D.C. UPDATE: The November Election, What Comes Next, and Welcoming a New Staffer
By Michael Correia, NCIA Director of Government Affairs
As we come up on Halloween, I can’t think of a more fitting holiday to give a DC update (as most things coming out of Congress tends to scare us all!)
The election is just around the corner and, in addition to determining the make-up of Congress, there are four very important marijuana ballot initiatives voters will be deciding on. Voters in Alaska, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. will be voting on some form of an adult-use, tax-and-regulate structure (similar to Colorado), and Florida voters will decide on legalizing medicinal marijuana. The passage of all four, in addition to being positive developments in the states, would certainly help our work in D.C. Members of Congress are self-interested and they care about their states and their districts. When more states legalize marijuana, it makes my job easier, as it forces more members of Congress to address the issue.
After the election, Congress will come back for a very short (two week) “lame-duck” session. In that time, they will vote on party leadership posts and determine committee chairs, in addition to funding the government. Because the two issues NCIA members care most about are 280E tax reform and resolving the banking issue, the committees of jurisdiction in the House are the Ways and Means Committee and the Financial Services Committee. In the House, it’s a near certainty Republicans will stay in control; so for Ways and Means, it’s looking like Congressman Paul Ryan of Wisconsin will be Chair, and for Financial Services, it’s looking like Congressman Jeb Hensarling of Texas will be Chair (although both will be challenged by other members). Neither of them have been supporters of marijuana policy reform in the past and have voted in opposition to our amendments when they were on the House Floor earlier this year.
Control of the Senate is still up in the air, and it will come down to 3 competitive seats. The results should be known soon after polling places close, but in Louisiana, if no candidate receives over 50%, then a run off election is held in December. So it is conceivable that control of the Senate may not be determined until December 7. Exciting times indeed! The committees of jurisdiction in the Senate are the Banking Committee and the Finance Committee, and Senate Chairmen are picked based on Committee seniority.
Halloween also happens to be my one-year anniversary with NCIA! And what a year it’s been. I feel as if so much has been done in the past year, but there is so much more to do. I look forward to the upcoming year and am even happier to say that our DC operation is expanding. NCIA has hired Michelle Rutter as our new government affairs coordinator. Having her on board will make me more efficient and effective in my job and will allow me to focus more on strategy, fundraising, advocacy, and taking NCIA to new levels.
Prior to working for NCIA, Michelle was a Research Analyst at a government affairs firm in Washington, DC, where she analyzed and tracked legislation on numerous issues. Michelle graduated from James Madison University in 2012, receiving her Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science with a minor in History. During her studies, she held a year-long internship with Virginia House of Delegates member Tony Wilt. There, she communicated with constituents, businesses, and government officials alike, facilitating meaningful conversations. Michelle was also a member of a pre-law fraternity where she planned events and hosted social functions that sought to encourage long-lasting professional and personal relationships with members. A native Virginian, Michelle currently resides in the Washington, DC, suburb of Alexandria, VA.
MONDAY NIGHT: U.S. Reps. Jared Polis & Dina Titus Join NCIA Members for Denver Reception
We are pleased to announce that Congressman Jared Polis (D-CO) and Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-NV) will be joining NCIA’s pre-conference cocktail reception on Monday, October 27, during our Infused Product & Extraction Symposium in Denver! The reception is open to all registered attendees of the symposium, and in appreciation for our members’ support throughout the year, it is also open to all NCIA members, even if you’re unable to attend the full symposium!
Congressman Polis and Congresswoman Titus will be in attendance to learn more about the problems facing the industry from those directly involved and share updates on the legislative landscape surrounding cannabis in their respective states.
The reception will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 p.m. at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center in Denver and is only open to NCIA members, their invited guests, and registered attendees of the Infused Product & Extraction Symposium. Each NCIA member business may send up to two representatives or guests to the reception at no cost; additional guests of members will be admitted for $40 each.
Light appetizers and a hosted bar will be provided by NCIA.
Colorado Member Reception
at
Infused Product & Extraction Symposium
Monday, October 27 – 6:00-9:00 p.m.
Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center
Denver, CO
If you are a member of NCIA, we hope you’ll join your fellow industry leaders for this complimentary event to connect you with cannabusiness professionals while learning more about the work NCIA is doing on your behalf in Washington, DC.
If your business is not yet a member of the cannabis industry’s trade association, you can join online now and then register for the event for free.
ARE SINGLE-SERVING EDIBLES THE HOTTEST TREND IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY?
The big news coming out of the cannabis industry this week is the rise of single-serving edibles and infused products aimed at new marijuana users, many of whom choose edibles over more traditional methods like smoking.
A national Associated Press story highlighted the “Rookie Cookie” from The Growing Kitchen as well as the new Dixie One Watermelon Cream soda from Dixie Elixirs. Each of these products boasts a modest 10mg and 5mg dose respectively and are marketed at new customers who are interested in trying edibles but who may lack the experience to properly dose the product themselves.
According to Taylor West, Deputy Director of the National Cannabis Industry Association, this is just good business given the shifting market.
“This is a great example of how a legal, regulated market can help address some of the concerns we’ve seen in terms of edibles. From new cannabis customers to medical patients, consumers exist all along the spectrum. It’s simply smart business to create products that serve a diverse market.”
Indeed, new statistics seem to back up that claim. For the second month in a row, adult-use sales figures have exceeded medical in Colorado and the trend only seems to be growing. Tourism is also playing a role. A recent market study released by the State of Colorado estimated that 40% of consumers in Denver are tourists. In ski towns, that figure jumps to 90%.
When things change as fast as they do in the cannabis industry, it pays to stay ahead of the curve. Sign up today for the Infused Products and Extraction Symposium on October 27-29 in Denver to gain insight and network with leading industry experts and businesspeople.
Android Jones joins the Cannabis Revolution!
As we approach Vive la Révolution!, our fourth anniversary banquet being held next month, we are thrilled to announce that a very special guest will be joining us for the evening!
Android Jones, world renowned “trans-dimensional artist” specializing in digital mediums, will be providing otherworldly visuals to accompany the music of Erothyme. He will be creating an array of beautiful digital landscapes in the moment to compliment the musical journey while incorporating our message to inspire attendees. Keep reading to learn more about his biography, his massive and varied catalog of work, and details on a very special surprise from Android Jones to commemorate the evening!
If you are unfamiliar with Android Jones’s work, start your journey down the digital rabbit hole by watching this video of his very moving collaboration with the Oceanic Preservation Society, projected onto the United Nations Headquarters in New York City during the UN Secretary-General’s Climate Summit last month.
Android Jones is at the forefront of the trans-dimensional art movement. His body of work aims to emphasize creativity as the foundation of consciousness and an agent of social change. Moving beyond the traditional organic vegetable and animal technologies of pencils, ink, and brushes, Android develops latent possibilities within software programs such as Painter, Photoshop, ZBrush, and Alchemy, discovering new combinations and uses for tools that exceed the original intentions of their programmers.
Viewing the digital domain as a medium of energy and light capable of expanding the nature of reality, Android’s art encourages others to explore the potential interfaces of mind and machine in this time of accelerating change and increasing novelty.
Android Jones will be performing live during the musical portion of our program in addition to creating a unique piece of art throughout the evening to commemorate this special occasion. View highlights from one of his entirely unique live visual performances below at the Sydney Opera House as part of the grand finale of the YouTube Symphony Orchestra event in 2011.
Trust us, you don’t want to miss out on celebrating this incredible year of growth and progress for the cannabis industry while helping to raise funds for our only national trade association. Vive la Révolution! is being held at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel and Casino. Admission includes a three-course plated dinner, a hosted bar, and a few special commemorative gifts from NCIA and our sponsors, in addition to this enchanting entertainment.
Vive la Révolution! – NCIA’s Anniversary Banquet
Celebrating Four Years of Advocacy, Education & Community
Sponsorships still available for this event but are quickly selling out! Contact us for more information now at events@thecannabisindustry.org!
Members who commemorate our anniversary with a $700 gift to NCIA will be listed as “Friends of the Industry” in our event program given to all banquet attendees and are eligible for a $100 discount on up to two tickets each. Contact us at events@thecannabisindustry.org or (888) 683-5650 to make a contribution that will help us start 2015 off in the best position possible as we work on your behalf. The program listing is only available to current NCIA members. Huge thanks to all of our sponsors listed below who are helping make this event and our next year of success possible!
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsors
Bronze Sponsors
Host Sponsor
Friends of the Industry
4-Front Ventures
American Cannabis Enterprises
Americann
Auntie Dolores
Berkeley Patients Group
Blum Oakland
California Growers Guild
Cannabismedecina.org
Cassandra, Queen Hecuba of Troy
CBCB
Cobalt LLP
CW Analytical Laboratories
Dixie Elixirs & Edibles
Freedom Enterprises
Gardening Unlimited
Goodwin Proctor LLP
Greenbridge Corporate Counsel
Harborside Health Center
Henry G. Wykowski & Associates
Illinois Cannabis Industry Association
Island Breeze Systems
MANTIS Ad Network
MedCanna Consulting
Medicine Man Technologies
Robert Raich, Attorney at Law
Rocky Mountain Business Products
Steep Hill Halent Labs
Venice Cookie Company
“In reality, change happens one person at a time on an individual basis. Art has the power to inspire change by making the invisible visible. We understand it takes more than a light show to change the world, but I believe we each have the power to change the version of ourselves and how we choose to interact with the world. Art can illuminate and reflect the truth of our actions.” — Android Jones
Guest Post: Child-Resistant Marijuana Packaging – Better Safe Than Sorry
While the legislative landscape in the cannabis industry continues to evolve both locally and nationally, one element that seems consistent is the need for producers and marketers of cannabis-related products to act responsibly in protecting children from unintended access to their products, and for good reason. Though less likely that a child under the age of five would have the desire or wherewithal to consume a harmful quantity of a floral-based product, the compelling nature of some of the edible offerings such as candies and cookies makes the likelihood not a matter of if, but when. And considering the potential liability, purveyors of such products would be wise to take every precaution as it relates to packaging.
