NCIA’s High-Impact Quarterly Cannabis Caucuses – Q1 Photos and Feedback
Last week we wrapped up the first quarter of our newly established event series, the Quarterly Cannabis Caucuses. Thanks so much to the nearly 500 members, speakers, supporters, and volunteers that engaged with NCIA’s federal advocacy work at caucuses in twelve cities across the country!
“Last night we attended the National Cannabis Industry Association meeting and were reminded about the crucial importance of advocacy in this election year. The continued reform of our drug laws and the nation’s growing access to cannabis is not a given.”– Kiva Confections
“I had the pleasure of attending both the Denver and Las Vegas NCIA caucuses and can’t begin to say enough good things. The content, location, and format were on point. I got to catch up with lots of colleagues, who were able to introduce me to prospective customers, and I was also able to meet several new entrants to the industry. I made amazing business connections and was able to set up 5 meetings for the following day.” – Amanda Ostrowitz, Co-Founder & Chief Strategy Officer, CannaReg§
“Last night at NCIA’s Quarterly Cannabis Caucus, I opened it up by expressing the importance of national advocacy. We all know the importance of local and state advocacy but the biggest threat to my business is 280E. This is the IRS tax code that does not allow dispensaries to write off ANY expenses. We just want to be treated like every other small business in America. This tax theft will happen every year until the tax code changes. Simply put, the IRS has robbed me and my patients. This is just one reason why federal law MUST CHANGE. Get involved, get active, and join the National Cannabis Industry Association.”– Aaron Justis, Buds & Roses
Looking for downloadable versions of the information we provided at the first round of Cannabis Caucuses? Check out our Cannabis Caucus Resources page.
The next events in the Quarterly Cannabis Caucus series will come to you in April. So check out the dates below, mark your calendar, and register online now by visiting the NCIA Events page!
Have any feedback from an event you attended? Want to suggest a particular topic you would like covered at our next Cannabis Caucus in your area? Fill out our short attendee survey to provide us with valuable feedback we’ll use to improve future events.
Interested in sponsoring an upcoming Cannabis Caucus in your area or a series of events across the country? Check out our Cannabis Caucus sponsorship guide which outlines pricing and benefits, as well as discounts on packages for our third annual Cannabis Business Summit & Expo taking place this year in Oakland, June 20-22.
See you at the next Caucus!
Announcing NCIA’s January – June 2016 Events Calendar
Do you have questions regarding any upcoming events in your area or others across the country? Reach out to events@thecannabisindustry.org any time with your questions, comments, or concerns.
Interested in sponsoring one or a series of events in a particular region throughout the year in order to gain valuable exposure for your company to our nationwide network of established business owners? Please contact Brian Gilbert at brian@thecannabisindustry.org for more information on series rates and associated discounts for packages.
Interested in speaking at the upcoming Cannabis Business Summit? Please contact brooke@thecannabisindustry.org for more information on remaining opportunities.
Help NCIA’s Inclusion Initiative Expand in 2016
Congratulations and thank you for a great 2015.
NCIA’s Inclusion Initiative, headed up by our Minority Business Council (NCIA-MBC), had a good start this year, and we were able to make a difference for dozens of people in the cannabis industry or working to enter the industry. Considering the Council had its first formal meeting only seven months ago, we have achieved a great deal in raising awareness and beginning to take on the mandate of creating a more inclusive industry.
We also have a good start to 2016. We’ve added an Inclusion Initiative contribution option to the registration forms for the 2016 Cannabis Business Summit and have already begun building up the scholarship fund.
But we can never rest on our laurels, and the expectations of the industry are great. There is talk about what else we can do to help promote inclusion in this industry, and now is the time to start the discussion.
The next meeting of the NCIA-MBC will be a planning meeting at 2pm MT on Tuesday, January 19th. To join the meeting, simply call in to the conference call line at (303) 416-5167. (No PIN is necessary.)
With this meeting, we’ll seek to get a little more formal in our efforts. The goal is to establish a representative committee and meeting structure to ensure we are at the forward edge of our work and that what needs to be done is getting done.
In an effort to continue the development of this initiative and grow the opportunities for those who face barriers within the industry, we are putting forward the notion of creating a more formal structure – guiding the development of the NCIA Inclusion Initiative by expanding the Minority Business Council and establishing a less formal advisory committee as well.
