National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) Featured

Denver, Colorado
Logo for National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA)

About this Organization

Founded in 2010, The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is a trade organization for the cannabis industry. It serves to provide canna-businesses with a voice in Washington, D.C.

The NCIA is led by industry leaders with the intent to speak for the needs of the rapidly-growing cannabis industry. Additionally, they allow members to choose who will serve on the board of directors with annual elections.

Associates

Aaron Smith
Executive Director
Aaron Smith is Co-Founder and Executive Director of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). Before the organization’s launch, he was a public advocate for cannabis policy reform. Initially, Smith worked with Safe Access Now, group of medical cannabis advocates based in California. He then went on to become the California State Policy Director of the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP). In addition to his work with the NCIA, Smith has written a number of opinion articles that have been featured in newspapers like the San Francisco Chronicle, Los Angeles Times, and The New York Times. MANTIS_RECOMMEND = { property: '53422cdc8e92f89afbf09d5f', …
Steve Fox
Co-Founder & Strategic Advisor
Steve Fox is Co-Founder and Strategic Advisor for the National Cannabis Industry Association. Similarly, he is Co-Founder and board member for SAFER – an organization dedicated to challenging the stigma against cannabis. Steve is currently the chief lobbyist for the NCIA. He has worked at Marijuana Policy Project for seven years, a time during which he co-authored the book Marijuana is Safer: So why are we driving people to drink? Fox has coordinated a number of statewide ballot initiatives, including the 2012 measure to legalize cannabis for adult use in Colorado. MANTIS_RECOMMEND = { property: '53422cdc8e92f89afbf09d5f', render: 'mantis__recommended__wordpress' …
Betty Aldworth
Deputy Director
Betty Aldworth is deputy director of the National Cannabis Industry Association and chair of the organization’s Women’s CannaBusiness Network. Since 2009, she has specialized in community outreach, public relations, advocacy and policy reform as a consultant to cannabis-related businesses and nonprofit organizations. Previously, Betty was a volunteer leadership professional with some of Denver’s most well-respected nonprofit organizations. MANTIS_RECOMMEND = { property: '53422cdc8e92f89afbf09d5f', render: 'mantis__recommended__wordpress' }; var z = document.createElement("script"); z.type = "text/javascript"; z.async = true; z.src = "//static.mantis.marketing/recommend.min.js"; var s = document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0]; s.parentNode.insertBefore(z, s); …
Brooke Napier
Membership & Events Coordinator
Brooke Napier is the Membership & Events Coordinator for the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA). Prior to joining NCIA, Brooke served as the Outreach and Events Coordinator for medical cannabis patient-advocacy group Americans for Safe Access where she facilitated the organization’s first national conference. Brooke has also been instrumental in program development as an intern for Students for Sensible Drug Policy, where she coordinated the first round of mentors & mentees of the Sister-to-Sister program and continues to volunteer as the director of development & special projects for the AMPLIFY project. She also led a statewide medical cannabis amnesty campaign …
Jill Lamoureux
Co-founder and Chairman
Jill Lamoureux is the Patient-Focused Program Director for Americans for Safe Access (ASA). Jill’s background is in toll road operations and municipal bond finance; she received an MBA from the University of Denver in 1999. Jill has been a leader in Colorado’s medical marijuana industry since 2008 when she and her husband began one of the state’s most respected multi-location dispensary operations. She is a founding member of and served as the first woman Chairman of the National Cannabis Industry Association. Jill has presented on medical marijuana business topics and has taught CLE courses on rules and regulations nationally and …
Jessica Riley
Member
Jessica Riley currently serves as Director of Operations of UpToke. She is an entrepreneur with her hands in a variety of projects at any given time. Ms. Riley is a Founding Member and current Operations Strategist of [freespace] in addition to her work at UpToke. Jessica is passionate about creating systems and processes within technology start-ups that encourage collaboration and communication. She describes herself as a data driven story teller focused on building the UpToke brand into a trusted resource for patients and families. Ms. Riley’s work previous work includes extensive experience in marketing and operations strategy for technology and …
Aaron Justis
Board member
Aaron Justis is the President of Buds & Roses, a premier Los Angeles Cannabis retailer serving customers and the community since 2006, and is a recognized thought leader in the Cannabis industry. At Buds & Roses, Aaron’s goal is, quite simply, to create the ultimate cannabis shopping experience for new and experienced cannabis users. This means consistently cultivating, sourcing and retailing only the safest and highest quality cannabis products available on the market. Further, Buds & Roses takes great care to employ highly-trained, certified, and knowledgeable staff to individually understand and meet the needs of its valued customers.

In The News

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May 22, 2015

The Cannabis Business Summit & Expo is Coming to Denver
The cannabis industry is booming and Colorado is its epicenter (until California gets its act together and legalizes the plant for adult-use). For the second year, the largest cannabis trade association in the United States is hosting a business summit in Denver. Exhibitors, sponsors, speakers and attendees will discuss and make their plans to take the cannabis industry by storm and push cannabis reform in 2015 and beyond. The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) will host the event who expect over 100 exhibitors and 2,000 attendees. The summit will serve as …
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August 14, 2013

NCIA’s Midwest Cannabusiness Symposium: August 24
The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is holding their first ever Midwest Cannabusiness Symposium & Networking Reception in Chicago, IL, on August 24. The day-long event will be similar to previously held NCIA symposiums, and will be an excellent opportunity for professionals to come out and learn from and mingle with other experts in the cannabis industry. Experts in the field will be covering everything from regulatory models and business operations, to investing in ancillary businesses within the industry. Speakers will include Aaron Smith, the Executive Director of NCIA, …
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July 18, 2013

Southwest Cannabusiness Symposium Las Vegas
The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is hosting a canna-business symposium & networking reception in Las Vegas next Saturday, July 27, 2013. The day-long event will be an educational program for professionals interested in hearing from canna-business professionals and experts from across the country. The speakers will touch on everything from business operations and regulatory models, to ancillary businesses in the industry. Renaissance Las Vegas — 3400 Paradise Rd. Las Vegas, NV 89169 Panels of experts will also be answering questions about support & services for the emerging cannabis industry, as well …
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March 24, 2013

Recap Of The NCIA Northeastern Cannabusiness Symposium
The Northeastern Cannabusiness Symposium held on March 16th in Boston, MA, featured presentations and panel discussions from heralded speakers and experts involved (directly or indirectly) in the medical marijuana industry. With the continued budding of the marijuana industry in America (18 states plus Washington D.C. have now legalized the practice), entrepreneurs stand at the forefront of what could be the nation’s next gold rush. Deputy Director Betty Aldworth and Executive Director Aaron Smith from The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) have been organizing events and symposiums around the country to support this very endeavor. The …

DISCLAIMER: The professionals and companies described are not associated or affiliated with Medical Jane, and they may not endorse Medical Jane or the information provided. The names of other companies, products and services are the property of their respective owners.