Webinar Recording: Policy Council Conversations – Sustainable Cannabis Cultivation
In case you missed it, watch this webinar recording from Wednesday, April 22 to Celebrate Earth Day with NCIA. Learn about the environmental impacts of the cannabis industry and the sustainable best management practices that can be implemented for green operations.
You’ll get a sneak peek into NCIA’s upcoming white paper focused on sustainability in the cannabis industry, and learn from your peers by hearing from four sustainable cannabis cultivators: Terrapin Care Station, Native Roots, LivWell, and Cascade High.
Panelists:
Kaitlin Urso
Environmental Protection Specialist Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Emily Long
Communications & Marketing Consultant Rocky Mountain Reagents, Inc.
Sarah Davis
CEO S.R.D. Consulting, LLC
Peter Marcus
Communications Director Terrapin Care Station
Brandon Rhea
Compliance Officer and Sustainability Co-Chair Native Roots
James Schwartz
CEO Cascade High Organics
NCIA’s #IndustryEssentials webinar series are crafted for cannabis business owners highlighting the insight and expertise of NCIA members, NCIA staff, as well as regulatory and legal experts.
To us, webinars arenʻt just about getting some big-name talking heads on a Zoom call. Itʻs about giving you insights you canʻt find anywhere else, from experts who will surprise and delight you with their in-depth knowledge on relevant industry topics. Thatʻs why we have created our NCIA #IndustryEssentials webinar series. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be rolling out a variety of programs under this umbrella which will allow us to provide you timely, engaging, and essential education when you need it most.
Cannabis Carnival II: The Fusion of Art & Activism
Written by Brooke Gilbert, Director of Events & Education
For the second year in a row, the National Cannabis Industry Association set the stage for a night of fun, music, mischief, and the celebration of cannabis with our acclaimed benefit concert, Cannabis Carnival II. Held at Denver’s historic Fillmore Auditorium, the Carnival featured a wide-ranging group of world-class musicians and performers, including headliners Medeski Martin & Wood, Everyone Orchestra featuring an all-star ensemble of accomplished musicians, performance troupe Quixotic, and Rob Garza of Thievery Corporation.
Funhouse Facilitator Bhang Corporation gave the interior of the already impressive Fillmore Auditorium a new life through the creation of an inviting, Bhang-branded Funhouse Lounge space complete with seating, psychedelic fine art by Don Callarman and Android Jones, plus even a chance to get your fortune told by the mighty Zoltar!
Filling out the raised viewing area along the east side of the Fillmore were our Cannabis Cavalcade of supporting sponsors and our Non-Profit Village. Attendees had the chance to stop by Mountain Medicine, O.PenVAPE, Mahatma Concentrates, and Terrapin Care Station booth setups to pick up goodies, play carnival-themed games for a variety of prizes, and meet those who make these wonderful products. On top of all this, attendees could also visit the booths of harm reduction heroes Dancesafe and Harm Reduction Action Center to learn more about practical measures to stay safe at live music events and give back by entering into Share Your Cloud’s art raffle to raise money HRAC’s lifesaving local efforts.
The party continued outside with even more carnival fun. Whether taking a chance at soaking someone in the 300-gallon Dunk Tank or showing off your strength by taking a swing at the High Striker, there was plenty of excitement to go around. O.PenVAPE topped it all off by providing a stilt-walker to entertain guests throughout the night in hosting their tricked-out Volkswagen bus where attendees could take a break to play everyone’s party favorite, Mario Kart™.
Opening up the musical portion of the evening was Rob Garza, multi-instrumentalist and founding member of Thievery Corporation. His engaging mix of deep house and nu-disco during his set got everyone warmed up while exploring the venue. Intensely mesmerizing, highly skilled, and visually stunning, Quixotic took the stage next and stole the show for many who were unaware of what they were about to witness. Based out of Kansas City, this group of performers masters the fusion of dance, high fashion, aerial acrobatics, projection mapping, and original live music, producing a multi-dimensional experience unlike any other. You can view highlights from their performance in our official photo album found on our Facebook page here.
