Marijuana Business Magazine - April 2018

Alex Cooley Co-founder, Solstice, Seattle “I think Aaron has done a pretty damn good job. I’d put him in the top 10th percentile of executive directors I’ve dealt with. I’ve been a board member for about a year now. ... From a board member’s perspective, I think he’s done a good job of keeping together a very large board and a very opinionated board in a very chaotic space. I don’t know anyone who could do a better job than Aaron as executive director of NCIA.” John Davis CEO, Northwest Patient Resource Center, Seattle “He’s gotten us to where we are today, and I’ve been around pretty much from the inception. The steps we’ve taken forward have been amazing, and we couldn’t have done it without Aaron.” Jessica Billingsley Chief operating officer and co-founder, MJ Freeway, Denver “I have a tremendous amount of respect for Aaron. He has been able to grow as the industry and his organization have grown, and that’s not always an easy feat. NCIA is doing great work and NCIA has an opportunity to do even better work.” Lance Ott Principal, Guardian Data Systems, Vancouver, Washington “I’ve got no complaints. He’s been fantastic. Aaron started this association, and he’s busted his ass. Years and years of blood, sweat and tears. If I have issues with NCIA or mem- bership or anything like that, he handles it expeditiously. I’ve been around for the board meetings and the conflict, and it’s always been handled professionally.” Christie Lunsford Owner, Endocannabinoidology, Denver “The industry is experiencing exponential growth, and Aaron’s work is significant in having the industry we have today. I know that Aaron is poised to lead us into the future. He didn’t have any nonprofit skills when we started NCIA and he’s developed the skills needed to be an excep- tional director.” Note: NCIA board members sign a nondisclosure agreement that prevents them from discussing board matters. However, Aaron Smith gave board members permission to speak with Marijuana Business Magazine for this article. having its highest membership total ever. It posted record revenue last year, and the number of MJ businesses join- ing Denver-based NCIA continues to grow. But critics of Smith and NCIA – including a growing number of veteran industry leaders – say the organiza- tion needs fresh leadership and a new direction.The industry vets charge, for example, that NCIA has lost its focus as a lobbying organization and instead puts too much emphasis on network- ing rather than trying to change federal banking and tax laws that harm the cannabis industry. Smith, who says he has no plans to leave NCIA anytime soon, concedes he could have done some things differently. The NCIA board, with 20 members, is too large, he noted. And Smith con- ceded he should have nurtured better relations with state MJ trade groups – versus the breakdown in communica- tions and lost members that resulted from disagreements over trademarks and operational practices. In fact, Smith clearly learned a lesson from that expe- rience and is taking steps to mend rela- tions with state cannabis associations. Where Smith stands isn’t uncom- mon for the marijuana industry in 2018. Many executives, businesses and canna- bis organizations – especially those that were founded at the industry’s birth like NCIA was – are in similar positions. They are attempting to change and grow as the needs of the industry morph and more business-savvy people enter in droves.That’s led a lot of executives like Smith to think about what they could have done differently, chart a new course forward and look in the mirror to deter- mine if they’re the best fit to continue leading the entity they started. “I am dedicated to continuously working to better the organization and our offerings to members,” Smith said in an interview. “I generally need to pri- oritize” potential improvements “based SOUNDING OFF Marijuana Business Magazine asked current members of the National Can- nabis Industry Association board to voice their opinion about NCIA Executive Director Aaron Smith and his leadership. Below are the comments of five board members. April 2018 • Marijuana Business Magazine • 53