Child-resistant packaging dates back to 1970 when after a series of accidental overdoses, Congress passed the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 and along with it, specific protocol testing to validate the functionality of child-resistant (CR) packaging. As time evolved, additional products deemed dangerous to children such as insecticides and pesticides were also added, and in 1995, the protocol testing was modified to include a ‘senior-citizen component’ as many of them found current forms of CR packaging difficult to open. When considered along with the oversight from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the governing body for determining what requires CR packaging, this legislation has served both industry and citizenry effectively since inception.
It is well documented that when Colorado began offering recreational marijuana products, there were few packages well-suited for the industry, and while a number of new offerings are in development, many products are currently packaged in the least expensive container and with some dubious CR performance or unverified claims of meeting CPSC guidelines. Indeed Colorado has put forth guidance on the requirements for the market, but prudent producers of cannabis products, especially edibles, would be wise to make purchase decisions based on the true protection the packaging affords and not on price alone. Sooner or later, it would seem, an incident will take place where this very issue will take center stage, and based on our considerable expertise in the packaging arena, we think it to your advantage to be able to demonstrate that balanced judgment (price vs. protection) and proven components were considered when choosing a CR package. Presuming this choice was made well, being able to cite components similar if not identical to those used by the ethical pharmaceutical industry should go a long way to demonstrate reasonable consideration was in fact used to protect the product from accidental ingestion by a child.
A quote often noted by the CPSC is that “child-resistant packaging is not child-proof packaging and as such the components should be considered the last line of defense.”
Scott Simpson is Vice President at TricorBraun XpressPak, a Sponsoring level member of NCIA since July 2014, based in St. Louis, MO, with an office in Aurora, CO. TricorBraun, launched in 1902, has grown to become a leading source of rigid packaging and related services, and has extensive experience in this packaging segment and offers assistance to NCIA members in evaluating options for current or future packages.
Join the Marijuana-Infused Product & Extraction Revolution!
The field of cannabis extraction and marijuana-infused products has quickly emerged as one of the fastest-growing and most consistently innovative sectors of the cannabis industry. It’s also become one of the most scrutinized and highly regulated. NCIA wants to help you capitalize on the infused product revolution while staying committed to the best, most responsible practices and highest quality products.
That’s why we’re hosting our first-ever Infused Product & Extraction Symposium at the Hyatt Regency Denver Tech Center in Denver, CO, from October 27 to October 29. There will be no better opportunity for industry professionals, entrepreneurs, and newcomers alike to learn about best practices and cutting-edge technologies in this booming field.
Haven’t gotten your tickets yet? Lucky for you, we’ve compiled this short summary of who should attend and why to help make your decision a little easier!
Who Should Attend?
Infused product manufacturers
Extraction scientists and business pros
Investors & entrepreneurs
Experienced dispensary owners & operators
Attorneys & legal experts
Industry consultants
Policymakers and regulators
Why Should You Attend?
Gain insight into the rule-making process around infused products regulations from industry leaders who are directly involved.
Julie will be speaking on the “Intellectual Property, Labeling, & Branding” panel on Tuesday, October 28 from 1:00-1:45 p.m.
Receive unparalleled access to thought leaders with advice on maintaining and establishing a legitimate business within the infused products & extraction sector.
You can register for a ServSafe® Food Handler workshop taking place on Wednesday, October 29 from 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m when you register for the symposium.
Take a guided tour of two of Colorado’s premier infused product & extraction manufacturing facilities.
We are offering tours of both Dixie Elixirs and Auntie Dolores state-of-the-art production facilities located in Denver on Wednesday, October 29 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and 1:15 to 4:15 p.m.
The morning tour is already sold-out so register now to reserve your spot!
You don’t need anymore convincing, do you? Well, just in case, we are happy to tell you that all NCIA members get a $150 discount on registration! Not a member of NCIA yet? Don’t worry! You can join today starting at the low cost of $100 a month or $1000 a year. Don’t miss this opportunity to join the first national event dedicated to infused products, while supporting the growth of a legitimate cannabis industry on the national level.
Register today for this great opportunity to connect with fellow industry leaders while learning about best practices for operating a responsible and successful infused product or cannabis extraction business.
NCIA Member Profile: The Om of Medicine
NCIA recently had a chat with Mark Passerini, co-founder of Om of Medicine, a provisioning center and non-profit organization in Ann Arbor, Michigan, founded to assist their members in safely and securely obtaining medical cannabis in accordance with the Michigan Marihuana Act of 2008.
Mark Passerini, co-founder of Om of Medicine
Cannabis Industry Sector:
Medical Cannabis Provider
NCIA Member Since:
2013
How do you uniquely serve the cannabis industry?
The Om of Medicine uniquely serves the cannabis industry by offering a state-of-the-art members-only facility that provides an unparalleled experience of service, amenities, and information/education pertaining to all things cannabis. Located in downtown Ann Arbor, Om is where the art is, providing a place for local artists to display and make their work available for purchase. Om is a major participant in the Michigan medical cannabis movement by following and supporting local and state political issues affecting cannabis laws, lobbying on behalf of patients, as well as educating through social media. In a broader sense, the Om of Medicine is a cannabis headquarters for the community by staying up-to-date on new research, informing patients on political issues that require action, and by offering seminars from leading experts in the field. We offer a safe, enjoyable, and inspiring experience for our patients supplemented by free comedy shows, cultivation classes, political activism workshops, guest lectures, and much much more. The Om of Medicine is deeply committed to environmental responsibility and has implemented a robust sustainability action plan for the past four years of the facility’s operation. This commitment has included dedicating funds to energy efficient investments throughout the facility, as well as investments in off-site renewable energy generation to produce the state’s first and only carbon-neutral dispensary.
Why should patients looking for medical cannabis services go to Om of Medicine?
The Om of Medicine is not just an entity, it represents an ideal. Om was founded in 2010 in order to provide the safest and most secure access to the highest quality medicinal cannabis for qualified patients. Both founders and all employees subscribe to the underlying principle of compassion coupled with excellence.
The Om of Medicine. Ann Arbor, MI
We provide the optimal visiting experience for patients that are either familiar or new to cannabis by personalizing each visit to fit the individual’s medical needs. We offer a private, one-on-one consultation that ensures each patient gets the time and attention they deserve. Our selection of medicine is unparalleled and the variety of delivery mechanisms we offer are wide-ranging and ever-changing. Our knowledgeable staff welcomes and assists patients with any questions and provides aid with the state’s patient registration process. Our commitment to individualized healing combines lab-tested therapeutic remedies with patient-based research to achieve holistic lifestyle wellness. Our member lounge is enhanced by local art. Cannabis can inspire creativity and the Om of Medicine is a testament to this. There truly is no place like Om.
What is the medical marijuana community like in Michigan?
There are more patients in Michigan than in any other state besides California. Michigan was the 13th state to pass MMJ laws and now there are 23. Every state after Michigan has implemented some type of distribution/dispensary model yet Michigan State Legislature has been slow to act on this issue which leaves many patients without a safe place to acquire their medicine. The past six years have been difficult on the community due to some unfortunate court decisions as well as reductions in protections for patients. Despite several setbacks, the medical cannabis community in Michigan is a persistent bunch and we’re confident that the more we engage in the political process and educate and advocate for transparent, reasonable and accountable laws, the quicker patients will have permanently secure and safe access to their medicine.
Where do you see it going?
Over the past couple of years, with the help of several advocacy groups and our full time lobbyist in Lansing, there has been much progress. There are two bills awaiting passage in the State Senate. The first, HB 4271, will allow a local option for licensed dispensaries. The second bill, HB 5104, will provide alternative delivery methods other than smoking. Both bills overwhelmingly passed the State House 95-14 and 100-9, respectively. We have no doubt that the State Senate and Governor will do the right thing and pass these two important pieces of legislation.
You recently began helping to form the Illinois Cannabis Industry Association (ILCIA), a state-affiliate of NCIA. What led you to step up your involvement in this way across state lines?
Our experience in Michigan has made it clear that political involvement and education early on is key to moving this issue forward. The law narrowly passed in Illinois with 78 House and Senate members voting “NO” on HB 1 with the House only passing the bill by a marginal 4 votes. There is clearly much work to be done! In terms of state population, Illinois is the second largest [medical marijuana state] after California and has a chance to lead on this issue. The state has touted its medical cannabis law as the most restrictive and closely monitored law in the country. We want to make sure that the rights of the patients are not infringed upon and that the 4-year ‘pilot program’ becomes a permanent option for the patients of Illinois. As the state’s affiliate to NCIA, ILCIA will provide a voice for businesses, patients, and other key stakeholders by advocating for laws, regulations, and public policies that foster a healthy, professional, and accountable medical cannabis industry in our state.
Why did you join NCIA?
We joined NCIA because we realize that there is power in numbers. NCIA has been the country’s only industry-led organization engaging in legislative efforts to expand and further legitimize the legal cannabis market in the United States. The members we have met through NCIA and its leadership are second to none and we are confident that they will push this issue over the finish line. The work they are doing to reform tax laws and allow access to banking is of the utmost importance for our industry to survive. It is difficult work but in order to succeed, we must work together!
If you are a member of NCIA and would like to contribute to the NCIA blog, please contact Development Officer Bethany Moore by emailing bethany@thecannabisindustry.org.
Number of marijuana license seekers in Illinois tops expectations | Chicago Tribune
Illinois received 369 applications for medical marijuana business licenses, which means about 1 in 5 applications will win approval to open grow houses and retail centers in the state.
