"Empowering Indigenous Voices: Highlights from the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit" In this episode of the Let's Talk Hemp podcast, I had the pleasure of attending the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. This remarkable event, organized by Mary Jane Oatman, Rob Pero, and the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA), brought together tribal leaders, industry professionals, healthcare experts, and policymakers to discuss critical cannabis and hemp policy issues affecting indigenous communities.
"Empowering Indigenous Voices: Highlights from the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit"
In this episode of the Let's Talk Hemp podcast, I had the pleasure of attending the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. This remarkable event, organized by Mary Jane Oatman, Rob Pero, and the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA), brought together tribal leaders, industry professionals, healthcare experts, and policymakers to discuss critical cannabis and hemp policy issues affecting indigenous communities.
Throughout the summit, we engaged in three days of insightful keynotes, roundtables, and panel discussions that covered a wide range of topics, including cannabis economic development, the legal landscape of hemp derivatives, sustainable cultivation, and the role of cannabis in addressing health concerns like PTSD. A key focus was on tribal sovereignty and the need for cannabis policies that reflect the unique needs of indigenous communities.
I had the opportunity to sit down with Rob Pero from ICIA, who shared his thoughts on the event's success and the importance of collaboration among diverse voices in the cannabis industry. We discussed how the summit fostered an intimate environment for meaningful conversations and emotional connections, which is often lacking in larger industry events.
Mary Jane Oatman also joined me to discuss the history of the ICIA and the significance of this year's summit. She emphasized the importance of partnerships and the need for indigenous communities to have a seat at the table in the broader cannabis conversation.
Additionally, I spoke with various attendees, including Eben Sumner, Mike Lamuto, Hunter Buffington, Alicia Fall from Her Many Voices and Ross Sloan, who highlighted the collaborative spirit of the event and the potential for indigenous communities to lead in the cannabis space. The discussions underscored the importance of unity and shared goals in advancing cannabis policy and creating opportunities for underserved communities.
Overall, this episode captures the essence of the summit and the exciting developments in the cannabis industry as indigenous voices continue to rise and make an impact. I look forward to seeing how these conversations evolve and the progress we can achieve together in the future.
00:00:00 - Welcome to the Let's Talk Hemp Podcast
Introduction to the podcast and the host, Morris Beagle, along with the event details.
00:01:00 - National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit Overview
Discussion of the summit's purpose, key topics, and the importance of tribal sovereignty.
00:02:00 - Networking and Community Building
Emphasis on the networking opportunities and the collaborative spirit of the event.
00:03:00 - Event Structure and Participation
Recap of the event's format, including keynotes, panels, and the diversity of participants.
00:05:00 - Indigenous Voices in Cannabis
Highlighting the shift towards more indigenous leadership and representation in the cannabis industry.
00:06:00 - Emotional Impact of the Summit
Discussion on the emotional resonance of the event and the importance of shared experiences.
00:08:00 - Comparing Conferences
Comparison of the intimacy and engagement at this summit versus larger industry events.
00:10:00 - Global Connections and Indigenous Leadership
Exploration of the potential for indigenous communities to lead in the global hemp and cannabis industries.
00:12:00 - International Trade and Sovereignty
Discussion on the advantages of tribal sovereignty in international trade and cannabis.
00:14:00 - Collaboration Across Organizations
The importance of collaboration among various organizations to advance cannabis policy.
00:16:00 - Building a Supportive Community
Recognition of the need for a supportive community to foster progress in the cannabis industry.
00:18:00 - Future of Cannabis and Hemp
Looking ahead to the future of cannabis and hemp industries and the role of indigenous communities.
00:19:00 - Mary Jane Oatman Interview
Introduction to Mary Jane Oatman and her reflections on the summit's success.
00:21:00 - History of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association
Overview of the formation and goals of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association.
00:23:00 - Future Events and Dates
Announcement of the next Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit dates.
00:25:00 - Inclusivity and Diverse Voices
Discussion on the importance of inclusivity and diverse representation in cannabis policy.
