Page 11 - Provoke Magazine Vol2

The NCIA’S Role in Cultivating Cannabis’ Image
CANNABIS BIG BUSINESS V2
Wilder Carnes
On October 22nd and 23rd, the National Cannabis Indus- try Association (NCIA) will be hosting the California Can- nabis Business Conference, a massive trade show for wheel- ers and dealers in the newly expanding cannabis industry. The rapidly legalized drug is steadily becoming a major new economic gain for states around the country. For states like Colorado, where use is legal both medically and recreation- ally, there have been huge signs of economic gain.
Researchers from Colorado State University’s Pueblo In- stitute of Cannabis Research found that the new taxed and regulated industry brought in $85 million to Pueblo County alone. A new scholarship has even sprung up out of the can- nabis revenue. Because the industry is booming, but busi- nesses are still tied to state laws, the NCIA hopes to unite businesses across the country under one national effort. Their mission is to advocate for successful state cannabis programs and protect those under threat. In all, the NCIA is working to try and bring cannabis businesses together. They believe in safe and legal practices as a way to legitimize the new industry. Their mission statement is quoted below:
“To promote the growth of a respon- sible and legitimate cannabis indus- try and work for a favorable social, economic, and legal environment for that industry in the United States.”
The NCIA is the largest cannabis trade association in the United States with 1000 businesses enrolled with them. They have political power, often acting as a major lobbying group for states looking to get into cannabis programs. As the mid- term elections approach, marijuana legalization has become a hot topic for many states and politicians either looking to attack the drug’s use or defend its use and the potential eco- nomic gain. The NCIA is still growing but looking to pro- mote businesses across the country.
The California Cannabis Business Conference doesn’t only count as a major opportunity for growers and sellers, but as a sign that the drug is becoming more legitimized. Even some of the newer recreational businesses
aren’t seen as proper establishments.
In Colorado, there are even some police officers falling behind newly written laws and attempting to arrest users. The NCIA is working hard to bring all that to a stop. The conference’s pur- pose is to try and rebrand the drug’s appearance. They want to show people that it is like any other business trade show and isn’t something seedy or hidden. The trade show will be taking place in Anaheim, CA in a 60,000-sq. ft. expo center with 3,000 business leaders, 100+ thought leaders and policymakers. Their mission is to teach businesses on a variety of things from navigating the com- plex permit processes and becoming successful entities within the cannabis industry to teaching newcomers about proper growing and new cannabis products.