The state received 211 applications for dispensaries — retail shops for medical marijuana — and 158 applications for grow centers. Illinois will allow 60 dispensaries statewide and 21 grow centers.
Bob Morgan, statewide project coordinator for the Illinois Medical Cannabis Pilot Program, said the number of applications, which were due Monday, was higher than anticipated.
The number of licenses for cultivation centers and dispensaries are quite limited – only 22 available for cultivation centers and 60 for dispensaries. What are officials with the Illinois Department of Agriculture looking at in applications to determine who will be awarded a license? Is there a chance to earn bonus points in any category?
Dan: The Department of Agriculture will be grading on a number of different features but the grow plan and horticultural experience will be heavily weighted in the scoring. In the event of a tie between competing applications for a single license the application with the higher scored grow plan will be awarded the license.
Ali: The main required categories don’t have specific bonus points available, but each application has an entire Bonus Section of areas that are not required but available for applicants to gain additional points if the required sections meet a certain score threshold. The Bonus Section areas include Labor and Employment Practices, a Research Plan, a Community Benefits Plan, a Substance Abuse Prevention Plan, a Local Community/Neighborhood Report, an Environmental Plan as well as additional points for Illinois-based applicants and businesses that are minority-owned, female-owned, veteran-owned, or owned by a person with a disability.
Dan Linn, ILCIA
State officials are making security a high priority for all applications. What kind of standards must applicants meet in their business plan regarding security measures?
Dan: Applicants will need to have full seed-to-sale inventory tracking accessible in real time by the Illinois State Police. Security measures will need to include listings of where the bulletproof glass is on the floor diagram of the dispensary, the camera field of vision, the proper-sized televisions to monitor the cameras, as well as background checks on everyone involved in the program.
What is the climate regarding banking access in Illinois? Have any banks come out to say they will allow cannabis businesses to open bank accounts?
Dan: Some banks are just unwilling to work with the cannabis industry. None have publicly come out as being willing to engage this industry, but there are a number of smaller community banks that are handling accounts for cannabis businesses in Illinois.
September 22 is the deadline for submitting applications to open a cultivation center or dispensary. What does the timeline look like for when licenses will be awarded and when is it expected that dispensaries will actually be selling product?
Ali: Recent public reports indicate that licenses will likely be issued later in the fall, probably in November or December. Based on that timeline dispensaries should be open with product on the shelves for patients in late spring/early summer of 2015.
How many expected applications for cultivation centers and dispensaries will be submitted by the September 22 deadline?
Ali: It is likely that there will be an average of at least a few applicants for each of the 82 available licenses, with total applicants numbering anywhere from 250-600.
Applications also just opened for qualifying medical patients to apply for access to medical marijuana. What is the timeline for qualifying patients to apply and when will patients find out if they are accepted into the program?
Ali: Patients with last names beginning A-L can apply now through Oct 31. Patients with last names beginning M-Z can apply Nov. 1-Dec. 31 and beginning Jan. 1 there will be open year-round enrollment for all patients. The state has 30 days by law to process a patient application, plus 14 days to mail it. This means that patients should expect to receive their approval or denial within 45 days of submission.
What are some of the regulations regarding edibles and other infused products?
Ali Nagib, ILCIA
Ali: Edibles and other infused products can be produced, but only those that can be kept at room temperature safely; products that require hot-holding or refrigeration are prohibited. Otherwise a wide range of infused products can be produced, and the state regulations have some fairly specific guidelines on the some of the production processes (e.g. which solvents can be used to produce concentrates) in addition to robust testing and labeling requirements.
Dan: Additionally, edibles and infused products must be produced in a sanitary kitchen and cannot look like candy or any name-brand food items.
What is the anticipated cost per ounce once product starts becoming available?
Dan: $250-400 is the estimated initial expected cost per ounce.
Ali: The early stages of the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program are likely to see a wide range of prices and substantial fluctuations as early supply and demand features work themselves out. It is almost certain that initial prices will be above those currently found on the illegal market, if not substantially so, but how the industry will react to the patient demand is uncertain.
The Illinois program is a pilot program that currently expires in 2017, and lawmakers must renew or extend the program at that time. What do you think lawmakers will be considering when deciding to renew or extend the program when the time comes?
Dan: They will be examining any instances of diversion, shenanigans, positive health experiences for patients, jobs created, who is the next President of the United States, how much revenue the program is creating, and probably what the overall public opinion of the program is.
Ali: We expect that by early 2017 the local and national landscape on cannabis policy reform will have continued to progress to the point that we won’t be debating whether or not to extend the pilot program but rather how and when to transition to a full tax-and-regulate framework and how to incorporate medical cannabis patients into it.
Illinois Cannabis Professionals Network in Chicago
More than 50 representatives from National Cannabis Industry Association member businesses gathered at Chicago’s Fado Irish Pub on the evening of September 16 to connect with each other and learn more about the work their association is doing on their behalf.
Attendees hear from Aaron Smith and Dan Linn about the work of NCIA and its state affiliate, ILCIA.
The event was timed just six days before the application deadline for businesses looking to open a medical cannabis dispensary or cultivation center. Illinois’s medical marijuana program was authorized by a pilot program approved by the legislature last year. The law allows for up to 22 cultivation centers and 60 medical cannabis dispensaries in the state.
NCIA executive director Aaron Smith and Dan Linn of the Illinois Cannabis Industry Association (ILCIA) spoke about the advocacy work each group is doing in Washington, DC and Springfield, IL, respectively. ILCIA is a newly-formed NCIA state affiliate that works to advance the industry’s political interests in Illinois through advocacy and the establishment of best practices.
Illinois Cannabis Industry Association board members Mark Passerini (left) and Lori Ferrara (right) pose during the Tuesday evening member reception.
One widely circulated quote equates the carbon footprint of producing a gram of hydroponically grown cannabis to that of “driving seventeen miles in a Honda Civic.” And while that beats seventeen miles in a Hummer, it’s a number we have the power to greatly reduce. Part of what excites me about this freshly-legal industry is that we have the opportunity to shape it in a way that big business has thus far failed to do by not putting a higher profit margin above the health of the planet.
In August I was asked to speak about this very topic in Las Vegas at the 2nd annual NCIA Southwest CannaBusiness Symposium. It gave me a chance to reflect on something I’m passionate about – the real environmental impact of what we do, what isn’t working, and how we can create positive change for this and future generations of growers and patients.
Get Under The Sun
It takes vast resources to power a warehouse grow that relies on High Intensity Discharge (HID) or High Pressure Sodium (HPS) lights. Automated light deprivation greenhouses can produce cannabis of equal or greater value as that produced indoors at half the cost and one quarter the environmental impact.
Cannabis used for extracts can all be grown outdoors. Provided you live in a climate that allows for outdoor cultivation, sun-grown cannabis is excellent starting material for extractions. The finished form will be far from the flower, so why not take advantage of one of our most powerful (and free!) resources?
Solstice growhouse
Keep It Lean Indoors
I know that not every method of cultivation can rely exclusively on solar power. However, in indoor grows, we can focus on efficiency.
For most indoor grows, Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems are a huge resource suck. I’ve discovered that the best method is to utilize a centralized Variable Air Volume (VAV) system.
Make sure the envelope is sealed. Keep your buildings well insulated to prevent energy leaks. Without a higher energy code and tighter insulation, many industrial-scale grows hemorrhage energy and resources.
Lay Down the Law
Frankly, some of the cities and states currently passing laws to regulate cannabis cultivation have the least enviable power infrastructures. Las Vegas, which relies heavily on coal and natural gas, is ahead of the curve in terms of legislation, whereas clean n’ green hydro-electrically-powered Washington State has yet to create stringent and sustainable regulations. Legislators have been more concerned with issues of security and diversion than environmental impact. The “pot is dangerous” paradigm needs to shift to “unregulated grow practices are dangerous for the planet.”
Nice Package…
We can effectively undo all the good of a smart grow with wasteful packaging.
Glass jars with cork & wood tops
Think cradle-to-grave for your packaging: Where did it come from? What is it made of? Where will it go after it has been used? That plastic container might be a good fix in a pinch, but think about the impact it has as you scale.
We’ve got to reduce plastics and push glass, wood, or paper wherever possible. Almost every gram of cannabis that goes out into the world from a processing facility is wrapped in plastic – and we all know that it can’t be properly disposed of or recycled. However, the plastic used for business-to-business bulk orders could be saved and reused.
At Solstice we’ve been designing glass containers with cork and wood tops for our flower. They can be collected, reused, or returned for a deposit. Our pre-rolls are made from 60% post-consumer recycled paper and printed with vegetable ink. Every little bit counts.
Have Multiple Bottom Lines
The “Triple P bottom line: People, Planet, Profits” is the newest, sexiest take on commerce with a conscience. The Triple P works primarily because it’s a flexible paradigm; it gives business owners a framework in which they can question and evaluate the human and environmental cost of every move they make.
Across industries, innovative leaders are finding more generous, humane, and ultimately more sustainable ways to do big business. Some of these are easy and inexpensive: utilizing proper waste disposal, bike-to-work incentive programs (a Solstice favorite), Plant-A-Tree days, or making sure your pesticide program is safe for employees and the planet.
Sometimes however, there is an unavoidable immediate cost to doing what’s right. Google uses a fancy fuel cell with 2-3 bloom boxes for their building infrastructure. They’re getting loads of good PR for this – in part because very few people can afford to use them.
But it is my belief that the more you grow, the more capital you’re bringing in, the more you have to give to impeccable resource management.
Everyone knows that cannabis makes money; we’re looking at a multi-billion dollar industry over the next 5 years. Hobby systems and garage standards are not scalable for the cannabis boom. Whatever the laws might ‘allow’ us to do, we have to stay ahead of the curve and firmly within our own conscience.