00:28:00 - Acknowledging Key Contributors
Recognition of individuals and organizations that have contributed to the movement.
00:30:00 - Plans for Future Summits
Plans for state-specific summits and continued community engagement.
00:32:00 - Gratitude and Acknowledgments
Expressions of gratitude for the support and collaboration within the community.
00:33:00 - Alicia Fall Interview
Introduction to Alicia Fall and her insights on the conference and her organization.
00:35:00 - Global Perspectives on Cannabis
Discussion on the global implications of cannabis and the role of indigenous communities.
00:37:00 - Collaboration and Unity in the Industry
The importance of collaboration among organizations for effective policy change.
00:39:00 - Passion for the Plant
Highlighting the passion and commitment of indigenous communities to the cannabis movement.
00:40:00 - Dart Bank's Role in the Industry
Ross Sloan discusses Dart Bank's involvement and support for tribal cannabis initiatives.
00:47:00 - Takeaways from the Conference
Final thoughts on the conference and the potential for indigenous leadership in cannabis.
00:49:00 - Networking and Global Connections
Reflections on the networking opportunities and the importance of global connections.
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Welcome back, my friends, to the show that never ends. I'm glad you could attend. Again, you are listening to the Let's Talk Hemp podcast. I am your host, Morris Beagle. Welcome to the show. Welcome to the Let's Talk Hemp Volume Up Podcast. I'm your host, Morris Beagle, and today we're bringing you a new episode from Washington, D.C., where we attended the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit. This incredible event was spearheaded by Mary Jane Oatman, Rob Perro, and the team at Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association. The summit united tribal leaders, industry professionals, health care experts, and policymakers to address critical cannabis and hemp policy issues, particularly those impacting indigenous communities. With over 40 tribal cannabis leaders, three days of keynotes, roundtables, and panel discussions, the event tackled essential topics like cannabis economic development, the legal landscape of hemp derivatives, sustainable cultivation, federal cannabis rescheduling and legalization, international trade and banking, and cannabis's role in addressing health concerns, including PTSD. A standout feature of the summit was its emphasis on tribal sovereignty and creating cannabis policies that align with the unique needs and aspirations of indigenous communities. Beyond the informative sessions, the event offered excellent networking opportunities, receptions, and even an award ceremony. This episode is brought to you by our friends at Her Many Voices, a remarkable organization combining grassroots activism with indigenous wisdom to protect the planet and its future generations. To learn more, visit hermanyvoices.org. Now, let's dive in. I am sitting here with Rob Perro from the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association after the amazing event in Washington, D.C. How are you doing today, Rob?
undefined: Oh, man, I'm a little tired, a little overwhelmed from all the energy last week, but feeling reinvigorated to tackle what's to come. So feeling good, man. My cup was filled last week.
: Yeah, it was an amazing event. You guys did a great job, you and MJ and your whole team at ICIA. And yeah, this is like the final wrap up before we finish this podcast here. And you're on the road in Wisconsin, and I'm sitting here in Colorado on my Zoom recording this. And well, let's let's kind of do the recap on how this whole event went down.
undefined: Yeah, so, you know, we had a three day event really two and a half days full day Wednesday, full day Thursday half day Friday and it was really more of an interdisciplinary event where you know, practitioners from, you know, every aspect, whether it be, you know, regulators, you know, and legislators to consultants and operators, doctors, therapists, and people who are really working, you know, specifically in the medicinal space, too. So it just brought really a robust just outlook on the industry, but also really provided, I think, the audience with a lot of new data and a lot of fresh perspectives. And, you know, our events are a little different, you know, it's indigenous led, but it's, you know, inclusive nonetheless. So, you know, we welcome everyone into this space to, you know, continue to build community and find ways that we can fill, you know, the gaps in understanding or even, you know, problem solve ways to continue to move the industry. So this was the year that I feel like We made the most impact and actually getting things done and are actually starting to see progress. This being our third year of doing this so it was, it was the biggest one yet it was the one where I feel like we had the biggest. most powerful voices with the most experience. And now we actually have indigenous voices and leadership on the stage. So year one, you know, a lot of non-indigenous, you know, subject matter experts in the hemp and cannabis industry. Well, now that that page is turning, right? And now we have indigenous groups like Lower Sioux. We have Dr. Rosado. We have so many groups doing amazing, amazing things and leading cannabis and hemp. And I think it's just setting the stage for us to continue to advance the industry and really, you know, own it in our own way, but still be collaborative partners.
