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Meet The Team: Rob Kellogg – NCIA’s Chief Operations Officer

My journey into the cannabis industry did not follow the typical route and actually did not begin long ago. In February, just over five months ago, I was hired to be the COO at NCIA. Other than this whole COVID-19 thing, I’m really enjoying working with the talented and committed staff here at NCIA, meeting our members (mostly virtually), and generally learning about the intricacies of the cannabis industry.

After graduating from college in 1995 where I majored in philosophy and government (and spent a semester abroad in India during my junior year), I returned home to San Francisco to kickstart the marketing presence on the left coast for Nantucket Nectars, an all-natural juice company then ranked as the 13th fastest-growing private company in the U.S. It was a great experience for a recent college grad as I got to drive around in a large purple Winnebago with our logo (“We’re Juice Guys”) plastered down the side. For more than a year, I traveled up and down the coast doing product sampling and promotional events from San Diego to Seattle.

I work out of the Denver office. I moved to Colorado thirteen years ago, after spending eight years working in progressive politics and public policy in Washington D.C. While in D.C, I was a consultant to the AFL-CIO and managing director at the corporate governance firm Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. In 2007, I left to co-found a start-up providing ESG risk analysis of foreign public companies to institutional investors. We had a great business model and were about to take off, and then the 2008 financial crisis hit and that really impacted our clients’ pocketbook. I ended up exiting that venture in 2009.

My wife Kate and I have an adopted son from India, and in 2017 our family spent a year-long sabbatical in Kerala (southern India) so our son Milan could become more acquainted with his birth culture. We lived 20 minutes from the Arabian Sea and

spent several days a week surfing Kovalam Beach (and dodging jellyfish). Over Christmas and New Year’s that year, we were lucky enough to spend a few days on a small locally governed atoll in the Maldives, a magical place where we swam with dolphins and sea turtles with the Call to Mecca in the background.

Just prior to joining NCIA, I was the Executive Director of Social Venture Partners Denver, a partnership of engaged philanthropists bridging the for-profit and nonprofit sectors to elevate the impact of social mission organizations in Metro Denver. I have two graduate degrees in management and I’m mildly obsessed with organizational behavior and how to optimize performance in the modern workplace.

One of my professional passions involves social entrepreneurship. In 2016, I founded the Sathi Fund for Social Innovators, a volunteer nonprofit that provides seed grants and mentorship to aspiring grassroots social innovators in Africa and Asia. I’m also a preceptor at the Watson Institute in Boulder where I teach a class called “Transformative Entrepreneurship” in their 5-month residency incubator to 30 or so participants from around the world each semester. In the class, I take scholars through the process of developing their venture, including lean canvas methodology, prototyping, customer discovery, and fundraising. I’ve served as an investor, board member, or advisor to several ventures, including RecycleUpGhana!, Canned Goods, Flyer Connect, Nile Farms, and Achroma.

I enjoy swimming, hiking, basketball, and travel, having lived or traveled to more than thirty countries. I’ve been practicing meditation regularly for the past fifteen years, with a recent emphasis on Zen. I try to do at least one 3-day retreat at the Crestone Mountain Zen Center every year.

I’m excited to be working for NCIA representing business-members in one of the fastest-growing, most innovative, and resilient industries in America. I can’t wait to see where the industry goes from here and look forward to helping our members and staff thrive. I look forward to hopefully meeting you in the weeks and months ahead at one of our events.

Meet The Team: Kaliko Castille – NCIA’s Director of Marketing

Aloha! My name is Kaliko Castille and I am the Director of Marketing here at NCIA. 

My name Kaliko is Hawaiian and means “the bud that blossoms.” It was the name given to my Dad when he was still living in Hawai’i and dancing hula under a well-known kumu hula (hula teacher) named John Keolamaka’ainana Lake. As I tell people when I tell them about my name, it was written in the stars that I would end up in this industry.

Despite the convenient name, I actually didn’t always think I’d end up in cannabis. I actually wanted to go into politics. My dream job is to run presidential campaigns or serve as a top-advisor in the White House, but ever since reading The Emperor Wears No Clothes by Jack Herer, I haven’t been able to keep my mouth shut about the idiocy of marijuana prohibition. 