Alex Cooley is the owner of Solstice, a member of NCIA since April 2013. Solstice founded their Seattle-based flagship in 2011 as the first-ever permitted cannabis production facility in Washington State. Solstice has taken an environmentally conscious approach to high quality cannabis production and has cultivated over 350 different types of cannabis, creating one of the most robust genetic libraries anywhere in the world.
Inside the Illinois Medical Marijuana Program with the Illinois Cannabis Industry Association
The number of licenses for cultivation centers and dispensaries are quite limited – only 22 available for cultivation centers and 60 for dispensaries. What are officials with the Illinois Department of Agriculture looking at in applications to determine who will be awarded a license? Is there a chance to earn bonus points in any category?
Dan: The Department of Agriculture will be grading on a number of different features but the grow plan and horticultural experience will be heavily weighted in the scoring. In the event of a tie between competing applications for a single license the application with the higher scored grow plan will be awarded the license.
Ali: The main required categories don’t have specific bonus points available, but each application has an entire Bonus Section of areas that are not required but available for applicants to gain additional points if the required sections meet a certain score threshold. The Bonus Section areas include Labor and Employment Practices, a Research Plan, a Community Benefits Plan, a Substance Abuse Prevention Plan, a Local Community/Neighborhood Report, an Environmental Plan as well as additional points for Illinois-based applicants and businesses that are minority-owned, female-owned, veteran-owned, or owned by a person with a disability.
Dan Linn, ILCIA
State officials are making security a high priority for all applications. What kind of standards must applicants meet in their business plan regarding security measures?
Dan: Applicants will need to have full seed-to-sale inventory tracking accessible in real time by the Illinois State Police. Security measures will need to include listings of where the bulletproof glass is on the floor diagram of the dispensary, the camera field of vision, the proper-sized televisions to monitor the cameras, as well as background checks on everyone involved in the program.
What is the climate regarding banking access in Illinois? Have any banks come out to say they will allow cannabis businesses to open bank accounts?
Dan: Some banks are just unwilling to work with the cannabis industry. None have publicly come out as being willing to engage this industry, but there are a number of smaller community banks that are handling accounts for cannabis businesses in Illinois.
September 22 is the deadline for submitting applications to open a cultivation center or dispensary. What does the timeline look like for when licenses will be awarded and when is it expected that dispensaries will actually be selling product?
Ali: Recent public reports indicate that licenses will likely be issued later in the fall, probably in November or December. Based on that timeline dispensaries should be open with product on the shelves for patients in late spring/early summer of 2015.
How many expected applications for cultivation centers and dispensaries will be submitted by the September 22 deadline?
Ali: It is likely that there will be an average of at least a few applicants for each of the 82 available licenses, with total applicants numbering anywhere from 250-600.
Applications also just opened for qualifying medical patients to apply for access to medical marijuana. What is the timeline for qualifying patients to apply and when will patients find out if they are accepted into the program?
Ali: Patients with last names beginning A-L can apply now through Oct 31. Patients with last names beginning M-Z can apply Nov. 1-Dec. 31 and beginning Jan. 1 there will be open year-round enrollment for all patients. The state has 30 days by law to process a patient application, plus 14 days to mail it. This means that patients should expect to receive their approval or denial within 45 days of submission.
What are some of the regulations regarding edibles and other infused products?
Ali Nagib, ILCIA
Ali: Edibles and other infused products can be produced, but only those that can be kept at room temperature safely; products that require hot-holding or refrigeration are prohibited. Otherwise a wide range of infused products can be produced, and the state regulations have some fairly specific guidelines on the some of the production processes (e.g. which solvents can be used to produce concentrates) in addition to robust testing and labeling requirements.
Dan: Additionally, edibles and infused products must be produced in a sanitary kitchen and cannot look like candy or any name-brand food items.
What is the anticipated cost per ounce once product starts becoming available?
Dan: $250-400 is the estimated initial expected cost per ounce.
Ali: The early stages of the Medical Cannabis Pilot Program are likely to see a wide range of prices and substantial fluctuations as early supply and demand features work themselves out. It is almost certain that initial prices will be above those currently found on the illegal market, if not substantially so, but how the industry will react to the patient demand is uncertain.
The Illinois program is a pilot program that currently expires in 2017, and lawmakers must renew or extend the program at that time. What do you think lawmakers will be considering when deciding to renew or extend the program when the time comes?
Dan: They will be examining any instances of diversion, shenanigans, positive health experiences for patients, jobs created, who is the next President of the United States, how much revenue the program is creating, and probably what the overall public opinion of the program is.
Ali: We expect that by early 2017 the local and national landscape on cannabis policy reform will have continued to progress to the point that we won’t be debating whether or not to extend the pilot program but rather how and when to transition to a full tax-and-regulate framework and how to incorporate medical cannabis patients into it.
D.C. Update: Congress Takes a Minimalist Approach on Marijuana (and Everything Else)
As Congress starts winding down what many pundits have described as the least effective Congress in history, marijuana proponents can still celebrate modest successes this year and look forward to carrying our positive momentum into 2015.
For the first time in history, the House of Representatives passed pro-marijuana legislation. Unfortunately, the Senate will not take up the legislation, due to inter-party bickering. And although lawmakers just returned from thirty-seven days of recess, they are expected to be in session for as little as seven legislative days before going home for the November midterm elections. In those few days, Congress is expected to pass a spending bill that will fund the government until December, but is not expected to vote on any issues related to marijuana legislation. They are expected to convene after the election for a “lame-duck” session in November, and depending on the schedule, NCIA is planning to hold events in D.C. at this time.
This midterm election is anticipated to have low voter turnout, and it is expected that the House of Representatives will stay in Republican control for the next two years, while it is highly likely that the Senate will change hands and become Republican-led as well. Although our policy positions tend to be supported more by Democrats, we have many members of both parties supporting our issues, and we continue to make inroads with Republican offices.
Now is the perfect time for our industry to lay the groundwork and start building goodwill into next year, as marijuana issues are on the ballot in Alaska, Oregon, and Florida. Marijuana policies have not traditionally been high on politicians’ radars, but this year has seen a tremendous spike in attention and recognition of our issues. That means it’s imperative for our industry to continue becoming more politically engaged. It also means that we must continue to be active in our communities and show our neighbors and leaders the positive public face of the industry.
With two months to go before the elections, many politicians will be back in their districts doing campaign events, and all NCIA members should use this link to find their Members of Congress and attend any local events they are hosting. If your elected officials are supportive of our issues, make donations to their campaigns and help them get re-elected by volunteering on their efforts. If they are opposed to our issues, work for their opponents. We are right on the policies, but the reality is politicians need to get re-elected, and the people who help make that happen are much more likely to get a positive response in D.C.
I plan to do the same thing here in D.C. In fact, once I finish writing these words, I’ll be off to attend a fundraiser for Senator Mark Udall of Colorado and Senator Mark Begich of Alaska.
Michael Correia is NCIA’s director of government relations, based in Washington, D.C. Find out more about NCIA’s federal policy objectives.
Illinois Medical Marijuana Program Accepting Applications
After months of planning, the state of Illinois has officially begun accepting applications from potential medical marijuana patients and business owners for its Medical Cannabis Pilot Program.
On Tuesday, September 2, Illinois officials began processing paperwork from potential patients whose last names begin with the letters A through L. By the end of the first week, according to the Chicago Sun-Times, more than 2,000 applications had been received. (Patients with names beginning with the letters M through Z will be eligible to apply beginning November 1.)
The pilot program’s coordinator, Bob Morgan, expressed excitement over the large number of patient applications in the very early days of the process. “It’s a strong indication of the interest in the program,” he told the Sun-Times.
The dispensary and cultivation licensing process promises to be a bit more challenging. With only 22 licenses available for cultivation centers and 60 for dispensaries, competition will likely be stiff, especially for the large Chicago market. (See this interactive graphic from the Chicago Daily Herald for more details on where the 60 dispensary licenses will be allocated.) The application process is extensive, and the capital requirements for applicants are steep. Even successful applicants will have to consider the “pilot” nature of the program, which includes the possibility that it could sunset after a few years.
As Troy Dayton, CEO of NCIA Sustaining Member The Arcview Group, told Chicago’s WBEZ Radio, “[Business owners] had better have a lot of money in the bank because it may be a long ramp up before they can make their businesses profitable.”
Despite these challenges, medical marijuana is coming to Illinois, and with it comes opportunity. Soon, the fifth-largest state in the nation will offer patients the potentially life-changing choice to access medical marijuana, and that’s progress to celebrate.
Are you applying for a dispensary or cultivation license in Illinois? Share your experience in the comment section below.
VIDEO: THREE WAYS TO IMPROVE YOUR CANNABIS BUSINESS’S FOOD SAFETY
Training has been Maureen McNamara’s gig for over 20 years. Having cut her teeth in the rough and tumble hospitality world, Maureen realized her 20+ years of experience were well-suited to serve the burgeoning cannabis industry.
In partnership with the National Cannabis Industry Association, Maureen now offers a certification course in food safety for edible manufacturers as well as a responsible vendor program for budtenders, owners, and managers to teach them to sell safely, knowledgeably, and responsibly.
Lady Business: Bethany Moore from National Cannabis Business Association | Ladybud Magazine
LADYBUD: You work at the National Cannabis Industry Association NCIA — what is it that you do there?