Therefore, we seek your input into two areas:
Please review the proposed rules for serving on the NCIA Minority Business Council. Then let us know if you would like to serve on the Council under these rules or would like to stay or become involved with the Inclusion Initiative through the less formal advisory committee.
Proposed Requirements for NCIA Minority Business Council (MBC) Members
Council members must be employees of NCIA member-businesses
Council chair must be a member of the NCIA Board of Directors and thus report to and from MBC
Chair and Vice chair are elected by the Council members
Secretary is appointed from NCIA staff
Only one person from any given member-business can serve on the Council (but there is no limit to how many people from a business can serve on the advisory committee)
Council members must be able to attend at least 3 in-person meetings and 3 telephone meetings during a calendar year
Council members must commit to a minimum financial contribution to MBC activities (examples: scholarship pledges, in-kind donations, etc.), exact amount to be determined by the Council at an affordable level to all
We believe the optimal number of people on the Council would be about 12, so we are looking for 12 strong volunteers who have a point-of-view and are eager to contribute on these critical issues.
If you own or are employed at an NCIA member-business, please feel free to nominate yourself for the Council. We also welcome your recommendations for others for us to follow through on and ensure we have the best recruits we can get.
Even if you are not part of an NCIA member-business, we invite you to join the advisory committee for NCIA’s Inclusion Initiative. On this advisory committee, you will be invited to every meeting and kept fully informed of action and activities, as well as have direct input into the Council and the Inclusion Initiative.
Please let us know of your involvement and interest before January 11th, so we can schedule a meeting and put structure in place for fuller development.
And as we head into 2016, we invite you to suggest and share resources for the Inclusion Initiative page on NCIA’s website, so that we can build it into a helpful presence for those looking for industry support and knowledge.
Thank you for your interest in the Minority Business Council and NCIA’s Inclusion Initiative. We look forward to expanding and building upon the success of 2015!
NCIA’s Minority Business Council: Robert Van Roo, Palm Springs Safe Access Joshua Littlejohn, Accannadations LLC Dr. Lakisha Jenkins, Kiona T. Jenkins Foundation for Natural Health Luke Ramirez, Walking Raven LLC
Announcing the Quarterly Cannabis Caucus Event Series
Wow, where does the time go? The end of 2015 is in sight and 2016 is fast approaching! As per usual, these past 12 months made for another landmark year for our industry where we saw enormous growth across all sectors, as well as witnessed notable legislative victories in the House and the historic first-time introduction of cannabis-specific legislation in the Senate. We continue to see increased activity and support for our issues in D.C., due in no small part to our increasingly prominent voice within the halls of Congress, spearheaded by the work NCIA is doing with your support.
Now, we are excited to announce that starting in January, we’ll be debuting a new nationwide event series! NCIA’s Quarterly Cannabis Caucuses will be held in the cannabis industry’s 12 most active regions, on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the first month of each new quarter. The exact date will vary depending on your region, and you can view the full list of dates and locations here. The schedule for the first quarter will be:
Oregon Cannabis Caucus – Portland, OR – Tuesday, January 12 – REGISTER NOW
Mid-Atlantic Cannabis Caucus – Washington, D.C. – Tuesday, January 12 – REGISTER NOW
Northeast Cannabis Caucus – Boston, MA – Thursday, January 14 – REGISTER NOW
FloridaCannabis Caucus – Orlando, FL – Thursday, January 14 – REGISTER NOW
MidwestCannabis Caucus – Chicago, IL – Tuesday, January 19 – REGISTER NOW
Tri-StateCannabis Caucus – New York, NY – Tuesday, January 19 – REGISTER NOW
ColoradoCannabis Caucus – Denver, CO – Thursday, January 21 – REGISTER NOW
SouthwestCannabis Caucus – Phoenix, AZ – Thursday, January 21 – REGISTER NOW
NevadaCannabis Caucus – Las Vegas, NV – Tuesday, January 26 – REGISTER NOW
So. California CannabisCaucus – Los Angeles, CA – Tuesday, January 26 – REGISTER NOW
No. CaliforniaCannabis Caucus – San Francisco, CA – Thursday, January 28 – REGISTER NOW
WashingtonCannabis Caucus – Seattle, WA – Thursday, January 28 – REGISTER NOW
As NCIA heads into our sixth year of operation, we’re committed to growing and evolving our work to provide increased value to our members and reflect our unique position with the industry. The Quarterly Cannabis Caucuses have been designed to provide the quality and consistent programming you’ve come to expect from NCIA events, while also preparing you and your business to contribute to our legislative efforts on the national level.
