Dear NCIA Members & Supporters,

After 15 unforgettable years, I’ll be stepping down as CEO of NCIA, effective August 15.

Launching and growing this association — and serving incredible members like you — has been the defining experience of my professional life. While the decision wasn’t easy, I’ve reached a point where I’m ready to take on a new challenge focused on reducing political polarization in our country.

Upon my departure, leadership will transfer to our member-led Board of Directors, which has promoted Brooke Gilbert, our Chief Strategy Officer and a 12-year veteran of the team, to Chief Operating Officer. Brooke knows this organization inside and out, and I have complete confidence in both her and the board’s ability to guide NCIA forward.

At the Board’s invitation, I’ll continue serving as a Board member to help ensure a smooth transition, though I’ll be stepping away from day-to-day operations.

When we launched NCIA in 2010, few elected officials supported cannabis reform and our movement was still struggling to be taken seriously. Today, we represent a $40+ billion industry, most Americans live in a state with a legal adult-use market, and leaders from both parties have endorsed federal reform. NCIA now stands as the most influential advocate for the legal cannabis industry.

For my next chapter, I’ll serve as Political Director at Unite America, a cross-partisan organization focused on electoral reforms like open primaries — work that aims to foster a more functional political system capable of solving important national challenges, including outdated cannabis policy.

Thank you for the trust you’ve placed in me and NCIA over the years. I look forward to supporting its continued success from a new vantage point.

With gratitude,

Aaron Smith
Co-Founder
National Cannabis Industry Association