BETHANY: My primary role at NCIA is focused on membership development. I foster deeper relationships with our existing members, as well as seek out relationships with cannabis companies that are not yet a part of NCIA. I travel quite a bit for the events we do all around the country, and I enjoy that opportunity to feel the connection of this growing community from one end of the country to the other. I obviously recruit new members, but also do fun stuff like work with members to write blog posts, match members with event sponsorship opportunities, and otherwise assist in development for the organization. The future is bright and I’m honored to be in this role at this time, after years of being a volunteer activist for drug policy reform issues, when honestly, I didn’t see this whole legalization thing coming as soon as it did. I’m pleasantly surprised about the forward progress of the movement recently and look forward to helping the industry and movement progress forward responsibly and ethically.
Start Making Sense – A Cannabis Industry Fundraiser for SSDP
The National Cannabis Industry Association is proud to be hosting “Start Making Sense,” a cannabis industry fundraiser for Students for Sensible Drug Policy (SSDP) on Tuesday, September 9 at the NCIA/Vicente Sederberg offices in Denver.
SSDP, the leading student-led drug policy reform organization in the country, is currently engaged in extensive voter education and get-out-the-vote efforts in Florida to support the passage of Amendment 2. This important voter initiative, if passed, would legalize and establish a comprehensive medical marijuana program for the first time in a southern state. We at NCIA are proud to support those efforts and all of the other great work of SSDP, so we hope our members and supporters will join us for this very special evening of music, food, and drinks while supporting sensible reform.
We wanted to throw this event not only to support our friends at SSDP but also to show our appreciation for our dedicated Colorado members who have been helping lead this burgeoning industry and supporting NCIA’s phenomenal growth over the last few years. Colorado has been a focal point for reform and helped set the example for responsible business practices. Now we invite our Colorado members to help this industry grow in an state where support is still very much needed.
We will also be hosting a silent auction throughout the night with multiple signed art prints from Black Ink, a Philadelphia-based art and design company founded by former SSDP members. They have been longtime supporters of SSDP, donating their design skills over the years to SSDP’s live-music-based program, the AMPLIFY Project. Their ongoing collaboration, the “Prints Not Prisons” Art Drive, has raised hundreds of dollars for sensible reform throughout the years. (You can view a full catalog of their work here.) Black Ink’s surrealistic style has been a huge hit among live music fans and is sure to gain some new fans during our event.
For musical entertainment we will be screening the landmark concert film “Stop Making Sense” by the Talking Heads. The movie will be projected onto the front side of our office building (better known as the Cannabis Cottage), so attendees can enjoy the last few days of summer outside before Colorado begins its annual cool-down. The inside of the Cannabis Cottage will be transformed into several themed networking rooms, each featuring different music and decorations to indulge your varied musical taste buds.
We aren’t skimping when it comes to food either! NCIA staff will be cooking up pork shoulder and beef brisket all day long (as well as a veggie option) so no one leaves with an empty stomach. In addition, a selection of fine Colorado microbrews will be on tap, along with a local wine selection and other non-alcoholic refreshments.
We hope you’re excited to join us for an evening supporting sensible reform while enjoying each others’ company and timeless music. Everything will be provided, but we are strongly urging all attendees to donate the suggested $40 for admission. Every dollar you contribute will have an exponential effect and impact on the spread of sensible reform. Please REGISTER TODAY and we’ll see you on Tuesday!
Cannabis & Community: The Industry Gives Back to Medical Research and the Arts
The National Cannabis Industry Association was founded in order to foster a legitimate, responsible, and socially-engaged cannabis industry. We continue to advocate for these values both within the industry and to the outside. As part of this ongoing message, we encourage our members to engage with their communities and support charities in addition to the marijuana policy reform efforts that advance the industry directly. Cannabis businesses that engage in philanthropy are not only helping important causes and earning a tax deduction — they are demonstrating tangible benefits of legally regulating cannabis businesses to policymakers and the public. After all, criminal drug dealers don’t usually give back to their communities.
Voter support for legal marijuana is at an all-time high but a lot of work still needs to be done before public perception and the legal environment reach the point where the cannabis industry is treated like any other legitimate American business sector. Successful cannabis businesses can help move us in the right direction by publicly supporting mainstream causes that resonate with the general public in addition to helping lay the foundation for a culture of corporate responsibility within the emerging industry.
Colorado’s burgeoning legal cannabis industry is leading the charge on this front with two great examples of philanthropic activity this summer.
NCIA director of education and events Brooke Gilbert (left) poses with director of government relations Michael Correia (right) at this year’s Clinic Charity Classic.
On August 16 the Clinic Marijuana Center held its 5th Annual Clinic Charity Classic, a golf tournament benefitting the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The sold-out tournament was sponsored by dozens of cannabis businesses — including NCIA — and raised over $80,000 for the M.S. Society’s Colorado-Wyoming Chapter.
Our support for these important community benefits strengthens our relationship with those who may not have any direct experience with cannabis or the industry and generates positive news coverage across the nation.
Let us know how your business is engaging with your community in the comments below or tell us if you have an idea for new ways to get philanthropically involved.
Below we have assembled all the speaker presentation slides from our 2nd Annual Southwest CannaBusiness Symposium for cannabis industry professionals, held at the Plaza Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas on August 23, 2014.
For a full overview of the entire symposium and each session please read our recap.
Please join us for future NCIA networking and educational events. Check out our Events Calendar and sign up today!
Cannabis Industry Teaches and Learns in Nevada
NCIA’s 2nd Annual Southwest CannaBusiness Symposium Brings Together Cannabis Industry Leaders in Las Vegas
On Saturday, August 23, NCIA hosted cannabis industry professionals for a day of information-packed sessions at its second annual Southwest CannaBusiness Symposium in Las Vegas, Nevada. Opening remarks featured Aaron Smith, executive director of NCIA, Congresswoman Dina Titus (D-Las Vegas) and Nevada State Senator Tick Segerblom (D-Las Vegas). Comments from the panelists focused on the local political atmosphere, touching on how Nevada, having passed legislation last year to set up a statewide medical program, is currently reviewing applications for licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation centers. Additionally the Nevada legislature will consider a full legalization initiative during the 2015 session, although passage would require a 2/3 vote in both chambers. If the measure fails in the legislature, Nevada voters will have a chance to directly vote on legalization as a ballot initiative in 2016. Both Rep. Titus and Sen. Segerblom encouraged attendees to reach out to them and keep an open dialogue so that they can best represent the industry by understanding its needs.
The second panel, titled “Infused Products & Edibles Discussion,” featured experts in the fields of extraction, analytical testing, edible manufacturing, and retailing of infused products. Discussed on this panel were the importance of analytical lab testing to ensure quality products, the basics of different types of extraction methods, how to find your edible niche and establishing a brand, and the importance of educating your customers on the effects of infused products. Featured on this panel were Andy Joseph of Apeks Supercritical, Adam Mintz of Steep Hill Halent Labs, Julianna Carella of Auntie Dolores and Étienne Fontan of Berkeley Patients Group.
After these first two panels, attendees broke for a networking lunch where they could talk one-on-one and meet others already involved or looking to get into the industry. Walking around the conference floor you could hear conversations such as “What are current marketing regulations surrounding the sale of cannabis and infused products like in CO or WA?” and “How are you involved or wanting to be involved in the industry?” as well as lengthy discussions on attendees’ experiences regarding the Nevada application process which ended earlier in the week. Attendees also had the chance to visit sponsor booths to find out more about their products and services. The symposium’s sponsors this year included Eden Labs, MJ Freeway, Steep Hill Halent Labs of Nevada, Apeks Supercritical, HempMeds PX, and the ArcView Group.
Following lunch, the panel “Maintaining Responsible Business Practices” featured several distinct topics regarding establishing a culture of responsible practices within your business. The first topic highlighted the importance of setting standards of practice and self-regulation, especially regarding implementing programs that encourage customers to keep marijuana out of the hands of youth. Other topics included information on managing employees and effective human resource strategies, trademarking and protecting your brand, and an array of sustainable business practices that aid in lowering waste and increasing profits while contributing to a cleaner environment overall. Featured on this panel was Leslie Bocskor of Electrum Partners LLC, Carole Richter of CRichter ~ HR Consulting, LLC, Amanda Conley of Cobalt LLP, and Alex Cooley of Solstice Co-op.
Michael Correia, director of government relations for NCIA, followed to provide a federal update about what’s been happening in Congress. We’ve seen some positive movement within the House of Representatives recently. This past May, for the first time in history, a chamber of Congress passed pro-marijuana legislation. Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced an amendment to the appropriations bill covering the Department of Justice that limited the Department of Justice and DEA from interfering with states moving forward on medical marijuana. It passed 219-189, with an astonishing 49 Republicans supporting. Currently, the legislation is in the Senate and has Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) as co-sponsors. In addition, on July 16th, the House passed a similar amendment that would prohibit the Department of Treasury from penalizing banks that do business with state-compliant marijuana businesses. It passed 231-192, with 45 Republicans supporting it.
Rounding out the update was the mention of a potential upcoming issue that may have large implications for any marijuana cultivators using federal water reserves to grow. The Bureau of Reclamation, which manages water for the federal government, has stated that federal water should not be used for state-legal marijuana cultivation, since marijuana remains federally illegal. Although it is not yet a large issue, and so far the Bureau has only said that they will refer such cases to the Department of Justice, it looms as a potential trouble spot in Colorado and Washington State, and because Nevada gets most of its water from federal sources, it will likely become an issue in that state as well. Currently the Bureau of Reclamation is moving cautiously, and a group of senators have asked the Justice Department to give further legal guidance on this. NCIA will be providing updates on this issue as they are available.
