CA marijuana association trades NCIA affiliate status for group’s associate program

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The California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA) dropped its affiliate status with the National Cannabis Industry Association to join NCIA’s Allied Associations Program.

The move is something of a departure for the California trade association, as the dues for its roughly 460 members now will stay with the state group instead of going to NCIA. The Ohio branch of NCIA is making the same move.

The national organization said in a news release that the goal of the Allied Associations Program is to build relationships between NCIA and state, local and sector-specific trade associations to advance the cannabis industry.

CCIA spokesman Josh Drayton said the new status should help the group strengthen its efforts in California and that finances were a factor in the decision.

“Ultimately, we are a nonprofit and we have to be creative in figuring out how to grow our political teams and how to branch out of just Sacramento,” Drayton said.

“Keeping up with resources here in California is going to allow us to focus on not just Sacramento but also these local municipalities that clearly need assistance to get the ball moving in the direction of regulations.”

Drayton went on to say that the rollout of the legal recreational market in California has caused challenges that need to be addressed at the local level.

CCIA members will still have the option to join NCIA, Drayton added, and the California trade group will continue to partner with NCIA for the California Cannabis Business Conference in Anaheim in October.