National Cannabis Industry Association

The National Cannabis Industry Association ( NCIA ) is an American non-profit organization based in the District of Columbia, with an additional office in Denver, Colorado. NCIA is the largest cannabis trade association in the US and the only organization is state-sanctioned cannabis-related businesses at the federal level. Its mission is “to promote the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry and work for a favorable social, economic and legal environment for that industry in the United States.” [1] The organization was founded in late 2010 and has been described as the “first national trade group for the cannabis industry” in the United States. [2] [3] [4]

As the cannabis industry has grown and matured dramatically in recent years, NCIA has grown up with it. In January 2013, NCIA had 118 member businesses. In January 2014, NCIA had “nearly 400” member businesses. [5] As of July 2017, NCIA had nearly 1,400 member businesses. [6]

The NCIA has been negatively compared to the lobbying arms of the alcohol and tobacco industries, with activists worried that it could harm legalization efforts. [7]

Work

The NCIA Promotes a multitude of virtues it Sees in the cannabis plant and Its trade, Including how the plant May help heal the sick, how legalization adds much-needed tax dollars to government coffers on the local, state, and national levels, and how these and other benefits radiate out into communities. [8] [9]

The NCIA lobbies congresses to be able to attract more people to the banking industry. [10] [11]

The trade group’s work also extends to the local level; it helps marijuana and medical marijuana businesses navigate to a patchwork of laws that differ by state and locality. [12]

NCIA also hosts educational and training events for members and others interested in learning about the cannabis industry. [13] In June 2014, NCIA hosted the first national Cannabis Business Summit, a two-day event with more than 1,000 expected and numerous discussions of regulations, banking, product lines, insurance, energy efficiency, human resources and other issues related to burgeoning marijuana industry. [14] Since then, the 2017 Cannabis Business Summit has featured 4,500 attendees and a keynote address from the President of Mexico Vicente Fox . [15]

Members

As of July 2017, the National Cannabis Industry Association has nearly 1,400 member businesses. [16]

Criticism

In a Huffington Post interview, Mark Kleiman , the “Pot Czar” of Washington State , said he was concerned that the NCIA would favor profits over public health. He also said that it could be a predatory body like the lobbying arms of the tobacco and alcohol industries. Kleiman said: “The fact that the National Cannabis Industry Association has hired itself to K Street follows [lobbyist] is not a good sign.” [7]

See also

  • Marijuana Policy Project
  • National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws

References

  1. Jump up^ “Mission and Values” . National Cannabis Industry Association. 2014. Retrieved 2014-02-17 .
  2. Jump up^ Warner, Joel (2010-12-01). “Pot lobbying group National Cannabis Industry Association first of its kind, stacked with CO players” . Westword . Retrieved 2010-12-13 .
  3. Jump up^ Tencer, Daniel (2010-12-12). “Move over, Big Pharma and Big Oil, Big Marijuana is here” . The Raw Story . Retrieved 2010-12-13 .
  4. Jump up^ Hotakainen, Rob (2010-12-12). “Marijuana-legalization push gets voice on Capitol Hill” . McClatchy DC . Retrieved 2010-12-13 .
  5. Jump up^ Niraj Chokshi (2 January 2014). “Marijuana legalization in Colorado reflects a maturing industry” . Washington Post . Retrieved 17 February2014 .
  6. Jump up^ “Member Directory – The National Cannabis Industry Association” . The National Cannabis Industry Association . Retrieved 2017-07-14 .
  7. ^ Jump up to:a b “7 Things That Could Totally Kill Weed Legalization’s Buzz” . Huffington Post . April 18, 2014.
  8. Jump up^ Goodman, Michelle”An MBA for stoners: Get ready for the next growth industry” Salon November 16, 2013
  9. Jump up^ Excellence in Philanthropy: Drug Donors
  10. Jump up^ Saddiqui, Sabrina and Reilly, Ryan J.”Marijuana Industry Lobbies Congress On Taxes” The Huffington Post June 6, 2013
  11. Jump up^ Byron Tau; Rachael Bade (29 January 2014). “Puff, Puff: Pass the tax break” . Politico . Retrieved 17 February 2014 .
  12. Jump up^ Frosch, Dan[1]”New Trade Group’s Focus Will Be Marijuana Industry”The New York TimesNovember 22, 2010
  13. Jump up^ “NCIA Events Page” .
  14. Jump up^ Richardson, Valerie (29 June 2014). “Tie-dyed no more: At Colorado summit, pot industry is serious business” . Washington Times . Retrieved 7 November 2014 .
  15. Jump up^ Sheidlower, Nate. “The ‘Green Rush’ Next Level at Last Week’s Cannabis Business Summit and Expo in Oakland” . East Bay Express . Retrieved 2017-07-14 .
  16. Jump up^ “Member Directory – The National Cannabis Industry Association” . The National Cannabis Industry Association . Retrieved 2017-07-14 .