: Well, I thought for being still a young organization and a young event that You did a excellent job. You did have a diverse group of speakers up there and amazing indigenous folks and like you said there's folks outside of the indigenous communities that are collaborating now and being able to bring some insight and open up their organizations and their events to giving you guys a seat at the table. And like I said, during my talk, you know, the more everyone can participate together, the more voices that are involved and at the table, the better everything's going to be in the long run and at the end.
undefined: No, I agree. You know, and I think when you have smaller events, you can experience that sort of intimacy and engagement and the emotion too, right? You know, we had a speaker on PTSD that was talking about, you know, the impacts on different communities. And then if you really, you know, get granular with the data and you look at the impacts on indigenous communities, it's compounded, compounded to the point where, you know, something has to be done now. Um, and then when you look across the room, you realize that the people can help that that can help get things done now are in the room. and they're feeling that emotion. So it was really, in my opinion, it was moving. It was needed. And it was also constructive. It's always good to have varying opinions on things and also kind of debate that as well. But you're in a room where you actually feel like you know, your voice means something. And I think that's the difference maker with our conference versus, you know, some of the other larger ones that are out there. It's hard to get to know everybody, right?
: Right. Yeah. If you come to NOCO, which is obviously a lot larger when you've got thousands of people, it's hard to be able to meet everybody and have real constructive conversations. And that's not to say that you can't have a lot of constructive conversations with a good group of people, but You know, you definitely can't get to everybody and then you go to something that's like an MJ biz where you got 30,000 people and that's just such a sensory overload where it's hard to walk away from a show like that, in my opinion. with anything other than almost anxiety. And like, it's like, by the time you get back, you got a zillion business cards or scans of business cards. And it's like, it takes quite a while to regroup. But with your event, I agree. The emotional side of things that was there, I think was probably, the most intense that I felt. I did like the size of it, kind of like we talked in Peru, where there was like 100 people in Peru or whatever. And that was very intimate, got to meet a lot of people, and I thought it was very well done. And yours was similar to that. outside of the fact that I think there was more feeling and emotion involved. And it was very inspiring. Some great things being said off stage that is like, wow, I haven't felt this at a conference before. So again, thumbs up on that to you and MJ.
undefined: Well, thanks, brother. I appreciate it. And I think having someone like you there and with your experience uh, the industry, you know, that means a lot to us. And, you know, we, we, we take a little bit from everything that we've been at. And, you know, for us, everyone's like, are you going to MJ biz? Like you go to this cannabis conference and we always like, you know, we kind of have a native circuit as well, where we need to go to, you know, be sort of standard, you know, national Congress. We need to go to the national center for economic development. We need to go to our state task force meetings. And, you know, it's, it's just a different. kind of world or circuit in native country, because we have native centric events that are based upon economic development, workforce development, emerging industries. And now we're fitting into the fold as this burgeoning industry, you know, cannabis and hemp. And then you have the circuit, the cannabis circuit, right? You know, so for us, it's, it's, you know, we're still building our, our war chest, as we call it. And you've been a big part of it as well, Morris. So we appreciate, you know, you and the partners at no co and you know, carving out a space for indigenous communities to have a voice at these larger events, too, are what's needed. And hopefully, you know, we can get to the point where, you know, we have our own sessions and stages at MJ BizCon, too. But like you said, you know, that's I feel like that's like going to a theme park. You know, you're there just to touch and see the shiny things. And then after you're like, what just happened? It was awesome and it was fun. But did you learn anything? Right. So.
