Largest cannabis trade group in country encourages businesses to participate, share efforts to improve inclusivity and support communities most harmed by prohibition 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – In an effort to create more opportunities for people of color and members of marginalized communities in cannabis and ancillary industries, the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is endorsing The Accountability List (TAL) by Cannaclusive, a leading advocacy and business consulting firm dedicated to improving minority representation in the cannabis industry and as consumers. The Accountability List is a regularly updated resource that allows businesses and organizations to share information regarding their staffing diversity and support for causes related to industry equity and social justice, and examines those efforts in relation to their public statements and commitments.

The Accountability List was launched at the start of a national reckoning on systemic racism early this summer after the death of George Floyd at the hands of Minneapolis police officers and an outpouring of public support from cannabis-related organizations. It endeavors to follow up on those statements to ensure measurable progress in the industry and highlight those who are actively working to improve upon the status quo. It is curated by Cannaclusive with the help of numerous volunteers and interns. Information may be submitted for inclusion by filling out this survey.

“This list serves as a call to hold ourselves accountable to ensure a diverse and inclusive industry,” said Mary Pryor, co-founder of Cannaclusive, “as well as to be in active solidarity with communities harmed by the drug war as a means to end it and to reverse its impacts.”

“As more and more states regulate cannabis and we get closer to ending federal prohibition, it is increasingly important to make sure that the people who have been most harmed by the war on drugs are not left behind as the industry is taking root,” said Aaron Smith, co-founder and chief executive officer of the National Cannabis Industry Association. “The Accountability List gives businesses the opportunity to show consumers, the industry, and policymakers what they are actively doing to promote fairness and inclusivity in cannabis and beyond. We encourage everyone in the cannabis space to stand up for justice, be honest about where they can improve, and commit to doing so in the most forthright and transparent ways possible.”

In addition to TAL, NCIA will be promoting the use of InclusiveBase, a database maintained by Cannaclusive and ALMOSTCONSULTING of Black, Indigenous, and people of color owned cannabis businesses.

NCIA is also encouraging anyone who has applied for or received a cannabis business license through an existing state or local social equity program to get involved with its Social Equity Scholarship Program. This scholarship provides one year of complimentary NCIA membership and other benefits to qualifying applicants.

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Cannaclusive is a consulting firm created to facilitate fair representation of minority cannabis consumers by celebrating the cultures of this thriving community through curated experiences, groundbreaking insights, thoughtful content and dynamic visuals. We make it easier for brands to communicate with diverse audiences and ensure that minority consumers are not an afterthought, but a valued ally in the fight for legalization and destigmatization.

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is the largest cannabis trade association in the U.S. and the only organization broadly representing cannabis-related businesses at the national level. NCIA promotes the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry and works toward a favorable social, economic, and legal environment for that industry in the United States.