Kaliko with Keith Stroup, founder of NORML

I was that guy in college. The one that every political science department professor knew was going to find a way to do a paper or project on legalization. The one that would stand outside the Werner University Center (at Western Oregon University) collecting signatures for legalization initiatives. The one who would organize debates on campus about legalization. The one wearing cannabis-related t-shirts. You know, that guy.

In the spring of 2010, I attended my first Global Cannabis March in Portland, OR along with some buddies of mine. It was there that I had a chance to meet Russ Belville, who I had been listening to on my local progressive talk station for a couple of years and who was serving as NORML’s Outreach Coordinator. In a lot of ways, that day changed my life. That was the day that I went from being a cannabis enthusiast who was upset by the sinister history of marijuana prohibition to someone who was going to devote my life to helping end it. 

Less than a year later, I was invited into the studio where Russ recorded NORML Show Live, which was NORML’s daily live radio show and podcast. Having listened for a while, it was such a cool experience to see behind the scenes of such an impactful show. Before leaving the studio that day, I asked whether Russ could help me get an internship with NORML in D.C. but he instead tossed out the idea that I could intern for him in Portland, which sold me instantly. For the next year, I would help produce two hours of daily live radio content devoted to cannabis news and culture (as well as hosting my own weekly reggae show). I was lucky enough to interact with and book elected officials, celebrities, musicians, Olympic athletes, and presidential candidates. 

That internship also opened my eyes to the world of professional cannabis consumers. A couple of months into my internship, I got the opportunity to attend my first NORML Conference which was held on 4/20 weekend in Denver. This was a mindblowing experience because I suddenly found myself hanging out with lawyers, doctors, and other professionals, smoking joints, and doing dabs (this was when it was just starting to become a thing). It was the first time that I had first-hand, verifiable proof that people of all socioeconomic backgrounds consumed cannabis. Not only would consuming cannabis not relegate you to a life of destitution, but you could actually be a responsible consumer and thrive.

Fast forward to the summer of 2012 and cannabis legalization is on the ballot in Washington, Oregon, and Colorado. Despite the fact that the I-502 and Amendment 64 campaigns managed to raise millions of dollars apiece, the legalization initiative in Oregon (Measure 80) had struggled to attract national funders due to what some saw as a “pie-in-the-sky” initiative. While at Hempfest that August, a buddy and I came up with a plan to start a political action committee to raise money independently of the campaign. In a short amount of time, we managed to raise over $10,000 in small-dollar donations from individuals across the state which allowed us to purchase banners, rally signs, and several prominent billboards in the Portland area. When we started our campaign the initiative was polling around 37%, but by the time election day rolled around, it finished with nearly 47% of the vote. Although Oregon didn’t legalize in 2012, we helped lay the foundation for a successful campaign in 2014. 

After that campaign in 2012, I thought I was going to become a cannabis lobbyist but as fate would have it, I ended up opening up a dispensary in Portland, Oregon, shortly after the passage of HB3460 which legalized medical dispensaries in Oregon. 

That experience was unlike anything I had been through before but it was a necessary step in my professional evolution and my journey to NCIA. In fact, our company Brightside was a member of NCIA! That experience taught me about all of the hurdles regular small businesses have to navigate, but more specifically, the special hurdles that are in place specifically for cannabis businesses. It was my first introduction into the need for banking access and 280E reform, which are the core priorities of the organization I now work for. I also found out the heartbreak that comes from having to close down due to overzealous regulations that don’t apply to any other sort of business. This has given me a unique perspective into the day to day lives of NCIA members and how despite all the “green rush” headlines we may see, this industry is anything but a get-rich-quick scheme.

Working at NCIA has been one of the greatest experiences of my life. It has allowed me to marry my experiences in cannabis activism with my experiences running a business and building brands. This year we are celebrating the #10YearsofNCIA and looking back at all of the progress our movement has made over the last decade and it is truly remarkable to see how far we’ve come. 