You and your team will leave each Cannabis Caucus equipped with the tools to affect positive change on cannabis issues while making meaningful connections with vested industry players. Each Caucus will be free of charge for current NCIA members and include an in-depth federal policy update from senior NCIA staff or staff from a district congressional office, a comprehensive state and local policy update from a local elected official or a member of NCIA, an informational packet filled with detailed legislative analysis and recent federal policy developments, and an organizational update so you can keep up to date with what NCIA is doing for you. All of this will be offered as well as the opportunity to network with the leaders in the cannabis industry.
The Caucus also serves as an opportunity for our members to share their ideas and concerns with NCIA, which is committed to serving the industry in the best way possible
As the only national trade association representing cannabis business owners on Capitol Hill, we are your voice within the halls of Congress on a daily basis. We take this responsibilityseriously and by holding these quarterly member meetings, we hope you’ll take advantage of this opportunity to make your own voice heard within our ranks as well.
Every day it seems a new event is popping up, vying for your time, money, and focus. We here at NCIA know that our members’ time is one of their most valued assets, so we’ve created this event series to pack maximum information, value, and member benefit into a regular quarterly meet-up.
Do you have questions regarding the upcoming Quarterly Cannabis Caucus in your area or others across the country? Reach out to events@thecannabisindustry.org any time with your questions, comments, or concerns.
Interested in sponsoring one or a series of events in a particular region throughout the year in order to gain valuable exposure for your company to our nationwide network of established business owners? Please contact Brian Gilbert at brian@thecannabisindustry.org for more information on series rates and associated discounts for packages including NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit 2016, taking place in Oakland, CA, June 20-22.
Video Newsletter: Why NCIA’s Cannabis Business Summit is 2016’s Can’t-Miss Event
Then purchase your Members-Only Early Bird tickets by December 18 to save $380 off the regular price!
Not yet an NCIA member? Add a one-year membership to your ticket purchase to get the early bird discount AND $50 off your member dues!
Register today and we’ll see you in Oakland, June 20-22, 2016!
Timeline: 2015 Legislative Year in Review
by Michelle Rutter, Government Relations Coordinator
As we look forward to 2016, there’s much on the horizon for the cannabis industry. NCIA remains dedicated in its effort to pass banking and tax legislation through Congress that would provide immediate relief to cannabis-related businesses all over the country.
In addition to the federal advocacy that NCIA engages in every day, there will be at least five states seeking to legalize and regulate adult-use cannabis via the ballot initiative process: Arizona, California, Maine, Massachusetts, and Nevada. It’s also likely that Florida will have another ballot initiative relating to medical cannabis, and it’s possible that other states will move forward with cannabis reform through ballot initiatives or legislative processes. What happens over the next twelve months will be crucial in shaping the future of the legitimate and responsible cannabis industry.
While 2015 was a milestone year for cannabis reform, that same momentum will be necessary in order to continue moving the conversation forward with Congress in Washington, D.C. The Rohrabacher-Farr medical cannabis amendment earned more that 60 Republicans votes. For the first time ever, there are multiple pro-cannabis bills that have been introduced in the U.S. Senate. Continued progress is vital in garnering more national support for cannabis reform, so make sure your interests are heard through national advocacy, education, and community with NCIA.
The timeline below lays out some of the highlights from a busy year in cannabis industry advocacy. We look forward to more exciting milestones with your help in 2016!
*Click on the “Full Screen” button (with the four arrows) at the bottom of the image to expand its size.
Happy Thanksgiving! Bountiful Benefits for NCIA Members
by Laurence Gration, Director of Development
As we head into this weekend of giving thanks, we here at NCIA are grateful for five years of advocacy, education, and community with our members. With a diverse set of services and an increasing influence on industry, legislators, and regulators across the nation, the cornerstone of our success together is firmly in place.
As the cannabis industry’s only non-profit trade association with full-time professional lobbyists working for your interests in Washington, D.C., NCIA is focused on advocacy for your business. With the strength in numbers that our nearly 1,000 member-businesses provide, we have become an influential force on Capitol Hill, with direct access to legislators and regulators.
