It Takes A Village: NCIA’s Equity Workshop Tour is Developing an Ecosystem
by Mike Lomuto, NCIA’s DEI Manager
The depth and cohesiveness of our networks are what will carry us through to the other side of cannabis prohibition, positioned for ultimate success.
When I started my transition from the legacy space into regulated cannabis about a decade ago, I did so in the silo of the Bay Area. After failing to make that transition successfully, I took a step back and recognized that my network wasn’t what it needed to be in order for me to build the type of long-lasting business I dreamt of.
In order to turn the dream of generational wealth into an actionable plan, I needed to expand my network. That’s when I started getting involved with NCIA. I saw access to a national network as a priceless resource on this journey. So I set out to not only access the network myself but I was also provided the opportunity to build out the DEI Program so that we could create a structure that would allow everyone to plug in.
Like any other network, not everyone is for everyone. But my legacy days taught me all I needed to navigate the network and find the people who were real, and who actually care about the industry’s potential to create a new paradigm, distinct from the normal corporate, colonial systems we see rampant in other industries.
But creating a new paradigm isn’t easy. It takes a village. And then some.
And that’s why I believe the Equity Workshop Tour is so important. It’s an opportunity for us to continue to grow our networks, and to do so with intention in a structured and curated environment, designed to facilitate and accelerate network development, so that real can find real, and folks can not only get the info and insights they need to succeed but make those valuable connections.
The Spring 2023 Tour is four stops – Chicago, Detroit, Jersey City, and Brooklyn. But this is just the beginning. We’re planning something more expansive for our Fall and Winter tours. And we also have some virtual events in the works in between, so that folks who attend the workshops can continue to build together, as well as with fellow attendees from the other workshops across the country.
Partner Organizations Who Are With Us for the Long Haul
You’ll notice that we have several organizational partners signed on for the tour. This isn’t just some slapped-together list. These partners are all organizations that we’ve been building with for some time now and intend to do so for a long time coming.
In Chicago, some of these conversations go back several years to the rollout of adult use. We hosted a Catalyst Conversation in February with Cannabis Equity Illinois Coalition on the power of Community Benefit Agreements. We’ve intersected with SEEN countless times. The United Latino Cannabis Industry Alliance is a new organization, but one whose founders we’ve been building relationships with for years.
And in Detroit, we have to show some love to the Detroit Cannabis Project, as they were also an integral part of our very first Equity Workshop at our Cannabis Business Summit in Detroit in September 2021.
NCIA proudly represents Main Street Cannabis, and this Spring Tour consists of cannabusinesses that reflect that.
Several of our sponsors are represented in NCIA’s committee structure. Meaning they have been volunteering their time, experience, and insights to the movement in more ways than one already. So much of my success in building the DEI Program comes from my regularly leaning into support from our committees.
Grow America Builders and Etain both came on as gold sponsors, and both have been contributing to our committee work for some time now.
I’m also proud to say that Dao Mastery (the coaching & consulting company I co-founded) is the official platinum sponsor for the tour.
All of these companies understand the importance of DEI in cannabis as an integral part of what we’re building toward in this industry in the first place. It’s not an afterthought, but rather something that informs the decisions we make.
It All Culminates In D.C.
This Spring Equity Workshop Tour has also been designed to provide me and our DEI Delegation with lots of insight and fuel as we head to Washington, D.C. for NCIA’s 11th Annual Cannabis Industry Lobby Days, May 16-18. We’ll be bringing with us the stories and the collective power of everyone we workshop with over the coming days. In fact, two of our DEI Delegates, Osbert Orduna and Adrian Adams, have been an integral part of planning this round of the Equity Workshop Tour. Not to mention the fact that two of our other DEI Delegates, Raina Jackson and Anthony Jenkins, were a part of planning the original round of workshops back in 2021.
I hope to see folks while I’m out here on the road this month. This is just the next step in the building of our ecosystem, and it’s an important one.
Anyone who qualifies for Social Equity is eligible to attend these FREE workshops. And if you don’t qualify for Social Equity, but you believe in what it means and stands for, we’d like to connect with you too, so don’t be shy.
Equity Member Spotlight: From Equity Scholarships to Committee Leaders
by Mike Lomuto, NCIA’s DEI Manager
NCIA committees are looking, sounding, and acting more and more like the diverse faces of Main Street cannabis. And it’s not just about representation. When the diversity of our cannabis community is reflected in NCIA Committee leadership, the conversations we are having across the organization more accurately reflect the experiences of the industry.
All of the NCIA Committee members profiled here came through the Equity Scholarship program, an initiative of our DEI Program to systematize more equitable representation at the organization. These leaders have much to say on how we all become more successful when equity is at the forefront.
As the proverb goes, “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together”.
Why did you choose to volunteer to serve on a committee?
John Murray (JM), President, Sustainable Innovations, Hemp Committee – To actively contribute to the advancement of sensible industry-wide policy reforms
Samantha Sage (SS), Founder, Kind Philanthropy, Education Committee – To continue to ‘Hype-up Community Impact’ in the Cannabis industry, and collaborate with other leaders to progress social responsibility.
