Marijuana Business Magazine April 2020

April 2020 | mjbizdaily.com 73 When it comes to trade associations, many cannabis industry officials understand there’s strength in numbers. But the benefits to individual operators—along with knowing how to choose an association to meet your business needs—might be less clear. Guidelines to finding a fit, experts agreed, generally involve weighing the following: Membership Checklist by Celene Adams ‰ Legislative Priorities and Objectives: Do the association’s mandate or ambitions align with your business goals? Check the mission statement or first principles of the organization and read the bylaws to see if those ideals hold true or not. ‰ Legal Status: Is the association accurately representing itself? For example, is it touting itself as a nonprofit but actually operating as a for-profit organization? ‰ Industry Experience: How much experience do the board members have in the cannabis space? ‰ Subcommittees: What’s their purpose—advocacy or networking, for example—and who sits on the panels? ‰ Operations: Are there bylaws and policies in place to ensure ethical operations? ‰ Customer Service: Test it. Is the chat feature on the website useful, for example? And is calling the customer service line an efficient, effective process? ‰ Reputation: Does the association have positive, recent reviews, and is the content it posts accurate? Ask others involved in the industry. ‰ Fees: Can you afford monthly payments? Do you have to pay to be a board member or sit on a subcommittee? ‰ Time: How much time are you willing to invest? Much of the benefit you reap will depend on whether you are a passive or active member. Active membership involves participating in such activities as lobbying or joining a subcommittee.