Help NCIA’s Inclusion Initiative Expand in 2016

Congratulations and thank you for a great 2015.

NCIA’s Inclusion Initiative, headed up by our Minority Business Council (NCIA-MBC), had a good start this year, and we were able to make a difference for dozens of people in the cannabis industry or working to enter the industry. Considering the Council had its first formal meeting only seven months ago, we have achieved a great deal in raising awareness and beginning to take on the mandate of creating a more inclusive industry.

We also have a good start to 2016. We’ve added an Inclusion Initiative contribution option to the registration forms for the 2016 Cannabis Business Summit and have already begun building up the scholarship fund.

But we can never rest on our laurels, and the expectations of the industry are great. There is talk about what else we can do to help promote inclusion in this industry, and now is the time to start the discussion.

The next meeting of the NCIA-MBC will be a planning meeting at 2pm MT on Tuesday, January 19th. To join the meeting, simply call in to the conference call line at (303) 416-5167. (No PIN is necessary.)

With this meeting, we’ll seek to get a little more formal in our efforts. The goal is to establish a representative committee and meeting structure to ensure we are at the forward edge of our work and that what needs to be done is getting done.

In an effort to continue the development of this initiative and grow the opportunities for those who face barriers within the industry, we are putting forward the notion of creating a more formal structure – guiding the development of the NCIA Inclusion Initiative by expanding the Minority Business Council and establishing a less formal advisory committee as well.

Therefore, we seek your input into two areas:

Please review the proposed rules for serving on the NCIA Minority Business Council. Then let us know if you would like to serve on the Council under these rules or would like to stay or become involved with the Inclusion Initiative through the less formal advisory committee.

Proposed Requirements for NCIA Minority Business Council (MBC) Members

  • Council members must be employees of NCIA member-businesses
  • Council chair must be a member of the NCIA Board of Directors and thus report to and from MBC
  • Chair and Vice chair are elected by the Council members
  • Secretary is appointed from NCIA staff
  • Only one person from any given member-business can serve on the Council (but there is no limit to how many people from a business can serve on the advisory committee)
  • Council members must be able to attend at least 3 in-person meetings and 3 telephone meetings during a calendar year
  • Council members must commit to a minimum financial contribution to MBC activities (examples: scholarship pledges, in-kind donations, etc.), exact amount to be determined by the Council at an affordable level to all

We believe the optimal number of people on the Council would be about 12, so we are looking for 12 strong volunteers who have a point-of-view and are eager to contribute on these critical issues.

If you own or are employed at an NCIA member-business, please feel free to nominate yourself for the Council. We also welcome your recommendations for others for us to follow through on and ensure we have the best recruits we can get.

Even if you are not part of an NCIA member-business, we invite you to join the advisory committee for NCIA’s Inclusion Initiative. On this advisory committee, you will be invited to every meeting and kept fully informed of action and activities, as well as have direct input into the Council and the Inclusion Initiative.

Please let us know of your involvement and interest before January 11th, so we can schedule a meeting and put structure in place for fuller development.

And as we head into 2016, we invite you to suggest and share resources for the Inclusion Initiative page on NCIA’s website, so that we can build it into a helpful presence for those looking for industry support and knowledge.

Thank you for your interest in the Minority Business Council and NCIA’s Inclusion Initiative. We look forward to expanding and building upon the success of 2015!

NCIA’s Minority Business Council:
Robert Van Roo, Palm Springs Safe Access
Joshua Littlejohn, Accannadations LLC
Dr. Lakisha Jenkins, Kiona T. Jenkins Foundation for Natural Health
Luke Ramirez, Walking Raven LLC

Appropriations Pros and Cons in 2015 for Cannabis

by Michelle Rutter, Government Relations Coordinator

Every year, Congress must pass appropriations legislation to fund the government for the upcoming fiscal year. This annual funding bill has been one of the only avenues by which pro-cannabis reform language can be inserted into the federal budget, due to Congress’ inability to pass meaningful stand-alone legislation addressing the legal cannabis industry.

This year, two riders were included in the budget bill pertaining to cannabis. The first, known as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, bans the Department of Justice from spending money to prevent the implementation of state-level medical cannabis programs, in addition to removing funding for federal medical cannabis raids, arrests, and prosecutions in states where medical cannabis is legal. When debated on the House floor this summer, the vote count increased from 219-189 in 2014 to 242-186 this year, with 67 Republicans voting ‘Yes.’ The Rohrabacher-Farr language was included in the final budget bill for the second year in a row, which is a promising sign of progress in Washington, D.C.

A rider known as the Bonamici-Massie amendment, which prevents the DEA from intervening with state-sanctioned and legal hemp, was also included in the final budget package. This section blocks federal money from being used to prevent states from allowing the use, distribution, possession, or cultivation of industrial hemp. It’s important to note that although this progress is promising, the DEA has ignored appropriations language pertaining to cannabis in years prior.

