Newsletter August 2018
THE CANNABIS ALLIANCE
NEWS & UPDATES
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Special Guest, Brenda Book, WSDA Organic Program manager will be joining us for August’s monthly meeting. More details below.
The Cannabis Alliance Attends Annual Washington Pest Control Tour
Hops, Mint, and Wine Grapes. What do these items all have in common? They are just a few of the agricultural crops that Washington State produces. Executive Director, Lara Kaminsky, had the opportunity last week to present to individuals from the Federal Government Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA), Washington State University (WSU) and more at the annual Washington Pest Control Tour organized by the Commission on Pesticide Registration. This tour is a great way to educate people on cannabis and discuss the similarities it has to other crops. It is also a great way to educate people on all the challenges the industry faces.
Pictured: Hops
Pictured: Mint steam extractor
Pictured: Carrots after harvest
Board Elections 2018
Can you believe another year has passed? We can’t, but it’s true, it’s time again for board elections. Every year a third of the board is up for vote with the remaining being maintained by current board members in order to ensure continuity. If you are passionate about the cannabis industry, excited by the possibility of moving the industry in a positive direction and want to influence the direction of The Alliance…..it is YOUR time to run for the board! Voting will occur on September 13th.
Interested?
- Please complete the self nomination application HERE
- Email a picture of yourself to us at info@thecannabisalliance.us
If you have any questions about the election process, what the role of a board member entails, or any other questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
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**Only those individuals who are Gold Members or above may run for the board. Please email us if you have questions.
***All members current on their dues, regardless of level, are eligible to vote to elect board members.
WSLCB Renews Contract with MJ Freeway and Welcomes New Deputy Director
In July the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board renewed their contract with MJ Freeway. Original and amended contracts can be found HERE. The agency also welcomed new Deputy Director, Pat Kohler, who will be stepping into the role previously filled by Peter Antolin. The Alliance has already begun to build their relationship with Kohler and look forward to continuing to work with the LCB to address important issues.
Letter From The President of The Board
What a whirl wind of a month! Holy Moly! If you’re a licensee, you’re probably continuing to hold on by the skin of your teeth breathing “please don’t let me fall”. I keep waiting for it to get easier. It hasn’t.
But I’m all rainbows and unicorns, right? The glass if half full! So let’s talk about what is AWESOME!
COMMITTEE CORNER
Updates, updates, updates!
What’s going on with committees? Keep reading for some quick updates. Interested in joining? Come check out our next meeting (Aug. 9th, more details below) or sign up HERE.
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEE – EXPUNGEMENT
We’ve finally made contact with Fitzgibbon and plan on supporting his bill, which seems to have a realistic path to success. This is “Plan A” as we have imagined it all along, so we are on target.
And we have requested and received a Hemposium panel coming up in a couple of weeks on the subject, to raise awareness and hopefully cultivate a broader coalition.
Finally, our engagement with Hempfest has also led to their offering, and Cultiva Law accepting, the operation of an expungement clinic at Seattle Hempfest in a couple of weeks.
PACKAGING WASTE COMMITTEE
“The greatest threat to our planet is the belief that someone else will save it.” – Robert Swan
How much extra are YOU willing to pay for your cannabis to be environmentally friendly? Please let us know by filling out a short survey!
EDUCATION COMMITTEE
The education committee is busy! Along side our now MONTHLY Trivia Nights we are SUPER excited to announce a new seminar “Excellence in Purchasing: Cannabis Training for Professionals!” The Cannabis Alliance, in partnership with Seattle Central College Continuing Education (meaning you can earn CE credits!), is excited to present purchasing manager education for the cannabis industry.
This seminar will be focusing on a variety of issues and resolutions that purchasing managers at cannabis retail stores face in their everyday job. It is important to understand what a purchasing manager job title entails and their obligation of responsibility in this fluctuating industry.
Subjects that will be covered will include:
- Understanding the importance of farm to retailer relationships
- Practicing transparency through effective communication
- Understanding our role and why our role is so imperative to the success of this industry.
- Utilizing practices with in-taking a new vendor and handling potential new vendors that are looking to establish a business relationship.
Being a purchasing manager in this industry is a lot more complex than we think, with a range of responsibilities that can be overwhelming. Let us provide insight in kick-starting ideas and think “outside the cloud” to make this position more prominent and respected in this and any industry.
Sponsorship Opportunities available. Contact: info@thecannabisalliance.us for more information
ALLIANCE HIGHLIGHTS
Member Shout-out: Ganjapreneur
This month The Cannabis Alliance would like to give a big shout out and THANK YOU to Ganjapreneur.The Cannabis Alliance had the wonderful opportunity to partner with Ganjapreneur for a happy hour in July at The Happy Place. They were such great hosts and we had a marvelous time!