10 years ago, I was still in college, working the drive-thru at Taco Bell in Milwaukie, OR. These days, I get up every morning with an opportunity to help shape the course of history with an incredibly dedicated and passionate group of people. If there is anything my journey can teach others, it’s that the world is run by those who show up and that if you can dream it, you can do it. 

 

Meet The Team: Jon Dinh – NCIA’s Membership Manager

Hello! My name is Jon Dinh and I work as the Membership Manager here at NCIA! I started my cannabis journey three years ago when I first tried cannabis legally in my home state of Colorado and completely changed my life for the better!

I grew up in Thornton, Colorado which is a suburban area north of Denver and didn’t have any interest in cannabis growing up. None of my friends participated in the cannabis culture so I didn’t have any influence growing up. Coming from an Asian culture, it was heavily looked down upon. When the laws changed in my state, I decided to try it and visited my first dispensary. I was amazed at the professionalism and knowledge the budtender provided. I ended up with an edible cookie as my first experience and took a bit much for a first time user. It’s crazy to think that moment changed my life and career path.

I was now curious about the war on drugs and drug policy reform and around this time stumbled upon NCIA. I was lucky enough to get hired as the Membership Coordinator and have learned a great deal about cannabis reform and how it affects people’s lives. I’m fortunate enough to try cannabis safely and legally and have no doubts that others will follow the same path for their first time experience. My scenario is much more common now with states legalizing and people having open access to cannabis. I just hope they’re more careful with their first dose than I was!

I’m now part of the mission here at NCIA to get cannabis businesses treated fairly like any other business in America and it has truly opened my mind to the struggles that face cannabis businesses now and what’s to come in the future. I hope to contribute towards the needed change of these laws and for better treatment of cannabis businesses. Cannabis businesses, even though legal, still exist in a world where the laws are not up to date and have caused issues like loss of profits and having to pay higher taxes.

I got to attend my first Lobby Days event with NCIA to talk about current cannabis issues and it was one of the most powerful experiences channeling my inner citizen lobbyist. I got to see firsthand how Capitol Hill works and what Hill meetings are all about. It’s an important part of how the government works, and it was great to see members of NCIA becoming citizen lobbyists too. This was my first time in D.C. and was blown away by the inner workings of it all. Thanks to NCIA for allowing me to be part of Lobby Days and hope other members of NCIA can join us in the future!

In the meantime, as part of my job duties, I hope to open the doors for others to experience cannabis in their home state and federal legalization in the future. I hope to change the world’s perception of cannabis and to open access to the plant.

 

Meet The Team: Jeremy DePasquale – Salesforce Administrator & Business Process Analyst

Hi, I’m Jeremy and this is my story. I grew up in a middle-class immigrant household in Schenectady, NY, in the same house my grandparents bought when they moved their kids from Sicily to America. My brother, my sister, and I loved torturing my grandfather and were no strangers to getting chased down the driveway by him and his broom. Life was as you might expect in an Italian house, the talking was loud, the food was good, and the family bond was strong.

Fast forward… I had no idea what I wanted to do with my life, I had a lot of fits and starts with college until settling into the one thing I knew I truly loved, politics. I struggled hard in college (and in high school for that matter) only doing well in my PolySci classes. Somehow I managed to get a B.S. in Political Science and Government from S.U.N.Y. Brockport, graduating late 2009, just as the economy was headed into the Great Recession. Not so perfect timing.

I did what any naive kid just out of college and in love with politics would do: I moved to Washington, D.C. so I could get a job on the Hill and start my awesome career! Wrong! I couldn’t even sniff an interview on the hill. I spent the next two years doing temp work around the Beltway, ending with a stint at the American Institute of Architects (AIA).

In April 2012, I decided it was time to move on and I started to set my sights on Denver, CO. The Colorado chapter of the AIA was looking for someone to help plan their national convention that was coming to town, so I packed up my stuff and dog and headed into the unknown. All good things come to an end…my 18-month contract expired with AIA and I found myself unemployed and back on the job market.

