers in Congress, visit https://joyce.house.gov/.