NCIA is delighted to announce that our much-anticipated in-person events will be returning during the first half 2023. Over 1200 members, supporters and 400+ companies joined us in the road between January and May. We experienced 10 Industry Socials together, as well as the revival of the Cannabis Caucuses and the launch of workshops focusing on social equity. Our 11th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days was also part of this experience. We invite you to join us in reflecting on the past 5 months. Relive the excitement and share key moments that facilitated community building, education and advanced our advocacy.
We hosted Industry Socials in several cities, both established and emerging, including San Francisco and Los Angeles. Boston, Miami, Portland OR, New York and Chicago were also included. These events were a catalyst to bring together the local cannabis community, giving them a chance to reconnect and network with NCIA staff in an informal and relaxed setting. These events not only promoted networking but also gave attendees the chance to learn and meet with our local Allied Association Program Members and regulatory representatives. This included MoCannTrade and The Cannabis Alliance as well as the Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon and the New York Office of Cannabis Management.
Andrew Mullins from MOCannTrade and Melissa Khan, who attended our Missouri event, provided us with valuable insight into the recent legalization of marijuana in Missouri. They discussed the details of the over 400 licenses issued, including those to Cultivation Facilities and Manufacturing Facilities as well as Dispensaries, Testing Labs and Certified Transporters. The officials also highlighted the $12.6 million in tax revenue that was generated over the first weekend of sales.
Burl Bryson (Executive Director of The Cannabis Alliance) spoke in Washington about the recent passage S.B. The Senate passed 5546. The bill to establish a Washington State Cannabis Commission was challenged in the Appropriations committee in early April. We encourage you to review the resources provided, such as Issue brief FAQ and Wednesday Webinar to better understand the purpose of the commission.
Jesse Bonteceau, of The Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon, highlighted in April recent developments regarding new testing regulations proposed to the OLCC. This was specifically about Aspergillus. Jesse explained the strategy of the regional industry alliance to deal with this issue. Jesse stressed the importance of participating in both national and regional advocacy efforts. He shared ORCA’s participation in NCIA’s 9th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days. Jesse encouraged attendees to join NCIA and ORCA to ensure that our collective efforts continue an impact.
Axel Bernabe discussed the rapid expansion of the New York Office of Cannabis Management. The office now has a team of more than 250 dedicated employees. Axel Bernabe also provided updates on the issuance Conditional Adult Use Retail Dispensary licenses (CAURD), marking an important milestone for adult-use cannabis legal sales in New York State. He also spoke about the efforts to fight unregulated cannabis sales that undermine legal businesses in New York State.
After a three-year break, we organized an unforgettable Cannabis Caucus, in Denver, with the Marijuana Industry Group. Over 200 people attended the event at the Chambers Grant Salon in the Ellie Caulkins Opera House. The event featured a video by Governor Jared Polis. A detailed discussion of the regional industry landscape was led by the Marijuana Industry Group. And NCIA CEO Aaron Smith provided an update on federal policy. All of these elements reinforced the need to actively protect our industry by 2023. You can read more about the event here and view Governor Polis’ speech here.
We launched four satellite workshops in Chicago, Detroit Jersey City and New York, which were tailored specifically for social equity applicants and operators. These workshops, which are part of NCIA’s Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Program, were designed to offer an immersive learning experience and to facilitate networking. They also empowered social equity applicants and operators in order to improve their position within the industry. We invite you to read more about these workshops.
We are happy to see these events return, but the real measure of their success is the feedback of those who attended. You are invited to read the first-hand accounts of those who attended and connected with other professionals in the cannabis sector.
I was able learn more about this industry by hearing from operators who are at various stages in the cannabis supply chain. “Thank you for an incredible event!”
I made a link for our product with regular agriculture, in addition to marijuana. The people were of high quality and the connections they made were excellent.
Everyone was actively networking, which was fantastic. The venue was great, as were the food and service. There were also many attendees. “Best event I’ve been to post-Covid.”
“I met new people and reconnected with others I hadn’t seen for a while. These events help me to put things into perspective and realize that we all share the same ups and downsides. It’s important to know what the future holds for the industry, and how our work can help push the movement forward.
“I met new people with whom I look forward to building a relationship and reconnected with others I had not seen for a long time.” The talks were very helpful for my work.
We concluded our event calendar with the 11th annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days. Our dedicated Government Relations team organized attendees into over 20 teams and engaged in more than 150 meetings with Congress offices over three full days. NCIA was able to sponsor the travel costs of four advocates for Social Equity thanks to the generous support from TILT Holdings & Evergreen Market. This ensured that diverse voices were included in our delegation.
Our staff also organized a briefing on SAFE Banking Act for Senate staff in addition to the numerous congressional meetings. In this session, respected industry leaders such as Chris Jackson, NCIA Board Chair & Michigan-based cannabis distributor and social equity leader; Monica Gray-Fong NCIA Board member & COO, Nice Guys Inc. in California; Kirk Fredrickson CEO, 2Accept a leading payment processing firm serving the cannabis sector, and Adam Crabtree Founder & Chief Executive Officer of NCS Analytics a prominent data analytics firm serving cannabis regulators shared their expertise and experience. The entire briefing can be viewed here.
We also had the honor to present Khurshid Khaja, Principal at Greenbridge Corporation Counsel with the inaugural Steve Fox Award for Excellence in Advocacy. Khurshid Khoja’s unwavering commitment to federal policy reform is recognized by this award. We extend our sincere appreciation for all of his contributions over the years. Khurshid deserves this recognition. Congratulations!
We encourage you to make a note in your calendars that the 12th annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days will take place between May 14-16, 2020. Join us in driving the cannabis industry forward with collaboration, advocacy and a shared future vision.
Without the generous support from our member companies, we would not have had these events. These companies deserve our gratitude for their unwavering dedication to our cause. This commitment played a crucial role in the success and growth of these events.
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
CannDelta Cannabis Consulting & Licensing
KRD Insurance & Risk Management Group, LLC
Bernstein IP
MACH Technologies
Rocky Mountain Reagents
Advertisers
Jeffrey Hoffman & Associates PLLC
420 Accounting Services
Analytical Cannabis
Coast Cannabis Co
Dao Mastery
CFO Certified Advisors
S2S Specialists Insurance
Verde Insurance Services
Host Sponsors
AlphaRoot
Cannabis Counsel
Benzinga Capital Cannabis Conference
Allied Association Partners
Cannabis Industry Alliance of Oregon
Missouri Cannabis Trade Association
The Cannabis Alliance
Marijuana Industry Group
Sponsors of the Social Equity Delegation
TILT holdings
Evergreen Market
Do you want to establish strong B2B relationships within the cannabis sector and foster strong ties with NCIA? You’ve come to the right place. Contact us to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities.
Sign up for our newsletter and stay informed about future opportunities and updates. Together, we can pave the path to lasting success. Looking forward to seeing each other at the next event.
The post Exclusive Recap: NCIA In-Person Events 2023: Step Inside appeared initially on National Cannabis Industry Association.