Four months later, I applied for a position with the National Cannabis Industry Association, I went through the interview process but ended up not getting hired and figured I would never hear of the organization again, but life works out funny sometimes. Out of the blue, three months later I got an email from Aaron Smith asking if I was still interested, as they were growing so fast they had already promoted the person they chose for the position initially. We had a few conversations and drinks at a Deadhead bar, Quixotes True Blue for all you Denver folks, and on May 1, 2014, I started working for NCIA.

I’m not going to lie, I had no idea what I was doing here or how I fit in, after all I was the first NCIA hire with a more structured association background as opposed to grassroots activism. Other than consuming cannabis occasionally I had no connection to the plant like the other staff did. They were long time activists and all had a personal story for their passion and what cannabis advocacy meant to them. I just needed a job.

At that time NCIA’s Denver office was housed in a carriage house behind a historic mansion used as the headquarters of the cannabis law firm Vicente Sederberg. It was commonly referred to as the “Cannabis Cottage.”

It was kind of surreal, I worked in the living room, while others worked in adjoining bedrooms and living spaces. It also wasn’t uncommon for me to see Aaron walking by with his laundry to utilize the washer and dryer in the cottage. In short, that NCIA was much different than the juggernaut we have since become.

Little did I know, what started as just a job would completely change my life. I was able to learn first-hand all about the plant, the people, and the industry. This isn’t just a bunch of stoners who wanted cannabis legal so they could get high. This was about quality of life, social justice, medicine, and community. It has been the privilege of my career to work with people who are so committed and passionate about the history we are making and I couldn’t be prouder to be part of it. If you told me 10 years ago that I would be working in the cannabis industry, I would have laughed in your face, but now I couldn’t imagine working for something I’m not passionate about.

I’m particularly proud of the part I played in (re)launching our member committees and implementing an organization-wide database to help us better engage with our members. I also have been leading a few exciting new benefits, like NCIAConnect: our exclusive online community, and a completely mobile NCIA experience with our new app. Both are coming super soon!

After serving as the Membership Coordinator, Manager and ultimately leading the department as Director, I recently shifted into a whole new role as the SalesForce Administrator and Business Process Analyst. This role is allowing me to combine my technical abilities and my institutional knowledge of NCIA to help move us forward in a coordinated and strategic way. I have also relocated back to the East coast for some loud talking, family connections, and pasta Sundays.

NCIA has changed dramatically since I started 6 years ago, we launched national conferences, grew our staff five times over, doubled down on our advocacy and commitment to our members, and we finally got out of the old “Cannabis Cottage.” I’m not certain what my future holds but I would like to think that NCIA and I have played a role in each other’s successes and are primed for bright futures.

Meet The Team: Amy Rose – NCIA’s Business Development and Partnerships Manager

When I think about where I was 5 or 10 years ago, I would have never imagined that this is the career path I would be on. When I left college in 2013 with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, I considered so many options. Not one of them was working in the cannabis industry. I contemplated becoming a teacher. Maybe I should be a social worker? What about some sort of community outreach position? But before making any decisions on my career, I decided to take a huge step back and move my life across the country, with one suitcase, and with barely enough money in my pocket to survive more than a month. 

The transformation of my life began in February 2014 in Colorado. A one-way flight. Four winter jackets (that I wore on the plane so I didn’t have to pay an extra baggage fee), three scarves, and whatever clothing I could fit in my one checked bag. Life ahead of me was extremely uncertain.

Coincidentally, I moved to Denver right after Colorado legalized the adult use of cannabis. That wasn’t the reason why I moved, although it definitely was a perk. I moved because I wanted a fresh start. I’d spent my whole life on the East Coast. First in a New Jersey suburb of New York City. Then on the west coast of Florida. After I finished school, I lived for a short while with my mom in very rural central Florida. It was horrible. Not a place for a young person. But it gave me time to think about what I wanted out of life. I knew I needed a change.

Things didn’t really go as planned. I was working long 60-hour weeks in restaurants and at catering gigs and was able to provide for myself, which was enough at the time. I told myself that by the fall of 2014, I wanted to get a “real job” whatever that meant. And so I did. I started working an administrative job at a physical therapy company. I learned a lot, had good days, bad days, but it certainly wasn’t making me happy. After spending 2 years working there, I felt like I was at a dead-end. I didn’t see the growth in myself that I had wanted to see. And I was more miserable at work than anyone should be.