No other business organization has done (and is doing) more for 280E reform or to fix the dangerous banking crisis than NCIA.
As a unifying voice in the industry, we are also focused on educational programming and community-building, bringing together advocates, business leaders, and policy makers to shape the industry in positive ways. NCIA also leads a Diversity and Inclusion committee, representing the interests of all under-represented groups within the industry.
But in addition to our core mission, NCIA is doing so much more for its members and the industry:
Keeping you informed: sign up for our newsletter, get video updates, and read the NCIA blog
On top of all that, NCIA members have access to a large and growing list of Member-to-Member Discounts, covering virtually every aspect of your business needs, including:
Accounting
Advertising & Marketing
Analytical Lab Testing
Infused Products
Cultivation Supply
HR & Recruiting
Software Technology
Insurance
Legal Services
Packaging
Photography
Real Estate Advising
Security
Training and Education
Travel
Wellness Products
With these discounts alone, many of our members find their NCIA membership pays for itself.
Finally, one more way we say “thanks” to our members is with gifts that let you show your pride in being part of our fast-growing community. Member pins, decals for your business window, and member certificates tell the world that you’ve invested in the long-term future of our industry.
At this time when we count our blessings, we’re grateful to you, and we hope you’ll enjoy the bounty of benefits your NCIA membership brings. With our influence in D.C. on the rise, and new programs and benefits being added all the time, it’s never been a better time to be a part of the NCIA community.
Not yet an NCIA member? Invest in your business and the future of your industry – join today!
Guest Post: NCIA Board Chair Reflects on the Past Five Years
by Jaime Lewis, Mountain Medicine
Dear cannabis colleagues,
I don’t know about you, but I cannot believe that it has been five years since Aaron Smith approached me with the idea of building a national trade association for the cannabis industry. Now, five years later, the National Cannabis Industry Association has become just that for us, and then some.
I’ve been witness to some incredible growth within the cannabis industry since NCIA was established in 2010. With the passage of full adult-use measures in four states and the continual growth of support within the halls of Congress, we have effectively been noticed as a legitimate industry that is gaining respect and recognition across the country.
It’s an amazing honor to have been involved from the very beginning – from attending the very first NCIA Lobby Day in Washington, D.C., to now serving as the chair of NCIA’s Board of Directors. All of us cannabis business leaders should be so proud to have effectively changed the conversation around our work, proving that we are a responsible and politically engaged industry. And we certainly have NCIA to thank for building a community of respected business owners and for fighting for this industry on the federal level for these past five years.
I invite you to come celebrate with me, share some laughs, and reflect on the last half-decade at Looking Back, Moving Forward – NCIA’s 5th Anniversary Celebration. Taking place on November 11 at the LiNQ Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, the night will be be an unforgettable celebration of where we’ve been and what we have to look forward to in the years ahead. I am excited to celebrate with you! Sincerely, Jaime Lewis Owner, Mountain Medicine Chair, National Cannabis Industry Association Board of Directors
Jaime Lewis, Owner of Mountain Medicine & Chair of NCIA’s Board of Directors
Jaime Lewis is the founder and owner of Mountain Medicine, a leading marijuana provider in Colorado renowned for its quality products, patient services, community engagement, and philanthropic efforts.
Since 2010, she has applied industry best practices to advance the company’s mission to provide safe and legal access to marijuana infused products and improves patient quality of life through the therapeutic benefits of marijuana. Jaime’s business management and entrepreneurial skills have contributed to Mountain Medicine success. In addition she has experience in retail and Medical marijuana dispensary in Denver, with a background in culinary arts, Jaime’s career trajectory into the medical marijuana industry began by creating compassion edibles for HIV/AIDs patients in San Francisco. In 2009, she moved to Colorado and founded Mountain Medicine, a marijuana-infused product manufacturer. She continues to oversee product development, quality control, and product consistency – the main tenants of the philosophy behind the company she founded.
Jaime is founder and Chair of the Cannabis Business Alliance (CBA), which serves as the policy voice for the cannabis industry in Colorado. CBA reflects her priority to develop sound policies and respect for the industry as it grows. She is a current board member of the National Cannabis Industry Association and has been active in campaigns to advance the interest of the industry. As a business woman and industry advocate, her participation in these organizations reflects her passion and commitment to support responsible industry policies, promote patient access, and enhance the emerging industry’s role in the economy.
