The heart of NCIA is a powerful network of business owners, industry professionals, and entrepreneurs who share a common goal: building a fair, inclusive, and thriving cannabis industry. Through our “Rooted in Community” series, we shine a light on the members who help support and shape that vision every day. This month, we’re proud to feature Evergreen Member and NCIA Board Member Monica Gray-Fong, co-founder of Nice Guys Delivery – a retail delivery & distribution company leading the industry with a deep commitment to political advocacy and community.  Since joining NCIA in 2017, Monica has been a dedicated advocate for the industry by participating in Lobby Days, speaking at our conferences, contributing to webinars, and serving on our Board of Directors for the past 5 years. We’re proud to have Monica and Nice Guys Delivery as part of the NCIA community and honored to represent their work and values!

NCIA: Give us a snapshot of Nice Guys Delivery.  Where you operate, who you serve, and what makes your work unique?

MG:  Nice Guys Delivery primarily serves individuals in California, particularly in Marin County, who are looking for high-quality, lab-tested cannabis products. Our customers likely include both recreational users and those seeking cannabis for wellness purposes. For those that cannot access cannabis by going to a Dispensary, we bring relief right to your doorstep. 

NCIA: California is often seen as the heart of cannabis, especially since it was the first state to legalize medical use. But from an insider’s perspective, what’s the reality of working in the cannabis industry in California today?

MG:  Ugh. California is terrible. The industry in CA is failing. Shrinking. AB564 already passed but the industry was failing before the tax increase and AB564 merely kept us at 15% and did not decrease it. They also just put a ban on intoxicating HEMP products. Not sure how much further that will take our industry…..

NCIA:  What motivated you to join NCIA?

MG: Nice Guys Delivery is deeply committed to advocating for small business owners and the customers they serve in the cannabis industry. By joining the National Cannabis Industry Association, we are ensuring that our voice – and the voices of our patients and customers – are represented in shaping the future of the industry. This highlights our dedication to not only providing quality products and services but also to influencing policies and decisions that impact small businesses and the broader cannabis community.

NCIA: Can you share a favorite NCIA memory – perhaps a relationship or connection that your membership helped you build?

MG:  Speaking on the SAFE(ER) banking panel at the conference in Long Beach. Meeting some really great people at that conference and being able to give my two cents on why banking is such a huge hurdle for the industry.

I have met so many wonderful people at the NCIA. I’ve met our current General Council, our Insurance Broker and so many other partners and collaborators throughout the years.

NCIA:  How does Nice Guys Delivery stand out from the competition?

MG: We were one of the first delivery services licensed in CA after prop 64 passed. We’ve been around since 2016 (almost 10 years?!), been through the pandemic as an essential business, have been through every regulatory hurdle and have seen many of our friends in the industry come and go.

NCIA: 10 years is such an accomplishment in cannabis!  How has your company evolved since it started?

MG:  OMG. This is an essay in itself. It was just myself and my husband at first. The business was incorporated 2 weeks after I gave birth to our first son in 2016. We now have 40+ employees, 9 vehicles, 4 units in our building, so many systems integrated, security upgrades and more. I can go on and on about why my hair is now turning white.

NCIA: Any final words on why NCIA membership is valuable to Nice Guys Delivery?

MG: It is important that our voice is heard and at the table when cannabis reform happens at the National Level.

Monica and Nice Guys Delivery personify what it means to be truly rooted in community. Not only by serving their customers with care, but by standing up for the future of the cannabis industry through their advocacy and leadership. As a longtime NCIA member and Board leader, Monica’s voice continues to shape critical conversations around equity, access, and reform. We’re honored to spotlight her journey and grateful for the work she and Nice Guys Delivery are doing to push the industry forward. 

Together with our members, NCIA is building a stronger cannabis industry – rooted in community and driven by shared purpose. Join the community, join NCIA.