: Yeah, I agree. And I'm not going to hit it MJBiz this year. I'm going to be in Thailand. And last year, I flew back. I wasn't in Thailand for that long. I was there for like five or six days and then flew straight to MJBiz. And it's like, I'm not doing that this year. I'm going to stay in Thailand. And I've done MJBiz for the last five or six years outside of 2020. And yeah, it's just I think that My presence and my time is better served in Asia right now and I'm trying to connect all these global dots between North America and Europe and South America and Asia and Australia and You know, that's kind of my goal over the next couple of years is to connect all the global dots. And within that, and I've mentioned this a couple of times already with other folks on this podcast, and that's the indigenous folks around the world, not just here in the United States, but in South America and Asia and Africa. These indigenous communities can play such a huge role on the global development of the hemp industry and the cannabis industry. But I really specifically think the hemp industry with farmland and stewardship to the earth and free trade zones. And I just think there's so many opportunities for indigenous folks to stand up and be a true leader in this looking down the road by 10, 20 years.
undefined: I know, right? Like, that's the amazing thing, you know, in a country like the United States, like such a powerhouse, but, you know, somewhat limited on what they've been doing in regards to international trade around cannabis. And obviously with cannabis, they can't do it right now. So, you know, sovereign nations and indigenous nations across the world connecting and other partners as well and developing an ecosystem of commerce and the advantages that tribes do have in the US and really across the globe to sort of unite and build these trade routes. You know, it's a really exciting prospect and it's actually like being executed on at multiple levels already and we're seeing some case studies, you know, start to develop from that. So I think that's a really, you know, exciting aspect and really a nuance that, you know, not a lot of other sort of communities, when we talk about that you know are really able to, to navigate. but also do it in a way where it's making these connections and also raising the level of protections that we have around cannabis and hemp on a world stage. We know the UN is there to look out for us and protect us in some level, but if we don't understand how to utilize the tools that are on that world stage, that's our fault. So having partners like you that are traveling the globe and others that understand the legality what those protections mean, like a Sheryl Murray, you know, that's talking about traditional medicine, sacramental medicine and protected medicines like cannabis and hemp. You know, it's really elevated the conversation, you know, to a global scale. And it's, I feel like it positions the tribes and indigenous nations across the world as as leaders in the industry. And I think that's really exciting.
: Yeah, I definitely agree on that. And you mentioned Sheryl Murray Powell, I caught her keynote there on the last day and she's been part of NOCO and Southern Hip Expo for years and she brings a real strong powerful voice being female, being a person of color and very intelligent and knowledgeable about what you just said with legalities from the UN level and ceremonial and all of this. The more people that are coming together and that can all sit in the same room and at the same table and really help create an outline and a plan and then we can all execute on it, it's just going to get us to where we want to go a lot sooner rather than later, if we can all sit at that table together. And again, hats off to you for inviting folks in and hats off to those that were there that have invited the Indigenous folks in. And again, I think that we're making some pretty good progress here.
undefined: Yeah, I think we're building something pretty special and I will continue to invite people in that are way smarter than me. And I think, you know, everyone has a specific skill set. I think everyone maybe feels a little intimidated or a bit of imposter syndrome when they're jumping into the cannabis industry. But we need everybody's strengths and those areas where you feel like, you know, you need to shore up or you're not strong there. Someone else is strong there. But you can bring value to the table, you know, to advance this industry the right way. And I think that's what we're seeing and that's what we'll continue to do. You know, so I think It's a very special moment in time. We have a new administration in the US coming in. In our opinion, cannabis and hemp are still kind of in a bubble. It's still going to take all of us to, as we say, paddle or row the same direction. And it's always kind of been upstream. But I'm with you, man. I think we built something pretty special. And with the partners, as we talked about before, it used to be like a turf war, right? my event, you know, your event, but there's like this, this brick wall between, you know, how can we collaborate with each other? And I think those, that's all being swept aside. You're seeing immense collaboration, you're seeing major relationship building, and you're seeing problem solving at the highest level. And, you know, I couldn't be more honored to be a part of it.
