Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association

What Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association does

The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit advocacy and membership organization dedicated to advancing Indigenous representation, sovereignty, and economic equity in the U.S. cannabis industry. Its primary constituents are Tribal Nations and Indigenous entrepreneurs, with secondary audiences in policymaking, healthcare, and advocacy communities. ICIA's core deliverables are tiered annual memberships (seven tiers priced from $100 to $20,000), two flagship policy summits (the DC Policy Summit and the Great Lakes Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp Summit), educational programming including webinars and bootcamps, the Indigenous Cannabis Speakers Series podcast, expungement clinics, and the documentary film Bad Medicine. Its most distinctive asset is the Tribal Cannabis and Hemp Programs Map, a first-of-its-kind interactive resource developed with Vicente LLP that visualizes regulated Indigenous cannabis and hemp programs across tribal nations; ICIA research underlying this product indicates approximately 26% of continental U.S. Indigenous communities are involved with cannabis or hemp programs and 52 Tribal communities operate federally approved hemp cultivation programs.

ICIA monetizes primarily through recurring annual membership dues and tiered event sponsorships, supplemented by an affiliate referral arrangement with Oaksterdam University offering members a 10% discount on cannabis courses. Legal counsel is provided by Skenandore Wilson LLP and Hinshaw Law, and the organization maintains a board that draws representation from multiple tribal nations (Bad River, Oneida, Ho-Chunk, St. Croix Chippewa, Nez Perce/Delaware). Distribution is self-serve through its website (indigenouscannabis.org), with awareness supported by active social media channels, a podcast, and earned-media partnerships including High Times and El Plante. The organization conducts no disclosed M&A activity, holds no patents or outside investment, and operates an event- and community-led go-to-market model rather than a traditional product-led or sales-led motion.

Revenue scale is undisclosed and headcount is unknown; ICIA appears to be a small staff operation led by Founder & CEO Rob Pero and Executive Director Mary Jane Oatman, alongside a board of directors and a chief medical advisor. Operating geographies are concentrated in the United States, with explicit regional emphasis on Wisconsin and the Great Lakes, and federal advocacy centered in Washington, D.C.

Name

Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association

Legal name

Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association

Website

https://indigenouscannabis.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association is a Wisconsin-based nonprofit advocacy and membership organization that advances Indigenous representation, tribal sovereignty, and economic equity in the U.S. cannabis industry through policy summits, education, and tiered memberships serving Tribal Nations and Indigenous entrepreneurs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Cambridge

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership dues at multiple tiers ranging from $100 to $20,000 per year. Membership provides access to position briefs, education library, newsletters, event tickets, and sponsor directory listings.
2. Event Sponsorships: Sponsorships open to Native and Non-Native partners at various levels, providing visibility at ICIA events and within the membership community.
3. Educational Programs: Partnership with Oaksterdam University provides cannabis courses and certifications at a 10% discount for ICIA members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

ICIA is a nonprofit membership-based advocacy organization that delivers tiered annual memberships, policy advocacy, educational programming, networking events, and original resources (including the Tribal Cannabis and Hemp Programs Map, podcast, and documentary) to support Indigenous communities, Tribal Nations, and entrepreneurs in the U.S. cannabis and hemp industries. Its primary commercial outputs are paid memberships, event sponsorships, and partner education programs (e.g., Oaksterdam University discount).

Product overview

The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association is a membership-based advocacy organization offering a portfolio of programs and services including a Tribal Cannabis and Hemp Programs Map (created with Vicente LLP), tiered membership access, educational webinars and bootcamps, the Indigenous Cannabis Speakers Series podcast, cannabis conviction expungement clinics, and major policy summits (DC Policy Summit and Great Lakes Summit). The organization also produces the documentary film 'Bad Medicine'. These offerings are interconnected through ICIA's mission to create opportunities and equity for Indigenous people through policy, programming, and outreach initiatives.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bad Medicine: Documentary feature film about the history of hemp and cannabis among Native peoples, tracing from ceremonial use through criminalization and current reclamation efforts
• Great Lakes Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp Summit
• National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit

Products and services

• ICIA Membership Tiers Tiered annual membership program for individuals, entrepreneurs, and organizations supporting ICIA's mission. Tiers include Friends of ICIA ($100/yr), 420 Individual ($420/yr), Emerald ($1,000/yr), Bronze ($2,500/yr), Silver ($5,000/yr), Gold ($10,000/yr), and Platinum ($20,000/yr), providing access to position briefs, education library, newsletters, podcast, roundtables, networking, sponsor listings, and event tickets.
• Tribal Cannabis and Hemp Programs Map An interactive map created with Vicente LLP documenting the locations of Indigenous cannabis and hemp programs across tribal nations, used to demonstrate the growth of regulated tribal cannabis and hemp markets.
• Bad Medicine Documentary A documentary feature film about the history of hemp and cannabis among Native peoples, tracing ceremonial use, criminalization, and modern reclamation, with donations accepted to fund production and distribution.
• Indigenous Cannabis Speakers Series Podcast A podcast series featuring Indigenous voices in the cannabis industry, available to ICIA members as part of their membership benefits.
• Annual DC Policy Summit An annual policy summit held in Washington, D.C. that convenes tribal leaders, policymakers, regulators, healthcare professionals, and entrepreneurs to shape Indigenous cannabis policy and public health outcomes.
• Great Lakes Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp Summit An annual regional policy summit focused on Wisconsin and Great Lakes tribal communities that addresses medical cannabis, hemp regulation, federal rescheduling, and tribal sovereignty.