The summer of 2016 was when I took a huge chance. I remember calling my family to tell them I got a job offer as a budtender at a dispensary and them thinking I was absolutely crazy for even considering it. A few weeks later, I got another job offer as an inventory manager at a dispensary. To my family, that seemed like a “real job” since if it didn’t work out, I’d have skills that I could transfer to something else. I was scared to take the leap, but nothing was scarier than staying at a job I was unhappy at. 

My professional connection to the cannabis industry began in August 2016. I couldn’t believe it. Not only was I happier in my job, but I was making a living while working for a company in a relatively new industry that I truly believed in. I learned all about the retail and cultivation side of the cannabis industry. And I learned a whole lot more about myself. BGood Dispensary in Denver will always have a special place in my heart. I appreciate that they took a chance on someone new to the industry. Not to mention that they are long-time members of NCIA.

After spending a few months there, I decided to make my next move and work for a testing lab in Boulder, Rm3 Labs. I knew about cultivation and how dispensaries worked. My position at Rm3 Labs gave me the opportunity to understand the testing and regulations side of the industry. I was satisfied. But I wanted more. 

My working relationship with NCIA started in July 2017. The past three years, as I’ve learned so much, have just flown by. I’ve been able to experience things I never imagined. Things that can only happen when you totally believe in the mission of your organization completely. I have been able to educate myself and others about things that are important to me personally and which I believe are important to society as well. Each day is an opportunity to learn something new. I’ve gotten to travel and experience new things that have contributed to my growth as a person. Sometimes I try to imagine where I’ll be five years from now. With this industry, that’s hard to tell.

Meet The Team: Tahir Johnson – NCIA’s Business Development Manager

With April 2020 marking a full year that I fully transitioned to working in the cannabis industry, it’s amazing to reflect on the past twelve months and the journey that brought me here. This time last year I decided to leave my job as an investment advisor for one of the largest banks in the country to turn full-time as a patient counselor at a medical dispensary in Maryland. I had started out there part-time but after just a few months I was certain that I had found my true calling in cannabis. The more I learned about policy, the medical benefits of the plant, and the history of the war on drugs the more I knew that I wanted to make a positive impact and to help shape the future of the industry. 

My first inclination that cannabis could be a viable industry had come years earlier in 2013 when I was still a financial advisor and saw GW Pharmaceuticals, a company that produced a cannabis-derived prescription drug, issue its Initial Public Offering. I was aware that medical cannabis had been legalized in California and a handful of other states by that time but never imagined I would end up working in the space. 

In 2018 shortly after Maryland introduced its medical program, my dad was diagnosed with an inflammatory disorder, and I recalled from a research report that I did in college that chronic pain was one of the top conditions that medical cannabis was used to treat. I encouraged him to get a medical cannabis recommendation and when he expressed concern, I offered to get mine as well to support him. Through that experience, I was introduced to the legal cannabis industry and began to pursue multiple opportunities from starting ancillary businesses and entering pitch competitions to applying for a license as a social equity applicant. 

As fate would have it I also met Kaliko Castille in April last year when he was in town for MCBA’s Lobby Day. I already knew about everything NCIA does to advance and advocate for the industry and thought that a role at this organization would be a dream come true. I let him know that I had applied for my current role which was just recently posted, not knowing that as Head of Growth at the time, the position would be in his department. Thankfully, I must have made a great first impression. 

With our Cannabis Business Summit taking place just weeks after I started at NCIA in July of last year, I was able to jump in feet first. Since then I’ve had the opportunity to interact with thousands of cannabis business owners and employees from every sector of the industry learning about their goals, success stories, and the challenges that they face. I’ve had the opportunity to see our Government Relations and Policy teams in action in Washington and interact with members of Congress. Nothing was more exciting than having a front-row seat as we watched the SAFE Banking Act, the first piece of stand-alone cannabis legislation pass in the House of Representatives, and knowing that I had worked alongside the team that made it happen! 