: Well, I'm going to echo having smarter people involved than myself, and everybody does play a role. I've been saying that for a long time. I play my role as an organizer and an advocate, and I've got my skill set. But when I do the Let's Talk Hemp programming series for policy or fiber or grain or equipment, processing, there's super smart people that can come in from all these different angles that know way more than I do. And I just feel so fortunate to be able to have so many smart people participate at my events and go to other events and share the stage with folks like I did last week, where it's like, wow, I'm sitting next to Dominique and it's like, man, this lady is so smart. You know it's intimidating for me to be when I when it's really I shouldn't be intimidated or anything but it's like there's some just really smart people that know their lane so well and it's like that is just so great and when we can all come together and and stay in our lane and contribute to this greater vision Again, I think that we're making really good progress and a lot of these barriers have come down between event organizers and, you know, just industry cliques and factions and so forth. And if we continue to make progress there, we're going to get to where we want to go a lot sooner.
undefined: 100% man. And, you know, without people like you, you know, as the organizers and advocates, you know, we don't hear the Dominique's, you know, we don't hear the dashida Dawson's, we don't hear the Cheryl's, we don't hear the Rosado's, you know, everyone's sort of, you know, yelling in a in a room, you know, with four walls, but how can we bust those walls down and that's what guys like you and me do. You know, I feel like we're very similar and sort of our attributes, you know, that we are connectors, but we're also sponges and we're learning along the way too. So, you know, as sort of intimidated I am as I am being around these really smart, you know, subject matter experts, We also know a lot of stuff, too, Morris. Right. But it just makes us do a better job at what what our suite is or our sweet spot is, which is, you know, bringing people together. So thank you, man, for for doing your work and excited for you to go to Thailand and bring some more knowledge back and share that with us. And I'm excited for what the future holds.
: All right. Well, thanks again for all you do as well and ICIA and be safe out there on the road and go keep knocking on doors and breaking down walls and moving everything forward for tribal nations.
undefined: Will do, my man. I'll do my best and, you know, I'll always stay in touch. So again, man, I appreciate, you know, everything and having me on and Excited to see, you know, where cannabis and hemp are going in 25. There's big things in motion and I can't wait to watch it all play out.
: Sounds good.
undefined: Thanks, brother. All righty. Thanks, man. Hey, have a great day. We'll be in touch soon.
: All right. Take care. Peace. I am sitting here with Mary Jane Oatman. one of the organizers for this year's Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit that took place in Washington, D.C. How are you doing today, MJ?
undefined: I'm doing great. Still just reeling from a wonderful gathering of community, family, and cannabis and hamsters from across the country.
: Well, I'm certainly glad I could make it out this year. This was my first time being able to come to the event and participate. And I thought that you and Rob and the ICIA team just did a fabulous job.
undefined: Thank you so much. It is partnerships, networking, support. That's the reason why we created the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association. And as you saw from the convening that we had, the results of empowering our communities with policy, education, and advocacy for the plant and the many purposes of the plant. uh were it was a strong show out and as I said many times during the event we are just getting started.
: Well there's a long ways to go we all know that but uh What you've created here is definitely an amazing platform for indigenous communities here in North America. And I think it's an example for indigenous communities across the globe, South America, Africa, Asia, all these places that have indigenous communities that can participate in the global cannabis and hemp industries. So what you're doing is wonderful.
undefined: Thank you.
: Why don't you tell folks a bit about the organization, the history of this event, and how you thought this year's event played out?