Anthony Jenkins (AJ), CEO, Next Level, Cannabis Manufacturing Committee – The path for an entrepreneur aiming to obtain a manufacturing license is littered with unnecessary roadblocks and I would like to help minimize those hurdles for the next generations of cannapreneurs.
Raina Jackson (RJ), Founder & CEO, PURPLE RAINA Self Care, DEI Committee Organizer – I volunteered so that I can advocate for myself and others facing similar challenges as cannabis license applicants and operators.
Richard Fleming (RF), President, Altered State Cannabis Company, Retail Committee -As a pre-operational entity the main reason is to learn as much as possible from seasoned operators and ancillary companies with experience in various markets. Just as important, is to actively participate in a group of likeminded people to further the cause of normalization.
Toni, Toni Consulting and Wellness, Education Committee; Health Equity Working Group
Toni (T), Founder, Toni Consulting and Wellness, Education Committee; Health Equity Working Group – I volunteer to be the change I want to see in the cannabis industry. Utilizing my voice, face, knowledge, and experiences.
Kenneth Cottrell (KC), COO, Cannalean LLC, DEI Committee – I chose to volunteer on the DEI Committee to help promote legislation to promote a more diverse cannabis industry. According to MJBizDaily, “in the cannabis space, executive positions held by racial minorities fell to a new low for the group since they began tracking the number in 2017, dropping to 12.1% in 2022 from 13.1% in 2021” (MJBizDaily 2022).
Why is it important for committees to include proper representation from diverse communities, and more specifically from our Equity Scholarship Program?
John Murray, Sustainable Innovations, Hemp Committee
(JM) Diversity inclusion provides a broadened perspective with contributions from different backgrounds, capabilities, and regulatory environments. It is important to work together as a team and understand all viewpoints to become and remain successful.
(AJ) It’s very important for committees to have proper representation and include our Equity Scholarship winners in their meetings to diversify the narrative and present issues and solutions from a different perspective.
(RJ) It’s important for us to share our experiences as Equity Scholarship Program recipients on committees because we have so much to contribute to the dialogue and multi-faceted solutions. We have traditionally been excluded from economic opportunities and are rarely consulted on the important policy and regulatory decisions that often continue to harm us.
(RF) The information from a wide array of backgrounds and perspectives from all levels of the spectrum is paramount in creating and shaping a positive image in the cannabis industry. By providing a platform for us as individuals, our ideas, our businesses and our communities to reverse the stigma and become a driving force in the market.
(T) In order for any organization to be truly useful, representation must reflect diversity. If not we end up with solutions that are not equitable.
Kenneth Cottrell, Cannalean LLC, DEI Committee
(KC) It is important for committees to champion diversity. Creating diversity on committees promotes an organization as an equal and inclusive environment. It is very important for the current members who are participating, but it will also improve talent recruitment and innovation efforts for the organization. As an alumni of the NCIA’s Equity Scholarship Program, it was the main reason I became active in the organization and used its resources to help promote my company, Cannalean.
What has your experience serving on a committee been like thus far? Is there any committee work from previous years you’d like to share?
(JM) The committees I served on have been mainly focused on consumer and legislative education.
(RJ) I benefited so much from my first year working with mission-focused cannapreneurs along the supply chain, that I volunteered for a second year.
(T) Health Equity working group was able to host a town hall discussion on the importance of cannabis health equity in disadvantaged communities.
(KC) My experience serving on the committee has been amazing. I was very impressed by the kickoff zoom meeting. I also met a lot of my fellow committee members at MJ Biz Con and MJ Unpacked. I am looking forward to hearing how cannabis policy is progressing around the country and if there are any policy frameworks that I can use to lobby in Nevada.
What are you hoping to accomplish during the 2023 committee term?
(JM) Complete educational series and contribute to sensible regulatory language for the 2023 Farm Bill, which impacts our entire industry.
(SS) Inspire more committee members and leaders in the Cannabis industry to build community impact initiatives into business plans and build relationships with nonprofit organizations.
(AJ) In the 2023 committee term I would like to make it easier for the states coming on to find information about how to run a successful cannabis manufacturing program that includes equity. I would also like to make it easier for future cannabis manufacturers to become licensed, and adopt best practices to help their business succeed.
(RJ) I will continue to represent the interests of Equity cannapreneurs navigating the regulatory landscape nationwide, with a focus on CA and NY, and in May 2023 I plan to represent the DEIC at Lobby Days in D.C. As a member of the Policy & Regulatory sub-committee, I am synthesizing the policy recommendations of members of the NY Social Equity Roundtable, informed by the best practices and failings of existing programs nationwide.
(RF) I hope to inspire others to find their niche and participate in all aspects of the movement. I really look forward to being an integral part of initiatives that promote our collective goals and move the dial on the public’s education and opinion. Additionally, receiving and utilizing information from others will assist in avoiding pitfalls they have witnessed or experienced themselves.