Given my background in finance, I often think about the economic impact that COVID-19 has had not only on the U.S. economy, but the cannabis industry specifically. I am so proud to be a part of NCIA and the work that we are doing to make sure that #CannabisIsEssential; asking that congressional leadership address the exclusion of state-legal cannabis and ancillary businesses from the recently passed CARES Act and the way that we are supporting our members. In addition to our federal efforts, our new digital marketing options will help our members get exposure for their businesses during a time where social distancing has put most conferences and events on hold.

Over the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many of our members and I know that our industry is resilient and will rise above this crisis. I’m hoping that the pandemic is over soon enough to see everyone out at the Midwest Cannabis Business Conference on my birthday weekend, August 26-27.

 

Meet The Team – Michael Correia, NCIA’s Director of Government Relations

The journey continues

It’s hard to believe that it has been seven years since I first started working for NCIA. I remember like it was yesterday when I saw the job advertised and thought, “this has got to be the coolest job in America” (which it is!). Being Director of Government Relations has afforded me the opportunity to grow personally and professionally, meet wonderful and exciting people, build something great, be at the forefront of a national movement, and make a little history at the same time. I wouldn’t change one day. 

But, these are uncertain times. This COVID-19 pandemic will touch everybody, sooner or later (including myself), and I can’t help but think about those less fortunate than me. My thoughts go out to everybody during these trying times and know that we will only get through this by helping out each other. Although I usually don’t spend much energy reminiscing about the past, when the future is so exciting and limitless; I find it therapeutic and something to take my mind off the stresses we are all feeling. 

A lot has changed since I first began my journey in 2013. We hadn’t even had our first legal sales (that would take place in Colorado in 2014). At the time, NCIA had four staff and about 300 member businesses and although the challenges were great, the uncertain future was exciting. Even though I remember thinking on my first day “okay, you have no staff, no budget, no office; where to begin?”

I always knew where I wanted to go.

My vision had 6 main points:
1. Increase the visibility, and acceptance, of the cannabis issue on Capitol Hill and the general public;
2. Bring professionalism to the cannabis industry;
3. Provide cannabis industry representation in D.C. equal to other industries;
4. Build up a government relations office we can all be proud of;
5. Succeed on the eventual federal legalization of cannabis;
6. Transition NCIA into a traditional trade association, post-legalization.

I knew this would not happen overnight, and I knew I wanted to do it right, no cutting corners, and so I took the long view.

I remember coordinating my first NCIA Lobby Days, where 30 brave souls ventured to D.C, now, well over 200 attend! I remember holding our Lobby Days training session in the back of a bar (nothing like learning how to lobby while drinking beers!), whereas now we use hotel ballrooms, provide breakfast, and have multiple speakers. I remember printing our Lobby Days meeting schedule on an Excel spreadsheet (feels like ages ago!), while now we use an app! I remember my first press conference and being too nervous to think straight. 

I remember the Washington Post Style Section story on me, and riding the Metro the next day looking at people reading the paper with me on the cover! I remember CBS news following me around Capitol Hill, and having Gayle King give me a shout out! I remember attending marijuana working group meetings on Capitol Hill, when only a handful were interested in the issue, whereas now over 50 regularly attend.

I remember when Congress voted on the Rohrabacher-Farr amendment (that protected medical marijuana from federal prosecution), which won (a year before most people thought it would). I remember that vote, because it was the same day my daughter was born (running back and forth between Capitol Hill and the hospital!).

I remember hiring Michelle Rutter as my coordinator (who has been by my side for almost six amazing years). I remember moving into our first office (and not having to do business at Starbucks any more!).

I remember attending one of my first Congressional fundraisers and a Senator visibly backing away from me as we shook hands (as if I had the plague!). I remember the creation of the Congressional Cannabis Caucus (we were finally legit!).

And I remember the House passage of the SAFE Banking Act (my proudest moment so far!). 

When I was hired, I had envisioned federal legalization taking 8-10 years. I am now in year seven and am still optimistic about my dream being realized in that time. Slow and steady wins the race. Legalization will not happen overnight. It will not happen this week, this month, or even this year. And legalization will not happen because “somebody else” gets involved. It will only happen if YOU get involved. Get educated on the issue. Support advocate organizations pushing for cannabis reform. Make donations to state legalization efforts. Join NCIA and come to our Lobby Days this September!!