undefined: OK, well, it is an honor to serve as the founding executive director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association. It was founded in 2022, and we've really hit the ground running. Our president, Rob Perro, is a member of the Bad River Tribe in Wisconsin, really had the vision, and we had the conversation in the spring of 2022 while at the National Cannabis Festival about doing an event similar to this. And then the following year, you know, we took it to the next level, you know, by partnering with other organizations and initiatives just to make sure that that Indigenous inclusion is taking place under the umbrella of other events such as NOCO, where you know, we've partnered with your teams to build, you know, the Indigenous pavilion and also build upon the work that's been done prior to ICIA, because that's also what we recognize is, you know, there are groups like, you know, many, many groups out there that have been moving this Native initiative along. Winona LaDuke as, you know, an individual and within her White Earth community has done a phenomenal job. Alicia Fall and her organization, Her Many Voices Foundation. And so it's really kind of this concept of taking the successes and that framework and bringing everybody together around our core pillars of advocacy, empowerment, connection, and policy, and doing the heavy lift together. And so the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association, as I mentioned, was founded in 2022. July of 2022. And by the time that we had had our first strategic planning meeting, we knew that posting an event in Washington, D.C. was really critical. Most of the gatherings where tribal cannabis conversations were taking place were ironically in Sin City. And so we had the idea to you know, get it back to Washington, D.C., where the root of policy is taking place, where our voice is lacking in advocacy. And so we set our Keystone event in Washington, D.C., very intentionally, because that's where the rubber meets the road for policy. And it's where Congress needs to see and hear tribal initiatives. And so we set that intention very early on and have successfully wrapped up our third year of Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., and already saving the date for next year for our fourth annual Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association Policy Summit in D.C.
: And what is the date for next year?
undefined: We're going to be hosting it on the same date. They happen to fall within the same calendar week for us to be able to keep those dates fresh in everybody's mind, November 13th, 14th, and 15th, 2025.
: All right. So everybody out there, make sure that you put that on your calendar. We'll also have it on our event calendar at hempevents.org and in our Let's Talk Hemp events calendar that we send out on a weekly basis.
undefined: We're really excited to just kind of share the recap with everybody about how this year's event went during our weekly lunch and learn so we're also going to have the opportunity to just share out with our members and our attendees that could not make it. And just really seeing from the rooftops the success of how this year's event went, how inclusive it was in diverse voices, representative of our stakeholder groups that are non-Indigenous but help support our work. And to us, that is really important, is the partnerships, because the core of what we're doing is also reminding the universal and global initiatives that are moving forward with cannabis to always be mindful of protecting the earth in these initiatives and finding ways to have that voice for for the protection of and stewardship of the homelands as we do this very heavy lift and you know there's a lot of unintended consequences that I think our communities collectively can remediate.
: And I drew really like the fact of all the different organizations that were represented there and come together. And, you know, I've been trying to do that at NOCO for, for years now, the more organizations that can get together under one roof and participate and. Talk to each other about policy and the more we can align. The better opportunities we're going to have to successfully pass legislation that's going to be in the benefit of. you know, both the cannabis and the hemp industries, and to make sure that underserved communities and indigenous communities get to participate alongside everybody else. I think one of the most important things is for everybody to be able to participate, because when we all participate, it's going to be better, period.
undefined: Oh, absolutely. We are fans of we are for better alternatives and the work that you guys have done at WAPA because, like I mentioned earlier, we as an organization want to make sure that our communities are building our own table. and inviting others in, but also being mindful that there is just enough oxygen in the world for all of us to be able to do this work. And we should be continuing to figure out where those strategic initiatives align for us all within the framework. And what has been, I think, the most wind in our sail as an organization has been the invitation to the table of organizations like the U.S. Hemp Roundtable, Last Prisoner Project, and Marijuana Justice, Minority Cannabis Business Association, and the long-standing work that has been done with NOCO and WASPA.
: I want to throw a quick shout out to a couple of folks that weren't there, and that's Mark Grigno and Dionne Holmquist, who both participated very early on at NOCO and helped me understand the indigenous communities a lot more. And Mark, through Doug Fine, had invited me to participate with the Hempstead Project Heart, John Trudeau's organization, who John is obviously a legend and pioneer and amazing inspiration to just so many folks. And unfortunately, those guys weren't there at this point, but they both do amazing work. And I just wanted to recognize both of them.
