Fireside Chats w/ NCIA’s GR Team | 10.27.21 | Going Green: Considerations for Businesses & Policymakers

Mike and Michelle carry on their monthly conversations with regulators, policy makers and cannabis industry thought leaders to discuss the latest developments in federal policy LIVE. In this edition of our Fireside Chats w/ NCIA’s Government Relations Team series originally aired on Wednesday, October 27, 2021 the panel dove deep into the current landscape and future outlook for sustainability in the cannabis industry.

As the cannabis industry continues to grow, so does its environmental impact. This fast-growing and highly regulated industry (at the state level) is poised to lead on evolving business challenges, including the adoption of environmentally sound business practices that demonstrate to the broader agriculture sector that comprehensive environmental sustainability is achievable. But, challenges remain and the stakes are ever-increasing.

We’ll look at the intersection of the current environmental footprint of the cannabis industry, existing sustainability solutions (packaging, regenerative farming, renewable energy), political and economic issues limiting adoption of these practices by operators, and lay out strategies to remove those barriers. We’ll also be talking extensively about NCIA’s 2020 white paper (Read Now: https://bit.ly/3uDogfa) on environmental sustainability, so be sure to take a look!

Speakers:
Sabrina Fendrick, Essentia Endeavors
Ron Basak-Smith, Sana Packaging
Tiffany Watkins, Vanguard Media
Kaitlin Urso, Environmental Protection Specialist, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

Moderating:
Michael Correia, Director of Government Relations (NCIA)
Michelle Rutter Friberg, Deputy Director of Government Relations (NCIA)

Policy Council Conversations | 7.20.21 | The Medicine and Research of Cannabis

In this edition of our Policy Council Conversations series originally aired on Tuesday, July 20, 2021 we were joined by the six primary authors of NCIA’s recently released whitepaper on the Medicine of Cannabis for an overview designed to help inform and guide policymakers and medical professionals on the science, history, and uses of medical cannabis.

The Medicine of Cannabis: An Overview for Medical Professionals and Policymakers – https://bit.ly/3Bn1UBy

This publication was developed by scientists and doctors working with NCIA’s Policy Council and Scientific Advisory Committee, and promotes policies that facilitate further research and fair, legal access. On this webinar you’ll hear from the writing team itself, including physicians, veterinarians, and a PhD researcher as they discuss their paper and summarize what your doctor and policy maker needs to know.

Learning Objectives:
• Overview the history of medical cannabis and its prohibition in the United States
• Brief intro to the Endocannabinoid System
• Explore the cannabis plant
• Learn about different conditions cannabis can treat and the research that backs it up
• Discuss policy implications for cannabis including the need to deschedule

Speakers:

• Dr. Stephen Dahmer MD, Chief Medical Officer, Vireo Health

• Dr. Paloma Lehfeldt MD, Director of Medical Education, Vireo Health

• Dr. Paul Muchowski PhD, Founder/CEO/CSO, Defined Research

• Dr. Lynn Parodneck MD, Medical Practitioner

• Dr. Tim Shu DVM, CEO, VETCBD

• Dr. Casara Andre DVM, Founder, Veterinary Cannabis Education & Consulting

2017 Year In Review: NCIA’s seven year history

Last year represented the most robust growth phase for NCIA in our seven-year history. The increase in membership and revenues has allowed us to expand our presence in Washington, D.C., provide better benefits and service to our members, and produce the best events in the industry.

Organizational Highlights

NCIA membership rolls increased by 40% during 2017 and NCIA is beginning the year with 1,530 dues-paying members.
Increased revenues allowed increase our budget for lobbying and public affairs on behalf of the cannabis industry by over 60%.
NCIA launched its Policy Council which has led the development of four policy white papers and has generated additional funding for our work in Washington, D.C.
Participation in NCIA’s 7th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days nearly doubled over the prior year, with 300 attendees taking part in the two days of advocacy in Washington, D.C.
Attendance for NCIA’s flagship annual event, the Cannabis Business Summit & Expo, grew by 37% over the previous year and we launched two new regional conferences with great success: the California Cannabis Business Conference and Seed to Sale Show.
NCIA rolled out new direct benefits for our members, including group health insurance and access to the Cannabis Industry Digital Marketplace™.
NCIA worked with the Governors of the first four states to regulate marijuana to generate a sign-on letter urging the administration not to interfere with their states’ cannabis programs.
Significantly increased our budget for third party partnerships, expanding the NCIA’s reach the providing positive exposure for the industry to groups such as the Republican and Democratic Governors Associations, American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), and the Council of State Governments.

As we enter into our 8th year as your national industry association, we’re grateful to our more than 1,500 member businesses across the country who make our work possible. This year, it is more important than ever to unify as an industry and make our voices heard in the halls of Congress. Start planning now to join us in Washington, D.C., on May 21-23, 2018 for our 8th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days. Let’s stand together and show our nation’s decision-makers what a legitimate, responsible cannabis industry looks like. See you in D.C.!