By Jaime Lewis, Good Chemistry (CO)

As a business woman and industry advocate, I have been involved in the medical marijuana industry for almost a decade and know first-hand the boundaries, obstacles, and false preconceptions that the industry faces. Gaining support, respect, and legitimacy for our industry takes a unified front to educate and advocate—which is why NCIA’s mission is so important to the future of the industry and my company. I ask for your support to continue to bring my knowledge, experience, and commitment to this process as a board member representing Good Chemistry.

Good Chemistry, a marijuana cultivator and dispensary located in Denver, has been a sustaining member of NCIA for over three years. I am a current board member representing Mountain Medicine – a marijuana-infused product company I founded – which is now an operating company of Good Chemistry.

As a board member of NCIA, I have been a strong supporter of NCIA’s Political Action Committee, which is critical to ensuring our voice is heard in Washington. I was also one of only five NCIA members involved in the association’s funding and hiring of Capitol Counsel — a high-level DC tax policy lobbying firm — to reform the federal tax burden our industry faces. As a passionate industry advocate, I frequently serve as an NCIA speaker to promote the benefits of our industry, participate in industry lobbying visits, and have given a presentation on the industry’s banking access issues at a Capitol Hill Staff Briefing in 2012.

As a board member representing Good Chemistry, I will continue to contribute my diverse perspective and lessons learned from my experience:

• Founder and owner of a marijuana-infused product company that supplies Good Chemistry and over twenty other dispensaries
• Chief Operating Officer of Good Chemistry, a medical and adult-use marijuana cultivator and dispensary
• Key founder and Chair of the Cannabis Business Alliance, the policy voice for the marijuana industry in Colorado
• Stakeholder in developing medical marijuana regulations in some states that have approved its use for medical purposes where Good Chemistry plans to expand
• Spokesperson and advocate on behalf of the medical marijuana industry
• Community relationship-builder to promote corporate citizenship

I pledge to work hard to improve the perception of the industry and to overcome the barriers that will make it a credible, sustainable contributor to the economy. Thanks in advance for your support.

See the full Board of Directors Voter Guide here.