(T) I hope to bring awareness to cannabis health equity, policies, and initiatives that support inclusivity. I seek to inspire businesses to invest in education in disadvantaged communities in ways that provide equitable long-term benefits and solutions.
(KC) I am hoping that we bring awareness to the lack of diversity in ownership and senior-level management in the cannabis industry. I want to work on developing a cannabis leadership incubator that focuses on cannabis policy, fundraising, and supply chain. There are states like Nevada that need more comprehensive social equity programs. I want to work with the committee to propose laws and policy to present to Nevada elected officials.
Update from NCIA’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Program
by Mike Lomuto, NCIA’s DEI Manager
Our DEI Program has a lot to share and celebrate as we gear up for Spring, when we hope to hit the road with our Equity Workshop Tour.
Keep reading for all the highlights and wins to start 2023.
But first, I want to remind you that today is the LAST DAY to throw down sponsorship dollars as part of our Lobby Days DEI Delegation.
ALL Lobby Days sponsorship dollars raised during the month of February directly fund our DEI Delegation.
This allows us to provide travel stipends as part of our commitment to DEI at NCIA. Our delegation consists of some of our organization’s most engaged and knowledgeable social equity policy advocates.
This is one of NCIA’s most important functions. It’s imperative we get it in the win column so that our report back in May/June’s newsletter is one of success for our DEI efforts.
February marked the momentous launch of NCIA’s Global Majority Caucus.
Made up of Global Majority leaders from across the organization – Board Members, Committee Leadership, Equity Members serving on committees, and leaders of DEI Program initiatives.
The purpose of the GMC is to galvanize our Global Majority voices and impact at the nation’s oldest and most established cannabis trade association.
I am humbled by the voices that were present last week and completely inspired by what we will continue to accomplish together.
Together, we will continue to advocate for greater Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in our industry as we push toward federal legalization, and the more equitable rollout of the myriad of state cannabis programs.
Bringing minority (aka Global Majority) perspectives to the forefront of the industry
Join us for the live recordings every Monday at 1 pm ET on LinkedIn Live
Subscribe on your favorite podcast platforms, and catch up on the first few episodes of the new season, featuring NCIA Board Vice Chair Chris Jackson, NCIA Board Member Rebecca Colett of Calyxeum, and Dr Mila Marshall (Vice Chair of the Education Committee)
Upcoming guests include:
NCIA Board Member Ben Larson of Vertosa, Chris Jensen and Tiffany Watkins (DEIC Chair and Vice Chair), Kay Villamin (SRC Chair), Keyston Franklin (BFSC Chair), and Michael Webster (host of the Power Hour)
February featured TWO Catalyst Conversations (our DEI-focused webinar series)
Featuring Gary Little and Doug Kelly, who are blazing trails in Chicago, alongside NCIA committee members Ace Castillo and Shannon Vetto
For cannabusinesses looking for how to “crack the code” of doing well AND good. We discuss how to create positive community impact AND excel as a business as a result
Featuring NCIA Committee members Vanessa Valdovinos, Keyston Franklin, and Jim Makoso, as well as new Board Member Amy Larson
Especially relevant for newer leaders in the cannabis space, seeking insights into how to succeed and gain lasting power, based on the opportunities 2023 presents.
New York Social Equity Roundtable Submits Public Comments, co-signed by a dozen partnered organizations
Since Spring of last year, we have been building coalition through conducting an ongoing roundtable discussion, consisting of multiple National and New York based cannabis social equity and industry organizations to assess and provide feedback regarding rules and regulations. Big thank you to the participating orgs, including: Minorities for Medical Marijuana (M4MM), Social Equity Committee Co-Chairs of NYC/Hudson Valley Cannabis Industry Association (NYCCIA/HVCIA), NYC NORML, Black and Brown Economic Power in Cannabis (BB EPIC), JustUS Foundation, Unified Legacy Operators Council (UNLOC), Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), Social Equity Empowerment Network (SEEN), The Hood Incubator,The People’s Ecosystem (TPE), Etain, legacy operators, and social equity cannabis business owners.
On February 13th, we submitted our latest round of public comments, in a common effort to assist the New York Office of Cannabis Management in its mission to create an equitable and inclusive cannabis industry for New York State.
DEI Committee leader Raina Jackson served as Lead Author, with support from fellow NCIA committee members Mark Slaugh, Adrian Adams, Stephanie Keeffe, and Osbert Orduna.
Get a glimpse into the impact our Equity Scholarship Program is having
“it isn’t hard for me to find a BIPOC leader within NCIA who shares experiences similar to mine. That has made this a motivating and pleasurable experience.”
– Michael Diaz-Rivera, Owner of Better Days Delivery; Colorado State Rep of M4MM
The Equity Workshop Tour is tentatively (based on sponsorship) set for stops in New York, Chicago, and Detroit, synced up withour Industry Socials. More to come. Sponsorship opportunities are available.
NCIA Deputy Director of Communications Bethany Moore checks in with what’s going on across the country with the National Cannabis Industry Association’s membership, board, allies, and staff. Join us every Friday here on Facebook for NCIA Today Live.
by Mike Lomuto, NCIA’s DEI Manager
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