The panel “Effective Messaging for Cannabis Professionals” rounded out the day and focused on tactics to use when talking with the media to communicate your message most effectively. Taylor West, deputy director of NCIA, provided advice focused on talking about a medical use program. She touched on the story of the development of the medical cannabis program in Nevada and the importance of emphasizing passion and compassion for patients. That story includes the quality of your product, your dedicated service, and your compassionate care in providing medicine to patients to improve their lives. Joe Brezny, executive director of the Nevada Cannabis Industry Association, provided advice on speaking with the media about the upcoming Nevada full-legalization measure. He touched on the Nevada Regulate Marijuana like Alcohol campaign messaging, which emphasizes that regulated marijuana is no worse than alcohol, that the marijuana market in Nevada is already present but in a black market run by cartels and drug dealers, and that legalizing and regulating marijuana is proving to work in states that have done so already. His key takeaways were that state-specific messaging is important to make it relevant to the political landscape of that state.
Thanks to everyone who joined us in Las Vegas for another successful event. Make sure you don’t miss any other great educational and networking events we have coming up!
NCIA Member Profile: Canuvo Medical Cannabis Dispensary
NCIA recently had an opportunity to speak with Glenn Peterson, co-founder of Canuvo, a state-licensed medical cannabis dispensary in York County, Maine. Canuvo offers naturally grown medical cannabis in a wide selection of strains, private discreet consultations with trained staff, public workshops, and education.
Cannabis Industry Sector:
Medical Cannabis Provider
NCIA Member Since:
2013
How do you uniquely serve the cannabis industry?
I am a patient, former caregiver, and possibly the last regular person to obtain a contested state license in a highly regulated state and finance the project entirely myself. I have done every job in cultivation, manufacturing, and dispensing until I could replace myself with the best staff possible, which gives me a unique understanding of my business and this industry. I am also blessed to have my wife, sister, and daughter work by my side and watch my back at Canuvo. As a vertically integrated state, we cultivate & manufacture everything we sell. In addition to our 80-strain library, we offer concentrates, edibles, lotion, salves, capsules, and oils. We love coming up with new delivery systems!
I have been the President of the Maine Association of Dispensary Operators (MeADO) since its inception in 2012. Each year MeADO has passed multiple bills into law, both on their own and in collaboration with other stake holders. As the President of MeADO I have an active presence in our statehouse lobbying for patients and dispensaries. Personally I attend as many regional and national NCIA events as possible including Lobby Days in DC.
Why should patients looking for medical cannabis services go to Canuvo?
Selection: We have a large strain library of over 80 strains and growing, 15 to 24 of which are available each day. With so many different patient preferences, goals, and needs, it is important to us to offer an expansive, constantly rotating menu.
Education: The industry is expanding and there is always information to share regardless of how seasoned the patient is. In addition to a wide selection of dosing options, we have a loaning library and the opportunity for patients to have a one-on-one consultation. This way we can get to know our patients as individuals, offer guidance, and help them understand why and how their medication works.
Privacy: We are located in a former doctor’s office and are fortunate enough to dispense out of multiple examining rooms. This allows the patient to discuss their medical goals and concerns without being overheard.
What is the medical marijuana community like in Maine? Where do you see it going?
Maine has had a medical cannabis program since 1999. It allowed patients to grow for themselves or have a caregiver (who is limited to 5 patients) grow for you. In 2010 the dispensary model was added to increase patients’ access to safe, inspected medical cannabis. Our edibles are produced in a state-licensed kitchen, our cannabis is grown without pesticides, and we keep normal business hours. The dispensaries added a level of professionalism previously lacking in the industry.
I anticipate legislation and referendum efforts for adult use in Maine shortly. I believe all adults should have access for personal use in addition to medicinal. Though most adults can benefit, I hope to exempt qualified medical patients from the sales tax, excise tax, and driving under the influence provisions. There is no lack of cannabis in Maine. There is no need for the steep ‘sin tax‘ in Maine like Colorado and Washington to entice support. It only serves to drive the consumer to the unregulated, non-taxpaying black market. Though our program in the state of Maine is small compared to other states (only 8 licensed dispensaries), our state’s cannabis program scored #1 in the country last month by Americans For Safe Access as based on a criteria of 40 considerations.
Why did you get involved in NCIA?
Glenn Peterson, Canuvo Co-Founder
We learned of NCIA while consulting with Kayvan Khalatbari from Denver Relief Consulting. It made sense for us to join so we could meet and learn from other members, contribute to the effort, and keep our fingers on the pulse of the industry. The member contacts have been invaluable. NCIA is the spear point for the cannabis industry and efforts to bring forth meaningful needed change to our industry.
If you are a member of NCIA and would like to contribute to the NCIA blog, please contact Development Officer Bethany Moore by emailing bethany@thecannabisindustry.org.
Is Medical Marijuana the Answer to the Prescription Painkiller Epidemic?
A new study suggests that access to medical marijuana could dramatically reduce the number of prescription painkiller deaths in the United States.
Research published this week in JAMA Internal Medicinereports that states that have legalized medical marijuana saw 25% fewer deaths from prescription painkiller overdoses between 1999 and 2010 than states where cannabis was illegal.
As the Washington Post reports, “That meant 1,729 fewer deaths than expected in 2010 alone, and states saw their overdose rates generally improve each year after their medical marijuana laws were passed, researchers found.”
The CDC reports that 100 people die from drug overdoses every day in the U.S., and prescription painkillers account for nearly three-quarters of that number. Drug overdose death rates have more than tripled since 1990. Consumer Reports recently published an in-depth report on the dangers posed by Americans’ overuse of painkillers.
The JAMA Internal Medicine research was not designed to determine if access to medical marijuana is the primary cause of lower prescription painkiller death rates. But the data suggests there would be significant value in more research on medical cannabis as a replacement or supplement for standard prescription painkiller regimens.
Previous research has shown that patients who use marijuana in addition to prescribed opiate painkillers can manage their pain with significantly lower doses of the opiates than patients using prescription drugs alone.
Have you or any of your patients made the transition from opiates to medical marijuana for pain management? Share your story in the comments section below.
Guest Post: Plane-ly Legal – Carrying Large Sums of Cash on Commercial Airline Flights
By Luigi Zamarra, CPA
Due to the banking challenges facing our industry, many business owners are working with large sums of cash. Sometimes this cash must be transported: brought to the location where payment is agreed to be made. Sometimes this requires boarding a commercial airline flight with a large sum of cash in your carry-on baggage. (I do not recommend putting cash into your checked baggage.) You should not worry.
While working with a client to plan dividend distributions to their investors, the client expressed his concern that TSA would not allow anyone to board a domestic flight with large sums of cash. This did not seem correct to me for a variety of reasons, so I decided to look into the issue further. Please remember that U.S. currency is “legal tender for all debts, public and private” and there is no law that states that VISA, MasterCard, and the big banks must be in the middle – and get a piece of the action – of every transaction. We have the right to conduct all of our business in cash if we choose, and making such a choice should not subject us to suspicions. As an industry, we should be united in defending our rights to use cash, and we should reject any assertion that using cash implies criminal activity.
It is important to draw a distinction between domestic flights and international flights. On international flights, you must file FinCEN Form 105 with the U.S. Treasury if you are either entering or leaving the U.S. with more than $10,000 of cash currency. This rule does not apply to domestic flights, either intrastate or interstate. On domestic flights, there is no limit; you are legally entitled to fly with as much cash as you see fit, and you are not required to file any form with U.S. Treasury.
It is also very important to understand that TSA is not a law enforcement agency. TSA personnel are not trained in the legal procedures of collecting evidence or conducting investigations, so such actions must be conducted only by law enforcement. TSA’s mission is to “protect the transportation system to ensure freedom of movement of people and commerce.” According to TSA policy, (a) “screening may not be conducted to detect evidence of crimes unrelated to transportation security,” and (b) “traveling with large amounts of currency is not illegal.”
Unfortunately the TSA has engaged in mission-creep recently by searching for cash and engaging in interrogation when cash is found. If you find yourself being questioned by TSA about why you are carrying cash and where you got the cash, you are entitled to refuse to answer these questions. You should state, quietly but assertively, that such information is confidential and that such questions are outside of the TSA purpose and mission. You should also remind the TSA official that such questions are beyond TSA authority, since they are not permitted to investigate evidence of crimes unrelated to transportation security and since there is no danger to air safety from a briefcase of $100 dollar bills. Finally, remind the TSA official that traveling with large amounts of currency is not illegal.
Luigi Zamarra, CPA, has been a member of NCIA since 2013. Luigi CPA is an accounting firm located in Oakland, CA, that helps all types of businesses and individuals with tax planning, tax compliance, and tax dispute services. Luigi specializes in the medical marijuana industry. He helps these businesses comply with IRC Section 280E so as to balance tax cost against audit examination risk.
Cannabis Carnival: Industry. Reform. Community.
By Brian Gilbert, NCIA events coordinator
The National Cannabis Industry Association branched out into the world of live music production this past month with “Cannabis Carnival,” presented by NCIA and O.penVAPE at Cervantes’ Masterpiece Ballroom in conjunction with the inaugural Cannabis Business Summit in Denver. A multi-sensory concert and fundraising experience, it was a night that certainly won’t be forgotten soon. NCIA brought together more than 750 people to celebrate the work of cannabis policy reform and the establishment of a legitimate, responsible industry to help fuel the continued fight toward the end of marijuana prohibition. The event buzzed with cannabusiness leaders from around the country, along with local live music fans and cannabis enthusiasts alike.
The musical acts for the evening matched the diversity of the cannabis community as a whole, featuring rock, funk, electronica, and even a percussion-centered, psychedelic electronic marching band. (Hey, why not?) Denver-area musicians were spotlighted throughout the event, with Bear Antler starting the night with their Colorado-flavored brand of unapologetic rock & roll, the premier drug policy reform producer Erothyme laying down gracious melodies, and local favorites SunSquabi carrying the groove late into the night with their high-energy, dance-inducing set featuring flow performances from Surka Noelle.
