The National Cannabis Industry Organization (NCIA) opened voting today for its Board of Directors. The Board has twenty-two Directors, each of whom serves a two-year term, and each year NCIA members fill eleven of the seats. To qualify for board election, a candidate must be the owner or employee of a current dues-paying Sustaining Member business and must be nominated by at least one other NCIA member business (of any level). Voting, which is open to all NCIA members, continues through May 22nd, with votes weighted by membership level.
There were twenty-two candidates in 2016, but the number increased dramatically this year, with thirty-three running to fill eleven seats. Eight incumbent are running for reelection, with Dale Sky Jones of Oaksterdam, Tripp Keber of Dixie Brands and Christian Sederberg of Vicente Sederberg stepping down. In 2016, nine incumbents ran, with eight retaining their seats. In 2015, eight incumbents ran, with five retaining their seats. In 2014, seven incumbents ran, with five retaining their seats.
The group includes many industry leaders and companies we have written about extensively. Geographically, only four candidates were from the East, but there is good representation from West, with candidates from California (7), Colorado (16), Nevada (1), Oregon (1) and Washington (4). Twenty-one identified as ancillary, while eleven are involved with businesses that are direct-to-plant.
Here is the complete list:
Mitch Baruchowitz – Merida Capital Partners LP
Cody Bass (incumbent) – Tahoe Wellness Cooperative
Ken Berke – PayQwick, LLC
Jessica Billingsley (incumbent) – MJ Freeway
Caela Bintner – Faces Human Capital Management
AC Braddock (incumbent) – Eden Labs
Andy Brassington – Evergreen Herbal
Brian Caldwell – Triple C Collective
Jan Cole – Zol Solutions
Alex Cooley (incumbent) – Solstice
Ben Curren – Green Bits
Dasheeda Dawson – MaryJane Marketing LLC
Steve DeAngelo (incumbent) – Harborside Health Center
Shannon Fender – Native Roots
Hector Fernandez – G FarmaLabs
Bob Hoban – Hoban Law Group
Matt Hoffman – Hand Grown
Rob Kampia (incumbent) – Marijuana Policy Project Foundation
Kayvan Khalatbari (incumbent) – Denver Relief Consulting
Khurshid Khoja (incumbent) – Greenbridge Corporate Counsel
Steve Levine – Husch Blackwell LLC
Christie Lunsford – Pro MAX Grow
Marion Mariathasan – Simplifya
Randy Maslow – iAnthus
Sean McAllister – McAllister Garfield, P.C.
Norris Monson – Cultivated Industries
Ralph Morgan – Organa Brands
Brad Nattrass – urban-gro Inc.
Sal Pace – SMP LLC (Pueblo County Commissioner)
Keegan Peterson – wurk
Adrian Sedlin – Canndescent
Gregg Steinberg – Growcentia
Richard Walker – Thorburn Walker LLC
New Cannabis Ventures salutes those that are serving through leadership. Please consider supporting the cannabis industry by joining NCIA, which promotes the growth of a responsible and legitimate cannabis industry and works for a favorable social, economic and legal environment for the industry. It will be hosting the Cannabis Business Summit in Oakland from June 12-14.