The constantly revolving improvisational supergroup Everyone Orchestra took the stage following Quixotic. Matt Butler, a masterful entertainer who also served as our jovial ringleader for the evening, conducted the highly anticipated lineup of musicians, including members of The String Cheese Incident, Big Gigantic, Papadosio, The Motet, Tea Leaf Green, Elephant Revival, The Bridge, and The Congress, through an hour-long improvisational journey which did not disappoint. Combining an eclectic mixture of funk, rock, bluegrass, soul, jazz, and audience participation all guided by the meticulous mind of Matt Butler, Everyone Orchestra got everyone dancing and letting loose to the collaboratively created soundtrack.
A surprise guest for the evening came out during the setbreak before Medeski Martin & Wood closed out the show. Few people knew beforehand that Representative Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA), a longtime champion of cannabis policy reform, also plays guitar and is no stranger to songwriting. In what might have been a first for a member of Congress, Rep. Rohrabacher jumped on stage and shared a personally penned song about freedom at a cannabis-centric concert. This rare moment was definitely a highlight of the evening as it reflected the merging of a political movement, art, and activism that Cannabis Carnival means to encompass.
World-renowned jazz funk trio Medeski Martin & Wood took the stage last, joined by a late night rush of local cannabis enthusiasts who weren’t going to miss their last stateside appearance in 2015. This increasingly rare performance by the jazz fusion pioneers was a real treat for all and the diverse audience once again demonstrated the role cannabis can play in crossing cultural boundaries. With never a dull moment, MMW’s set showcased their wide range with Billy Martin providing an ever-changing canvas of beats and percussive sounds for Chris Woods to build upon, while John Medeski took things deep through his expansive selection of vintage pianos, organs and synthesizers.
As attendees left with smiles on their faces, we couldn’t have been happier with another successful year of throwing Cannabis Carnival. In case you didn’t hear, NCIA will be taking the Cannabis Business Summit and Cannabis Carnival to the Bay Area in 2016. Stay on the lookout for date and location announcements for next year’s edition in the coming months!
Cannabis & Community: The Industry Gives Back to Medical Research and the Arts
The National Cannabis Industry Association was founded in order to foster a legitimate, responsible, and socially-engaged cannabis industry. We continue to advocate for these values both within the industry and to the outside. As part of this ongoing message, we encourage our members to engage with their communities and support charities in addition to the marijuana policy reform efforts that advance the industry directly. Cannabis businesses that engage in philanthropy are not only helping important causes and earning a tax deduction — they are demonstrating tangible benefits of legally regulating cannabis businesses to policymakers and the public. After all, criminal drug dealers don’t usually give back to their communities.
Voter support for legal marijuana is at an all-time high but a lot of work still needs to be done before public perception and the legal environment reach the point where the cannabis industry is treated like any other legitimate American business sector. Successful cannabis businesses can help move us in the right direction by publicly supporting mainstream causes that resonate with the general public in addition to helping lay the foundation for a culture of corporate responsibility within the emerging industry.
Colorado’s burgeoning legal cannabis industry is leading the charge on this front with two great examples of philanthropic activity this summer.
NCIA director of education and events Brooke Gilbert (left) poses with director of government relations Michael Correia (right) at this year’s Clinic Charity Classic.
On August 16 the Clinic Marijuana Center held its 5th Annual Clinic Charity Classic, a golf tournament benefitting the Multiple Sclerosis Society. The sold-out tournament was sponsored by dozens of cannabis businesses — including NCIA — and raised over $80,000 for the M.S. Society’s Colorado-Wyoming Chapter.
Our support for these important community benefits strengthens our relationship with those who may not have any direct experience with cannabis or the industry and generates positive news coverage across the nation.
Let us know how your business is engaging with your community in the comments below or tell us if you have an idea for new ways to get philanthropically involved.
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