This week Jim chats with Sarah Mercer and Steven Stenzler from Brownstein about the recent legalization of psychedelics in Colorado as well as recent legislative trends in California, Colorado, and states in the Western U.S. more generally.

Steven Stenzler is a Policy Advisor in the Sacramento office of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck. In this role he advises on a variety of issues including housing, land-use, tax policy, and emerging technologies. Prior to joining Brownstein, Steven served as the chief of staff to the Chair of the California Assembly Banking Committee. During his tenure in the legislature, Steven was the lead staffer on a number of impactful housing measures, including bills to reform nexus studies, limit development impact fees, reorganize the state's affordable housing finance system, and a bill to establish the nation's first statewide housing data strategy. In addition, Steven worked to pass the 2019 Tenant Protection Act which limited rent increases and established just cause eviction protections for millions of renters. Prior to that, Steven filled a variety of roles in the state capitol, from district staffer to legislative director, for members from the central coast and the greater Sacramento region.

Sarah Mercer ensures clients overcome challenging and entrenched legal issues by guiding clients through the complex political landscape. She combines her litigation background with her experience navigating state and local government to develop creative political and administrative solutions for complicated legal issues. In short, Sarah helps her clients efficiently achieve their goals. She's a connector drawing on her close ties with elected officials and bureaucratic staff at all levels of local and state government to form connections and bridge relationships among diverse stakeholders.

Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck LLP is a lobbying and law firm based in the United States with 250 attorneys and policy consultants in 13 offices across the western U.S. and in Washington, D.C.

Help us grow! Leave us a rating and review - it's the best way to bring new listeners to the show. Don't forget to subscribe!

Follow The Political Life on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and Twitter for weekly updates.