The highlight for many attendees was the undeniably engaging, objectively terrifying, and supremely entertaining madness that is The Itchy-O Marching Band. Featuring a large drum corps, accompanied by guitars, synthesizers, inventive electronic noisemakers, and a dancing Chinese dragon, Itchy-O’s black-masked performers put on a memorable spectacle.
Austin-based duo The Nadis Warriors, who have been taking the live electronic music world by storm, closed out the evening with a driving electronica-filled headlining slot, accompanied by special guest drummer Allen Aucoin of trance-fusion pioneers The Disco Biscuits. Their special set also featured aerial silk performances from the talented Ariana Airyfairy, topping off a dramatic and celebratory night.
Keeping in the carnival theme, our generous sponsors were able to gain some serious brand exposure while offering attendees fun, cannabis-themed activities to occupy their time. With promotional booths from Good Chemistry & The Farm offering giveaways & prizes, the Cannabis Camera “Bud Booth” sponsored by Surna Inc. snapping away in the VIP area, and the always popular O.penVAPE Bus holding down the sidewalk party out front all night, there were plenty of things for cannabis carnival-goers to engage in. For our VIP guests, Three Tomatoes Catering even came through with a delicious buffet spread.
In addition to our sponsor offerings, a number of local artists joined us to showcase their live painting skills in our “Visionary Arts Gallery”. Designed to inspire and uplift those in attendance and harness their collective energy for positive change, the gallery featured work from Chance Roberts, Molly Gardner,Adam Psybe, and Stephen Kruse. We were honored to have such talented artists join us for this event and hope this trend of combining art, performance, music and reform continues.
The response to NCIA’s first-ever concert event was exciting. In one night we were able to bring together the cannabis industry, the drug policy reform movement, and the live music community to achieve something greater than the sum of its parts. The power of the emerging cannabis industry can amplify the reform movement’s message of a responsible, sensible, and conscious society. With your help we can achieve that goal, so don’t think this is the last you’ve heard from these cannabis carnies! Plans are in the works to spread this event across the country, and we can’t wait to tell you more as things develop.
Thank you again to all our Cannabis Carnival attendees! You can relive the magic with a full photo album from the event here: http://on.fb.me/1m1eF5v
And a final, huge thanks to all our generous sponsors for making this event possible. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Special thanks as well to Kat Rutt Design for her great work on the Carnival poster and promotional materials!
Washington State Opens Legal Adult-Use Sales
Washington became the second state to begin legal adult-use sales of cannabis when five state-licensed retail stores opened their doors on July 8. Although opening day was somewhat subdued by the small number of licensed stores and concerns about temporarily tight inventories, the mood was nonetheless celebratory and sales were brisk. According to Washington’s Liquor Control Board, which oversees I-502 cannabis regulation, approximately $1.27 million in adult-use cannabis purchases took place in the first ten days of legal sales.
The overall impact of Washington’s adult-use legalization program will take some time to assess, as the state is rolling out retail licenses slowly. (As of July 21, only 24 of the eventual 334 available retail licenses had been issued.) Cultivation and infused-product licenses have also been slow in coming, which has made it impossible for the state’s cannabis producers to fully supply I-502 demand in the opening weeks. Retail operations have experienced shortages and temporary outages.
Questions also still remain about the future of Washington’s medical marijuana industry, which has operated legally (though without a state-level regulatory program) for more than a decade.
Still, despite the questions and challenges Washington’s market will face in the coming weeks and months, the opening of legal adult-use sales marks another hugely historic step toward the end of marijuana prohibition and the growth of a legitimate, successful, and beneficial cannabis industry.
The Cannabis Business Summit, Where Commerce Met a Revolution
By Brooke Gilbert, NCIA director of education & events
The National Cannabis Industry Association’s first annual Cannabis Business Summit took place on June 24th and 25th in Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, serving as a monument to the current success of the legal adult-use and medical cannabis industry. Bringing together more than 1,100 representatives from all aspects of the cannabis industry, the Cannabis Business Summit looked like any other business conference from the outside. With an array of keynote speeches and educational panels, in addition to an exposition hall showcasing advances in the industry, attendees came to share knowledge, to network, to find opportunities, and to contribute to the rapid growth of the cannabis industry.
The exposition hall featured over 50 member sponsors. Products and services, such as automated trimming machines, cannabis oil extraction machines, accounting solutions, insurance companies, software producers, consulting services, and cannabis-infused products showed the diverse community of businesses that currently make up the cannabis industry. This hands-on display of advances within the industry complimented the educational component nicely, not only showcasing cutting edge products and services, but also offering the opportunity to talk one-on-one with those behind each company. It was impossible to walk through the exposition hall without hearing new solutions to challenges as well as new business partnerships being forged.
In addition to the exposition hall, the Cannabis Business Summit featured nearly 100 speakers who shared their experience and expertise on a wide range of topics spread across five different educational tracks. The featured educational tracks included CannaBusiness 101, Advanced CannaBusiness, Ancillary Services and Products, Cannabis Policy and Reform, and Emerging Topics & Roundtable Discussions. General sessions and keynote speeches rounded out the educational side of the summit and featured leading thought-leaders and industry pioneers.
A powerful start to the two days, the opening keynote featured Troy Dayton of the ArcView Group. Dayton’s moving speech touched on how entrepreneurship and the push for social justice reform concerning cannabis prohibition have worked hand-in-hand to create the landscape for this now burgeoning industry. Following the opening keynote, the first general session, “Colorado & Washington: Successes and Challenges from the Frontier of Post-Prohibition America,” featured heavy-hitters in the movement, including Brian Vicente of Vicente Sederberg, John Davis of Northwest Patient Resource Center, Hon. Roger Goodman of Washington State Legislature, Andrew Freedman, Director of Marijuana Coordination Office of the Governor, and Elliott Klug of Pink House Blooms. The panel offered an honest discussion on the progress of the reform movement, what has been going right, the challenges the industry is facing now, and the future of the legal cannabis industry. The opening keynote speech and panel were filmed in their entirety by C-SPAN and can be viewed here.
Though the obvious subject of the conference revolved around the business aspect of the developing legal cannabis industry, two themes permeated throughout the two days. The first was the recognition of those who came before and helped pave the way politically to allow this industry to blossom. In attendance was NCIA’s special guest Charles Lynch, who in 2007 had his state-licensed medical marijuana dispensary raided in California and was subsequently sent to federal prison. A number of times throughout the Summit, speakers emphasized the incongruity of nearly 1,200 industry professionals coming together for cannabis business opportunities while many around the country sit in jail and continue to be persecuted under unjust prohibitionary policies. “We have to acknowledge those who came before us,” said Aaron Smith, executive director of NCIA, during his keynote speech. “Before we were an industry, we were a movement, and we are still a social movement. The growth of this new industry will drive the final nail in the coffin of marijuana prohibition, so that no one is put in a cage for using a beneficial, extremely therapeutic herbal product ever again.”
The second through-running theme was that, with two states opening up legal, adult-use markets, and more states poised in the coming years to also implement adult-use or medical programs, the cannabis industry must continue to put forward the best practices and image possible. In the keynote panel “Getting the Message: Effective and Responsible Marketing Strategies for Cannabis Businesses,” Taylor West, deputy director of NCIA stated, ”This is a cultural movement in the midst of an enormous wave, and we have the opportunity to define an idea on the rise, to be responsible, and to do the education around that,” West said.
“We are building an industry from scratch, and we have to take this opportunity to make this an industry that’s not like every other industry. Responsible branding is important. Don’t screw it up for everybody. We don’t have a rock-solid foundation, and we’re still very vulnerable from a public opinion and policy stand-point. Don’t market to children and don’t market like children,” she said. These points stressed the importance of needing to be both strategic and responsible in the promotion of cannabis businesses, as the industry works under tight scrutiny to continue moving forward.
The outstanding success of the first Cannabis Business Summit shows that as an industry we can move – and are moving – in a responsible, legitimate, and innovative direction. NCIA is honored to have brought together this community with such an incredible turnout of movers and shakers, all contributing to creating an industry we can be proud of. We invite you to join us at one of our many educational & networking events scheduled during the remainder of the year in California, Massachusetts, New York, Nevada, Illinois, Florida, and Colorado. We here at NCIA are proud of the direction this industry is moving, and we sincerely thank all of those who are doing their part to advance an industry based in responsible business practices. Thank you once again to the many generous sponsors and speakers who helped make this such a success, and we’ll see you at the next NCIA event!
Guest Post: Oregon to Vote on Adult-Use Legalization in November
By Anthony Johnson, OCIA executive director
It’s official! Oregon voters will have the opportunity to join Colorado and Washington in regulating, legalizing and taxing cannabis like beer and wine this November. Oregon has wasted too many law enforcement and judicial resources arresting and citing thousands of Oregonians every year. Nearly 100,000 times over the last decade law enforcement officers have taken time out of their day and the day of cannabis users to either write tickets or actually place someone under arrest. Those arrest and citations, in addition to the added judicial, jail and prison costs are a huge waste of Oregon’s limited resources.
The New Approach Oregon measure will also create a new regulated industry that will allow Oregon’s cannabis industry to follow in the footsteps of the state’s successful microbrewery and winery industries. Under the measure, the Oregon Liquor Control Commission (OLCC) will provide wholesale, retail, producer and processor licenses to qualified applicants for $1,250. This relatively low barrier to entry will allow for small businesses and Oregon mom-and-pop shops to enter the market and compete.
A reasonable one-time tax of $35 per ounce ($1.25 per gram) for flower, $10 per ounce of leaf and $5 for every plant sold will keep prices affordable, letting regulated businesses to compete, and eventually diminish the unregulated, illicit market. The OLCC will collect the tax after the first sale after production, keep enough funds for enforcement and then disperse 40% to education, 15% to state police, 10% to cities, 10% to counties, 5% to drug prevention and 20% to mental health and substance abuse treatment services.
