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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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.