Quantifiable outcome

• ~26% of Indigenous communities in continental U.S. now involved with cannabis or hemp programs

Named customers3 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Vicente LLPcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024ICIA collaborated with leading cannabis law firm Vicente LLP to create the Tribal Cannabis and Hemp Programs Map - a first-of-its-kind resource showing the locations of Indigenous cannabis and hemp programs across tribal nations.
• Oaksterdam UniversitycoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2024ICIA partnered with Oaksterdam University, the world's first cannabis college and leader in cannabis education since 2007. ICIA members receive a 10% discount on cannabis courses, certifications, and knowledge bases.
• High TimesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerHigh Times serves as an official media partner for the DC Policy Summit, providing coverage and visibility for ICIA events.
• El PlanteminorGTM or Marketing PartnerEl Plante added as official media partner for the DC Policy Summit.
• Wisconsin Wellness CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition partner working with ICIA leadership and legal counsel to align tribal leadership with shared wellness priorities and strengthen the case for medical cannabis access.
• Lake of the Torches Resort & CasinominorOthersHost venue for the 2026 Great Lakes Indigenous Cannabis and Hemp Summit in Lac du Flambeau, WI.
• Skenandore Wilson LLPcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal counsel to ICIA, with Founding Partner Samantha C. Skenandore ranked in the 2026 Best Lawyers in America for Native American Law.
• Hinshaw LawcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerLegal partner providing counsel, with Board Member Mitchel Chargo recognized as a 2025 Top Lawyer in Minnesota.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Drug Policy Alliance: Leading drug policy reform organization working to end the war on drugs through policy advocacy, lobbying, and coalition building. Comparable in high-level federal policy advocacy on controlled substances and harm reduction, with overlap on expungement and equity work relevant to ICIA's mission.
• National Congress of American Indians (NCAI): The oldest and largest American Indian and Alaska Native advocacy organization in the U.S., addressing tribal sovereignty and federal Indian policy broadly. Comparable as a tribal advocacy entity influencing federal policymakers, but covers all policy domains rather than specializing in cannabis.
• National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA): The largest U.S. cannabis trade association representing legal cannabis businesses, ancillary service providers, and policy advocates. Comparable in trade-association structure, lobbying focus, and membership model, but covers the full industry rather than the Indigenous-focused niche ICIA serves.
• Marijuana Policy Project (MPP): Major cannabis policy reform advocacy organization focused on state and federal legalization legislation. Comparable in federal-level lobbying presence and policy expertise, but without ICIA's tribal sovereignty focus or Indigenous community activation model.
• NORML: Foundational cannabis policy reform organization focused on legalization, decriminalization, and consumer protection. Comparable in policy advocacy orientation and grassroots mobilization, but addresses general cannabis reform rather than tribal sovereignty and Indigenous equity.

Direct peers

• Indigenous Cannabis Coalition: Founded by Mary Jane Oatman (also ICIA's Executive Director), focused on Indigenous cannabis advocacy and education. Direct peer operating in the same niche, sharing leadership and an overlapping mission to advance Indigenous participation in the cannabis economy.
• Minority Cannabis Business Association: Social equity-focused cannabis industry association advocating for underrepresented entrepreneurs and businesses. Closely comparable to ICIA in mission (equity-focused industry advocacy), membership-tier model, and policy summit format, with the primary distinction being Indigenous-specific vs. broader minority focus.
• Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition: Coalition advancing equity and inclusion in cannabis policy and regulation. Comparable as a social-equity cannabis advocacy coalition engaging regulators and policymakers, with overlapping member audiences (minority entrepreneurs, equity advocates) similar to ICIA's Indigenous entrepreneur base.
• Last Prisoner Project: Cannabis-focused nonprofit dedicated to criminal justice reform, cannabis conviction expungement, and prisoner reentry. Highly comparable in mission overlap (ICIA explicitly runs cannabis conviction expungement clinics) and in nonprofit/advocacy structure serving equity-driven cannabis goals.

Emerging players

• National Hemp Association: Trade association focused on industrial hemp policy, advocacy, and industry development. Comparable in hemp-program advocacy (52 federally approved tribal hemp programs are core to ICIA's scope) and in trade-association structure, but centered on industrial rather than tribal/community applications.

Market position

Strengths1 record

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks2 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/indigenouscann
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/indigenouscannabis
• Instagraminstagram.com/indigenouscannabisindustry/?hl=en

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association