Marijuana use must remain out of public view and cannot be delivered within 1,000 feet of schools. The measure doesn’t impact the Oregon Medical Marijuana Program and allows for limited home cultivation (similar to home brewing of beer). The proposal doesn’t change current driving under the influence laws, landlord tenant relations or workplace rules.
Polls show that the New Approach Oregon measure can win at the ballot box and an experienced campaign team has put together a plan for victory. However, prohibitionists like Kevin Sabet and vested interests such as Big Pharma are going to put up a fight. Please go to www.newapproachoregon.com to donate, volunteer and help spread the word about this important measure that will improve the lives of Oregonians and help set the stage for more states to legalize cannabis in 2016.
D.C. Update: Victories in House Show Momentum for Cannabis Legislation
As Washington State celebrates its first retail sales of marijuana, and one state after another continues lowering the burdens to accessing medicinal marijuana, across the country in the “other” Washington (D.C.), Congress continues to lag public opinion polls and is slow to embrace the marijuana movement sweeping the nation.
But even as stand-alone legislation to address issues like banking access and unfair taxation has remained bottled up in Congressional committees, two recent victories show that positive momentum is gathering and progress is being achieved.
Every year Congress appropriates funds for the government to operate in the upcoming fiscal year. This is usually accomplished in 13 separate appropriations bills, each of which affects different departments. Each appropriations bill has to pass the House and Senate before it’s signed by the President, and in some years Congress consolidates multiple appropriations bills into one large bill. Gridlock and partisanship have gotten so bad in recent years that the “normal” budget process has not worked and government has been shut down. But this year, the appropriations process has presented an opportunity to offer amendments affecting the marijuana movement.
The specific appropriations legislation funding the Department of Justice was debated on May 30 in the House of Representatives, and Congressmen Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA) and Sam Farr (D-CA) introduced an amendment that would forbid the Department of Justice from using federal funds to interfere with medical marijuana patients or caregivers who are compliant with state and local laws. A similar amendment has been proposed in Congress before but never met with success. This time, the amendment was approved by a 219-189 vote, including the support of 49 Republicans.
Although there are still several challenges to surmount before the amendment’s language can become law, the vote was nonetheless historic as the first time in history the House of Representatives passed pro-marijuana legislation and agreed that individual states should be allowed to determine its own marijuana laws.
In the Senate, a bipartisan amendment introduced by Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Cory Booker (D-NJ) would accomplish the same goals as the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment, but Republican and Democrat Senators can’t even agree on debate procedures, so the legislation languishes and we continue to wait until Senate leaders bring appropriations bills up for a vote.
This month, the House debated the Financial Services Appropriations bill, which funds the Department of the Treasury. During that debate, Representatives Denny Heck (D-WA), Ed Perlmutter (D-CO), Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), and Barbara Lee (D-CA) offered an amendment that would forbid the use of federal funds to penalize financial institutions for serving cannabis businesses that are operating in compliance with state and local laws. In a vote that sent a strong message of support for opening up banking access to the legal industry, the House passed the amendment 231-192.
That amendment faces the same challenges of a gridlocked Senate that the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment does. But the combination of these two votes in the Republican-controlled House shows that the work of NCIA and our allied organizations to educate federal legislators about our issues is having a very real impact.
NCIA Member Profile: CannLabs
NCIA Member Profile: CannLabs, Inc.
About: CannLabs, Inc., is a solutions provider with intellectual property, proprietary cloud-based analytics, and scientific methods to serve the cannabis industry. Through Carbon Bond Holdings Inc., CannLabs provides laboratories with the necessary business intelligence technology and other solutions required to serve the cannabis industry, and these include the first state-licensed laboratory in Denver, Colorado.
Cannabis Industry Sector: Analytical Testing
NCIA Member Since: 2011
Membership Status: Sustaining
Led by: Genifer Murray
How has CannLabs evolved since you founded the business? CannLabs has made leaps and bounds since we founded the company in April 2010. I started in a lab space that was 150 square feet with one instrument. We recently moved into our new lab space that is 4000 square feet with 2500 square feet of office space. We currently have 20 employees and continue to rapidly grow. We just signed a lease in Connecticut and we’re excited about expanding our services there. Testing in Colorado is mandatory for adult-use only, and we were the first state-certified lab in the country. The industry is changing fast and I’m extremely happy at the way CannLabs is positioned to support it.
Why did you choose to go into cannabis testing, and how does testing and analysis fit into the future of the cannabis industry? It was literally started on a napkin in Arizona when I was visiting my Dad at the beginning of 2010. My first business partner had the idea and after returning to Colorado I did my due diligence and absolutely loved the idea. I have a B.S. in Microbiology and I love science. It seemed like a perfect fit for me as it allowed me to bring together my business brain and my natural desire to do something different.
CannLabs started as a lab offering a full range of testing services, but we have found that our expertise, experience, and quality of our service has allowed us to be heavily involved in other areas beyond testing.
For example, if a grower finds that the quality of the product is not good during testing, we can advise them on how best to deal with the issue. This allows for improved quality of the product all around which means a better and safer product for the consumer. We also have medicinal chemists who research deep into cannabis and look for ways to reformulate for better products. The science and technology behind cannabis is an area we excel in at CannLabs.
We also have a proprietary, cloud-based technology that feeds real-time data via our web portal. This allows clients to post their test results instantly on our ‘Product Finder’ or our other partner sites (MJ Freeway and WeedMaps) which allows consumers to find CannLabs-tested and -certified products fast and easy. This not only gives customers reassurance that the products they are finding are certified by CannLabs, but it also drives traffic to the dispensaries we test for as it is a fabulous location-finder. We also offer statistics so our clients can push one button and see trends. For example, the Colorado MED process requests a 3-month average for potency. Our clients do not need to take the time to do that. Instead they simply push a button and our system does it for them. Whatever our customers want to see, we can customize it.
What was the licensing process like? Comprehensive. The CDPHE (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment) was at our lab for about nine hours going through methods, SOP’s (Standard Operating Procedures), testing our lab director and lab staff, and thoroughly going through the lab. Heather Despres, our lab director, was very prepared, so we were able to get our license without many changes. We were very happy to finally get certified, as I have been waiting for the opportunity for four years.
Why did you get involved with NCIA? Why wouldn’t CannLabs? I remember in the very beginning of 2011 when it started, I wanted to join so badly but I was barely making enough to keep afloat. Once I could, I joined immediately; I believe at the end of 2011. It is very important to support the industry not only locally but nationally. NCIA is the ONLY one out there working for us. NCIA has been so wonderful to be a part of and you meet some amazing people leading the industry in this group. If only the entire industry felt this way, we might have banking issues solved by now.
NCIA Board Plans Future for Industry’s Trade Association
By Aaron Smith, NCIA executive director
The National Cannabis Industry Association’s newly-elected Board of Directors met last week in Seattle to receive presentations from staff and provide strategic direction for the organization’s core efforts.
One of the primary responsibilities of the board is to oversee NCIA’s financial affairs, which are very healthy as membership rolls have reached nearly 700 cannabis businesses midway through the year. NCIA’s revenues are 10% over the projections for Q1 and Q2 and spending is on target. The success of our national conference and growth in membership have allowed NCIA to hire an additional events coordinator who will assist the organization in building out a robust agenda of educational and networking events for members.
The board also received presentations from Deputy Director Taylor West and Director of Government Relations Michael Correia on NCIA’s communications and lobbying efforts, respectively. NCIA and the cannabis industry have garnered more media attention in 2014 than ever before, raising awareness of the positive contribution responsible cannabis businesses make to the national economy and growing public support for the federal and state policy reforms needed to advance the regulated industry across the country.
The addition of a full-time staff lobbyist at the end of last year has allowed us to provide more political representation in Washington, DC than ever before. NCIA’s director of government relations has already made contact with every congressional office and has personally met with over 200 House offices and 30 Senate offices to build support for amending the 280E provision of the tax code as well as reforms to banking regulations so that the cannabis providers will someday (hopefully soon) have access to basic financial services all other industry’s take for granted.
A former Republican Hill staffer himself, Michael Correia, has focused primarily on building relationships with conservative members of Congress and appealing to them on issues of states’ rights and limited government. This effort helped lead to the Republican-controlled House of Representatives voting for the first time to block federal resources from to be used to undermine state medical marijuana laws or penalize financial institutions for doing business with state-legal cannabis providers.
The board also collectively donated over $8,000 to NCIA’s federal PAC during the meeting so that the industry can further support candidates that support our issues in the months ahead.
The future is bright for the cannabis industry and its trade association but there is still a lot of work that needs to be done before our members are treated fairly under federal law. As NCIA grows, we will continue to dedicate resources to important government and public relations work as well as building a culture of responsibility and political engagement within the industry.
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former SSDP members. They have been longtime supporters of SSDP, donating their design skills over the years to SSDP’s live-music-based program, the 
t year to set up a statewide medical program, is currently reviewing applications for licenses for medical marijuana dispensaries and cultivation centers. Additionally the Nevada legislature will consider a full legalization initiative during the 2015 session, although passage would require a 2/3 vote in both chambers. If the measure fails in the legislature, Nevada voters will have a chance to directly vote on legalization as a ballot initiative in 2016. Both Rep. Titus and Sen. Segerblom encouraged attendees to reach out to them and keep an open dialogue so that they can best represent the industry by understanding its needs.
regarding the Nevada application process which ended earlier in the week. Attendees also had the chance to visit sponsor booths to find out more about their products and services. The symposium’s sponsors this year included 
moving cautiously, and a group of senators have asked the Justice Department to give further legal guidance on this. NCIA will be providing updates on this issue as they are available.
Austin-based duo 