Ganjapreneur is a web-based resource for the cannabis industry, publishing important news and information daily. The landscape of our industry is ever-changing and Ganjapreneur helps business owners and cannabiz professional stay abreast important updates. To get in loop join their newsletter or follow them on twitter!
Benefit Reminder: The Cannabis Alliance Shop by Mainstem
If you haven’t yet, check it out! The store is live now HERE and can be found on our homepage by clicking “shop” in the top navigation.
To receive the discount pricing you will need to SIGN UP. To do this click ‘Sign Up’ in the top right corner. It will send an inquiry to us to be reviewed. Once you are validated as a member wholesale features will be made visible to you.
This marketplace is created to provide value to you, our members. The idea is that our ancillary members will be providing licensee members better rates than available public rates. We are only listing products/services from companies that are members themselves.
If you have a product/service that you would like to offer your fellow members, just contact us with the following information:
- The product/service you would like to offer to TCA members
- Indicate the discounted rate you are willing to provide
- We work to get it on the store.
- As orders come in, they are sent directly to you to fulfill.
- There are some small administrative costs, but fairly negligible.
If you are a member please utilize this benefit and encourage others to order through our shop. It is a great way to support the Alliance as a small portion comes back to the organization. Thank you!
Volunteers needed at Seattle Hempfest
Join us for an iconic, informative and fun summer event – Hempfest 2018! We need volunteers to help at The Cannabis Alliance booth. Share your knowledge about The Cannabis Alliance and our emerging industry with people wanting to learn more.
DATES: Thursday August 16th – Sunday August 19th
TIMES: Various shifts available
UPCOMING EVENTS
The Alliance Monthly Meeting ***SPECIAL GUEST***
Date: Thursday, August 9, 2018
Time: 12 – 2 p.m.
Location: Seattle. HUBS in Arlington, Bellingham, and Olympia (RSVP for Olympia here)
In addition to our standard agenda with legislative/regulatory news and committee updates, we are excited to welcome special guest speaker, Brenda Book, WSDA Organic Program Manager. Brenda will be sharing with us how the “traditional” organic program works in anticipation of the cannabis program. If you are interested in being certified by the WSDA you won’t want to miss this meeting.
Cannabis Industry Summer Social
Date: Saturday, August 11, 2018
Time: 12 p.m.
Location: Sudden Valley Marina, 1 – 20 Marina Dr, Bellingham
Brought to you by Alliance member, Skagit Organics, we invite you to join us for fun day in the sun/water. Held at Whatcom Lake and on the same day as the Bite of Sudden Valley Festival there will be a huge variety of summer activities for you and yours to enjoy:
– Paddleboards and Kayaking (equipment provided by Skagit Organics)
– Live Music
– Food Trucks
– Flea Market
– Bouncey Houses
– Rock Climbing Wall
– Beer and Wine Garden
– Much More
We recommend that guests bring chairs/blankets and plenty of sunscreen! Feel free to email us with any questions.
Trivia Night, Round 2!
Our very first trivia night was a blast with underdog team Vagabond taking home the big W! Who will reign most knowledgeable this time? Will it be Landrace Labs? Perhaps Cannabis City? Or will a new team come swipe the title from right under their nose?! Join us again for another night of fun and education.
Date: Monday, August 13, 2018
Time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Brass Tacks, 6031 Airport Way S, Seattle
Trivia night falls on the 2nd Monday of every month. Registration is $20 per team. Teams limited to 3 people min. 5 people max.
Seattle Hempfest Festival
Dates: Friday, Aug 17-19, 2018
Location: 3130 Alaska Way, Seattle
With a laser focus on political content and a deep commitment to community values, Seattle’s HEMPFEST event has influenced regional and national public policy while being an economic generator in its community. Seattle’s HEMPFEST event paved the way and tilled the soil for Washington State citizens to legalize cannabis before any other state. Come join the community for a 3-day celebration in support of freedom.
3rd Annual Cannabis Kickball Cup
Date: Saturday, August 25, 2017
Time: 10:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Location: East Beach Park, Soap Lake, WA
This is just around the corner! There are team spots and sponsorship opportunities still available. Please come out and show your support for the cannabis community (and your love for the game!)
By participating in the Cannabis Kickball Cup, you will:
- Increase Engagement! The tournament offers a team building opportunity that’s inclusive, collaborative, and fun!
- Raise Visibility! Teams and sponsors are recognized on The Cannabis Alliance’s website, newsletter, emails, and other platforms. For sponsorship opportunities EMAIL US.
- Support the Cannabis Community! The majority of the funds raised go towards The Cannabis Alliance, a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization, whose goal is to develop a viable, sustainable, transformative, and positive cannabis industry.