Eleven states have legalized adult-use cannabis laws (which grows every election!). The support on Capitol Hill has never been higher. NCIA has almost 20 total staff, about 2,000 member businesses, and a beautiful Capitol Hill townhouse that members of Congress use for events. My phone rings off the hook with politicians wanting our money and endorsements. NCIA has most definitely “arrived.” I couldn’t be happier with the results we have achieved and prouder with what we have built. After seven wonderful years (and two amazing daughters), I am still lobbying for NCIA. The journey continues on…

Be safe everybody!

Meet The Team: Michelle Rutter Friberg – Deputy Director of Government Relations

by Michelle Rutter Friberg, NCIA’s Deputy Director of Government Relations

I grew up in rural King George County, Virginia, where I lived until I went to college. Let me just say: if you had asked me in high school where I saw my career going, I would not have guessed the cannabis industry! But, it turns out life had other plans for me.

When I began my time at James Madison University (go Dukes!), my major was undeclared. As time went on, I decided to study Political Science with a minor in History. I learned about our government, political theory, lobbying, and focused primarily on domestic politics. Working on all those papers and assignments for class during my undergraduate studies was where my knowledge of cannabis policy began.

When I was told one day that I could choose any topic to do a research project in one of my PoliSci classes, I somehow came across cannabis. It seemed too easy to write about — you’re telling me this drug is Schedule I but has never killed anyone? But from then on, every time I got to choose a topic, it was cannabis, so I began learning more and more. By the time I graduated, I had a decent understanding of the history behind prohibition, but my mind had turned to the same question everyone I knew was having: what was I going to do now that I had graduated? At the time, the Great Recession had unemployment close to 10%, so I did what many college-aged kids do: spent a month traveling around western Europe! Side note, my favorite city that I visited on that trip was Amsterdam, but not just because of the accessibility to cannabis! 

When I came home, it was time to find a job. Eventually, I was lucky enough to be offered a job at a government affairs company in Alexandria, Virginia, where I researched state and local regulations for various clients. After a little more than a year, one of my coworkers mentioned in passing that a gentleman from the cannabis industry was coming in the next day to talk about our services. Before I could stop myself, I asked if I could sit in on the meeting. Lucky for me, they said yes, and that’s where the story of my career in cannabis began. 

The gentleman who came in was (and still is!) NCIA’s Director of Government Relations, Mike Correia. While the company I worked for pitched him on their services, all I could focus on was Mike who elaborated on the incredible work NCIA was doing, about how he was a one-man government relations team and working from home. All I heard was: this guy is going to need to hire someone, and I knew it had to be me! After talking to my boss and getting his blessing to reach out to Mike, we set up a time to grab a drink and talk more about the industry. Lucky for me, Mike and I were like old friends catching up, and though NCIA didn’t have the budget at the time to hire another government relations staffer, he said he would keep me in mind. About six months later, NCIA was ready to expand the D.C. team and I applied for the job of government relations coordinator. Words can’t explain to you how happy I was when I received the offer to join NCIA’s team in October 2014.

A lot has happened since I was hired almost six years ago. Nine more states have elected to implement adult-use cannabis programs, and many others have opted to allow for medical marijuana or CBD. The way I was received on Capitol Hill with chuckles about “munchies” or “weed” are long gone, as NCIA and the cannabis industry are now received like any other business sector in D.C. We passed appropriations amendments in both chambers, planned many lobby days for our members, and passed the SAFE Banking Act out of the House of Representatives, just to name a few accomplishments. I went from government relations coordinator, to government relations manager, and worked hard to recently become NCIA’s deputy director of government relations. Not only that, but our government relations team has grown, and what was once just Mike, then Mike and I, has now become Mike, Michelle, and Maddy. The “3Ms” as we are often called are my best friends.

I remember thinking when I started with NCIA: what am I supposed to do now that I’ve gotten my dream job? Now, all these years later, I can tell you: I’m just getting started.

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