National Cannabis Industry Association

The National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA) is an American non-profit organization established in 2010 to advocate for the legalization and commercialization of cannabis in the United States. It serves as the largest cannabis trade association in the U.S., representing cannabis-related businesses at the federal level. With a mission to promote the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry, NCIA lobbies for fair taxation, easier access to banking for cannabis businesses, and works towards a favorable legal environment. The organization also hosts educational events and provides resources for businesses navigating the complex landscape of cannabis laws

Mission and Activities:

• Promoting virtues of cannabis and its trade
• Lobbying Congress for fair cannabis taxation and banking access
• Helping businesses navigate state and local laws
• Hosting educational events on the cannabis industry
• Launching the Cannabis Business Summit in 2014, now an annual event

Membership and Growth:

• Nearly 1,500 member businesses as of March 2021
• Member growth from 118 in 2013 to nearly 2,000 in June 2019
• Offering complimentary membership for social equity businesses

Advocacy Efforts:

• Supporting the SAFE Banking Act in 2019
• Launching Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives in June 2020
• Advocating for equity and addressing harms of prohibition
• Congressional funding bill protecting cannabis banking
• Cannabis industry support for House Judiciary

Legal History, Reforms, and Legislative Developments:

• Impact of the Marihuana Tax Act of 1937
• Treaty law rescheduling cannabis in 2020
• Major legal reforms in the U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, Uruguay
• Landmark case Gonzales v. Raich
• Timeline of cannabis law evolution
• 4Front letter urging an end to cannabis criminalization

Industry Events and Recognition:

• Cannabis Business Summit & Expo in Oakland
• Cannabis PAC engagement highlighted in POLITICO
• 2016 Post-Election Analysis impact on the cannabis industry
• Banking groups lobbying for cannabis company banking services
• NCIA offering complimentary membership for social equity businesses

National Cannabis Industry Association Data Sources