There were other commonsense policy reforms related to cannabis, which were proposed and added to earlier versions of the budget package, but which unfortunately did not make it into the final bill. A crucial example was a provision which would have prevented the Treasury Department from punishing banks that work with legitimate marijuana-related businesses. Another would have allowed Veterans Affairs (VA) doctors to recommend medical cannabis to veterans without fear of retaliation or punishment, and would have also prevented the VA from denying services to any veteran who is a medical marijuana patient.

An additional disappointment in the final budget package was the continuation of language from the previous year which blocks the adult-use sale and purchase of cannabis in Washington, D.C.

It’s important to remember that these appropriations amendments only protect states’ medical cannabis and hemp laws for the upcoming fiscal year and have to be re-included and voted on every year. While this progress is encouraging, it falls short of achieving our goals. NCIA will continue lobbying on behalf of the cannabis industry to achieve the substantive and lasting reforms that our businesses deserve.

Member Spotlight: Cannabis Basics

To kick off 2016, we speak with Ah Warner of Cannabis Basics, whose company saw a landmark year in cannabis policies in her state of Washington. She also recently won ‘Best Topical Brand’ at the 2015 Dope Industry Awards in Washington. Many in the industry and movement look up to her involvement in both her community and her direct activism, setting a tone for others looking to create a successful and responsible business in the cannabis industry.  

cannabis-basics-logo-2015Cannabis Industry Sector:

Cannabis-Infused Products

NCIA Member Since:

February 2013

How do you uniquely serve the cannabis industry?

We are dedicated to true whole genus cannabis topical therapy.

Cannabis Creations, now Cannabis Basics, was founded in 1995. Back in those days, there were many hemp body care manufacturers working with hempseed oil because of its amazing nutritive value for skin care. Today there are a host of cannabis topical producers that focus on cannabinoids from the plant and also CBD-derivatives from hemp that speak to our CB2 receptors. Cannabis Basics is this rare and beautiful place where the essential fatty acids and anti-inflammatory properties of hempseed oil and the multiple cannabinoids and terpenoids from cannabis are blended together with an arsenal of other botanical constituents to provide natural localized therapy for symptoms brought on by a myriad of conditions.

Why should customers seeking cannabis-infused topical products use Cannabis Basics?

ah-in-labWe never use animal products, man-made fragrance oils, or chemical preservatives. We buy locally and organically whenever possible. Supporting Cannabis Basics is also activism because it enables us to continue to work for the betterment of our industry and community as a whole.

Still working!

You achieved two important milestones in the cannabis industry this year: You secured one of the first U.S. cannabis trademarks, as well as achieving passage of the Cannabis Health and Beauty Aid Exemption. Tell us about that.

On August 25th, 2015, the USPTO awarded Cannabis Basics the first federal registration to a brand/logo displaying both the leaf and the word “cannabis” representing an actual product that contains cannabis, not a service or institution. Cannabis Basics has two distinct lines, one that contains cannabis (industrial hempseed oil) that can be sold anywhere in the world, and the other that contains cannabis (I.H. and multiple cannabinoids including THC) sold only in the state of Washington.

It is important to note that the USPTO did not award federal registration based on my cannabinoid line of products. Federal protection was awarded for my cannabis industrial hemp products however, and due to same branding, will by default provide protection to the entire Cannabis Basics family of products.

ah-with-senatorWhat started out as stand-alone sister bills with bipartisan support actually passed on June 30th as Section 7 of HB 2136, an I-502 tax fixer bill, and was signed into law by Governor Enslee. This law was enacted on July 1st, 2015, and is the first of its kind in the country. The CHABA law defines Cannabis Health and Beauty Aids for the first time in our legal lexicon as “cannabis products for topical use only, non-intoxicating and contains less than .3% THC.” It defines these products as not marijuana and allows for them to be sold to any mainstream retailer in the state of Washington, i.e., any health food stores, salons, or spas. The much larger significance of this new law is that it is the first removal of anything cannabis from the Washington State Controlled Substances Act.

I would be remiss if I did not take this platform to thank all the legislators who played a part in moving CHABA through Olympia, especially Washington State’s Cannabis Champion Senator Jeanne Kohl-Welles and my co-author/policy advisor Kari Boiter. The state of Washington and anyone who uses or produces CHABA are forever in your debt.        

Why did you join NCIA?

Our goal at Cannabis Basics is to make Cannabis Health and Beauty Aids accessible to all health-conscious consumers everywhere in the U.S. and to be able to export to any country that is interested in importing these types of products. Being a member of NCIA has given me access to the movers, shakers, and policy-makers so that I may work efficiently at this ultimate goal.