Welcome to the NEW NCIA Website!
If you’re reading this post, you’ve probably noticed that the NCIA website has gotten quite a face lift!
We hope you like our bright new look. We think it’s cleaner, fresher, and more modern – a positive reflection of the professional, forward-looking businesses we represent.
First of all, the NCIA blog can now be read by anyone, not just members. That means a bigger audience for the guest posts our members submit, and it means you can share those posts with anyone you want. Over the last several months, the blog has been full of valuable information – much of it contributed by you – and we want to give that information its fullest chance to shine.
The other exciting change is that NCIA members can now update your business and contact information right through the website. Did your mailing address change? Want to add your website to your record? Maybe you want to update the email address or phone number we use to contact you about your membership.
Just click the white “Member Login” button at the top right of the NCIA home page and log in with your new Username and Password. (We sent an email to your primary contact email address this week with that information. If you didn’t get it, check your spam folder and then contact us at info@thecannabisindustry.org.)
From there, hold your mouse over the “My Profile” tab at the left, and you’ll see all the options for adjusting your information, including changing your password. With this new function, we can keep your member records more current, improve our online member directory, and give you the convenience of updating your contact information any time you want.
We hope you enjoy the new look and features of our updated website! Please let us know if you run into any problems or have any suggestions for future improvements. And, as always, thank you for supporting your industry’s voice for advocacy, education, and community!
You’re Invited: Celebrating NCIA’s 5th Year Anniversary
By Brooke Gilbert, Director of Events & Education
As the close of 2015 approaches, and along with it NCIA’s 5th year of successful operation, we are very excited to be gearing up to celebrate this momentous occasion with all our members and supporters! Much has changed since NCIA formed back in 2010, and there can be no denying the monumental strides achieved since then by the cannabis industry.
To celebrate these successes, we will be holding a refined retrospective-themed banquet the evening of November 11 at a breathtaking location, The Vortex, in Las Vegas. At the entrance of The LINQ promenade, The Vortex feels like a work of art, with a name inspired by its 7,000-square-foot, color-changing canopy vortex of lights. The Vortex is one of Vegas’ premier outdoor event venues and features a second-story observation deck beneath its LED canopy, situated in a prime location overlooking The Strip.
As in years past, we will be honoring elected officials throughout the evening who have been champions of our issues. We have nominated Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Representative Barbara Lee (D-CA 13th District), Representative Jared Polis (D-CO 2nd District), and Representative Barbara McClintock (R-CA 4th District) as the “Honorary Legislative Leaders” of 2015. During the banquet, we will be awarding one of these elected officials our coveted “Cannabis Industry Legislative Leadership” award distinguishing them as our industry’s champion this past year.
In addition to the awards ceremony, included in each $250 admission is a three-course meal, an open bar, musical entertainment by Erothyme, and a special gift bag filled with mementos to commemorate the occasion. You will also have the chance to explore our photo gallery offering an industry retrospective of the past five years of growth while making your own memories along our red carpet. In addition, you can take part in our silent auction where we’ll be offering up lots of unique cannabis and cultural memorabilia along with a few once-in-a-lifetime travel packages.
A huge thank you to our generous sponsors for making this event possible!
Premier Sponsor:
Silver Sponsors: Bronze Sponsor:
P.S. – Looking for more ways to support our 5th anniversary celebration? There are still a few high-level sponsorship opportunities available, as well as the opportunity to become a “Friend of the Industry” through a $500 donation.
If you would like to showcase your brand while publicly supporting NCIA’s work during one of the most important evenings of the year, contact us at events@thecannabisindustry.org or (888) 683-5650 today.
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Have any feedback from an event you attended? Want to suggest a particular topic you would like covered at our next Cannabis Caucus in your area? Fill out our short attendee survey to provide us with valuable feedback we’ll use to improve future events.
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At the entrance of The LINQ promenade, The Vortex feels like a work of art, with a name inspired by its 7,000-square-foot, color-changing canopy vortex of lights. The Vortex is one of Vegas’ premier outdoor event venues and features a second-story observation deck beneath its LED canopy, situated in a prime location overlooking The Strip.