Contact:
Website
Facebook

NCIA Member Posts Year in Review

2015 has been a great year of growth and learning within our industry. Our members are invited to submit their guest blog posts throughout the year to share their wisdom and insight with our membership and followers. Today we look back at the year in Guest Posts. Did you miss any the first time around? Check them out here.

NCIA Staff Picks:

The National Cannabis Industry Association's 5th Annual Lobby Days in Washington, D.C.
The National Cannabis Industry Association’s 5th Annual Lobby Days in Washington, D.C.

Legislation, Rule-Making, and the Necessity to be a Unified Industry – October 7
By John Davis, Northwest Patient Resource Center

The Common Ground Between Advocacy and Business in the Cannabis Industry – March 2
By Adam Bierman, MedMen

Redefining the Business Battlefield: The Case for Boutique Cannabis – August 5
By Travis Howard, Shift Cannabis Co.

Regulating Marijuana: What Direction for FDA? – August 3
By Steve Goldner, Regulatory Affairs Associates

The ABC’s of CBD Claims – July 2
By Shawn Hauser, Vicente Sederberg

Year in Review

January

Tax Time – Using an LLC To Minimize Section 280E Selling Costs
By Luigi Zamarra, CPA

Banking Access – The Struggle Is Real for CannaBusiness Owners
By Luke Ramirez, Walking Raven LLC

February

Illinois Cannabis Businesses – Guidelines for Compliance with Illinois Employment Laws
By Jennifer Adams Murphy, Esq., and Ryan Helgeson, Esq., Wessels Sherman

Managing Your Talent – Your Greatest Asset!
By Carole Richter, CRichter ~ HR Consulting

March

Work and Well-Being in the Cannabis Industry
By Kevin M. Walters, Colorado State University

Women, Cannabis, and Self-Esteem
By Meghan Walstatter, PureGreen PDX

Best Practices for Interviewing Candidates in the Cannabis Industry
By Kara Bradford, Viridian Staffing

May

Top 6 Reasons to Hire a Dedicated Cannabis Marketing Agency for Your Business
By Kurt Whitt, Studio 420

Marijuana Millions – The Road Map to Your Success, Part 1
By Alexa Divett, Maya Media Collective, LLC

June

Marijuana Millions – The Road Map to Your Success, Part 2
By Alexa Divett, Maya Media Collective, LLC

July

THC – The Illusion of Its Value
By Rowshan Reordan, Green Leaf Lab

August

Favorable IRS Ruling – State Excise Tax May Escape 280E Treatment
By Luigi Zamarra, CPA

September

Growing Pains in Michigan
By Matthew Abel, Cannabis Counsel P.L.C.

The Potential of Brand Loyalty
By Patrick Hayden, Brightfield Group, LLC

Deal for Regulations Passes California Legislature
By Nate Bradley, Executive Director of California Cannabis Industry Association

October

Raising Money 101 – What’s an Offer and Why Does it Matter?
By Charles Alovisetti, Vicente Sederberg LLC

November

NCIA Board Chair Reflects on the Past Five Years
By Jaime Lewis, Mountain Medicine


Are you interested in submitting a guest blog post for NCIA’s website? Please reach out to Bethany Moore by emailing bethany@thecannabisindustry.org to propose your topic. 

 

Announcing the Quarterly Cannabis Caucus Event Series

Wow, where does the time go? The end of 2015 is in sight and 2016 is fast approaching! As per usual, these past 12 months made for another landmark year for our industry where we saw enormous growth across all sectors, as well as witnessed notable legislative victories in the House and the historic first-time introduction of cannabis-specific legislation in the Senate. We continue to see increased activity and support for our issues in D.C., due in no small part to our increasingly prominent voice within the halls of Congress, spearheaded by the work NCIA is doing with your support.

Take a look at a year’s worth of legislative highlights with our Year-in-Review timeline here.

Now, we are excited to announce that starting in January, we’ll be debuting a new nationwide event series! NCIA’s Quarterly Cannabis Caucuses will be held in the cannabis industry’s 12 most active regions, on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the first month of each new quarter. The exact date will vary depending on your region, and you can view the full list of dates and locations here. The schedule for the first quarter will be:

  • Oregon Cannabis Caucus – Portland, OR – Tuesday, January 12 – REGISTER NOW
  • Mid-Atlantic Cannabis Caucus – Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, January 12 – REGISTER NOW
  • Northeast Cannabis Caucus – Boston, MA – Thursday, January 14 – REGISTER NOW
  • Florida Cannabis Caucus – Orlando, FL – Thursday, January 14 – REGISTER NOW
  • Midwest Cannabis Caucus – Chicago, IL – Tuesday, January 19 – REGISTER NOW
  • Tri-State Cannabis Caucus – New York, NY – Tuesday, January 19 – REGISTER NOW
  • Colorado Cannabis Caucus – Denver, CO – Thursday, January 21 – REGISTER NOW
  • Southwest Cannabis Caucus – Phoenix, AZ – Thursday, January 21 – REGISTER NOW
  • Nevada Cannabis Caucus – Las Vegas, NV – Tuesday, January 26 – REGISTER NOW
  • So. California Cannabis Caucus – Los Angeles, CA – Tuesday, January 26 – REGISTER NOW
  • No. California Cannabis Caucus – San Francisco, CA – Thursday, January 28 – REGISTER NOW
  • Washington Cannabis Caucus – Seattle, WA – Thursday, January 28 – REGISTER NOW

As NCIA heads into our sixth year of operation, we’re committed to growing and evolving our work to provide increased value to our members and reflect our unique position with the industry. The Quarterly Cannabis Caucuses have been designed to provide the quality and consistent programming you’ve come to expect from NCIA events, while also preparing you and your business to contribute to our legislative efforts on the national level.

You and your team will leave each Cannabis Caucus equipped with the tools to affect positive change on cannabis issues while making meaningful connections with vested industry players. Each Caucus will be free of charge for current NCIA members and include an in-depth federal policy update from senior NCIA staff or staff from a district congressional office, a comprehensive state and local policy update from a local elected official or a member of NCIA, an informational packet filled with detailed legislative analysis and recent federal policy developments, and an organizational update so you can keep up to date with what NCIA is doing for you. All of this will be offered as well as the opportunity to network with the leaders in the cannabis industry.

The Caucus also serves as an opportunity for our members to share their ideas and concerns with NCIA, which is committed to serving the industry in the best way possible

As the only national trade association representing cannabis business owners on Capitol Hill, we are your voice within the halls of Congress on a daily basis. We take this responsibility seriously and by holding these quarterly member meetings, we hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to make your own voice heard within our ranks as well.

Every day it seems a new event is popping up, vying for your time, money, and focus. We here at NCIA know that our members’ time is one of their most valued assets, so we’ve created this event series to pack maximum information, value, and member benefit into a regular quarterly meet-up.

Start 2016 off right! Register yourself and your colleagues for an upcoming Quarterly Cannabis Caucus near you today!

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Do you have questions regarding the upcoming Quarterly Cannabis Caucus in your area or others across the country? Reach out to events@thecannabisindustry.org any time with your questions, comments, or concerns.

Interested in sponsoring one or a series of events in a particular region throughout the year in order to gain valuable exposure for your company to our nationwide network of established business owners? Please contact Brian Gilbert at brian@thecannabisindustry.org for more information on series rates and associated discounts for packages including NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit 2016, taking place in Oakland, CA, June 20-22.

Video Newsletter: Why NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit is 2016’s Can’t-Miss Event

NCIA’s 3rd annual Cannabis Business Summit is 2016’s can’t-miss event for cannabis industry professionals. But don’t take our word for it! Hear some of the industry’s most successful businesses – including Funksac, The Capsule Consulting Group, Harborside Health Center, Medicine Man, Cannabis Trainers, and more – explain why the Cannabis Business Summit is at the top of their event list.

 

Then purchase your Members-Only Early Bird tickets by December 18 to save $380 off the regular price!
Not yet an NCIA member? Add a one-year membership to your ticket purchase to get the early bird discount AND $50 off your member dues!

Register today and we’ll see you in Oakland, June 20-22, 2016!

expodec18

 

Timeline: 2015 Legislative Year in Review

by Michelle Rutter, Government Relations Coordinator

As we look forward to 2016, there’s much on the horizon for the cannabis industry. NCIA remains dedicated in its effort to pass banking and tax legislation through Congress that would provide immediate relief to cannabis-related businesses all over the country.

In addition to the federal advocacy that NCIA engages in every day, there will be at least five states seeking to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis via the ballot initiative process: Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada. It’s also likely that Florida will have another ballot initiative relating to medical cannabis, and it’s possible that other states will move forward with cannabis reform through ballot initiatives or legislative processes. What happens over the next twelve months will be crucial in shaping the future of the legitimate and responsible cannabis industry.

While 2015 was a milestone year for cannabis reform, that same momentum will be necessary in order to continue moving the conversation forward with Congress in Washington, D.C. The Rohrabacher-Farr medical cannabis amendment earned more that 60 Republicans votes. For the first time ever, there are multiple pro-cannabis bills that have been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Continued progress is vital in garnering more national support for cannabis reform, so make sure your interests are heard through national advocacy, education, and community with NCIA.

The timeline below lays out some of the highlights from a busy year in cannabis industry advocacy. We look forward to more exciting milestones with your help in 2016!

*Click on the “Full Screen” button (with the four arrows) at the bottom of the image to expand its size. 

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