undefined: Oh, absolutely. I appreciate you bringing up those plant warriors of ours. It was a blessing to be able to see you as well as Dion at the ribbon cutting ceremony of the Lower Sioux Indian Communities Project and then to also have Mark Marked in as a speaker for our Wisconsin summit as well as our second annual Washington DC policy summit That's the hardest part about planning these events as you know Morris is that we have so many passionate intelligent Community members doing this work. We could we could just fill so many stages full of talented people that are passionate about this and And I actually got called out on that like, hey, I didn't get invited to be a speaker this year. And I'm like, oh my gosh, I'm so sorry, you know, and it was actually one of our past presidential appointees, you know, and so we have some really hard work ahead and to me what that means is we'll just find more opportunities to build more stages to get our tribal community voices out there. And we're going to be doing that this year as part of our initiatives moving forward is integrating state specific summit at the request of our tribes. such as Minnesota, Arizona, Montana, states where we still have tribes that want to get together in more geographic conversations. And then, of course, the work that we do with the National Congress of American Indians and the Native American Finance Officers Association. There's other tribal specific organizations where we're doing that we're getting stages built where our tribal banking experts and our intellectual property community are gathering together doing the same thing, you know, and then that's why we are so excited that we planted the seeds for this organization to really blossom. as we move forward and next year is just action-packed with community organizing and convening and then again those November 13th through 15th 2025 dates for our policy summit.
: There's a lot on the calendar in the next year, a lot of work to do. Anything else you'd like to add before we wrap this up?
undefined: I just want to say gratitude to everybody that has, you know, persevered for providing a voice for the work that we all do for this plant. And also, you brought up another name that has just definitely been a foundation in the work that I do, and that was with John Trudell and That heart work that he did in the creation of Hempstead Project Heart was really important to me to honor him in 2020 when I launched Tribal Hemp and Cannabis Magazine and did a feature of, provided a tribute to him in that magazine and then later reached out and interviewed Marcus. And Marcus's entire interview just speaks volumes about his admiration for the founding warriors that always knew through that era of prohibition that there was medicinal value in this plant, that there was values for the soil, the land, and our air. when it comes to this plant. And so I appreciate you keeping me rooted and reminded that we are doing this on the love and light of so many ancestors that came before us. And we're not reinventing any wheel, but rather just making sure that we keep it rolling for those that came before us.
: And one other that should be mentioned here is Alex White Plume.
undefined: Oh my goodness, yes. We talked about Alex so much at the Washington DC Policy Summit and I was actually very honored and blessed to be able to interview Alex in the THC magazine featuring Indigenous men in hemp and cannabis. So, oh yeah, I'm a nerd. I like doing research and I've, in my course of research, found our contemporary warriors and tried to build bridges between our communities and their wisdom as often as possible.
: Well, I'm big fans of what you're doing. Keep up the amazing work. Let me know what I can do to assist. And I look forward to having a bigger and more participants at NOCO this year. I thought we've done a pretty good job the last two years to get more and more people out. And that's going to continue to be the goal every year. Again, the more people that participate, the better off we're going to be in the long run.
undefined: Oh, absolutely. We look forward to partnering with you and doing a call out for all of our Indigenous communities to come gather at this year's NOCO in 2025 so that we can showcase our successes and advance the opportunities for tribal communities in agriculture.
: All right. Well, thanks again for all you do.
undefined: Thank you. Appreciate it. Sure. Take care.
: Sitting here at the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., otherwise known as The Swamp. I am hanging out with my good friend Alicia Fall from Her Many Voices, who is the sponsor of this podcast and has been sponsoring my podcast for the last several months as we've moved into a new friendlier relationship, I guess we should say, and professional relationship. Great to be hanging out in D.C. with you.
undefined: It's a treat to be here with you, too, Morris. Yeah, I am here because of you. You know that.
: Well, I do know that. We, uh, I think I was in Peru and you said that, or maybe I was in New York. I can't remember. I've been kind of all over the place. And so have you. It's like, I think I'm going to come to DC and I'm like, great.
undefined: Well, yeah, you said I'm going out to, I've been invited to speak at the indigenous policy, uh, summit cannabis summit. And, uh, I thought, huh, I wish I could be there to hear you speak. Well, yes, I was able to move my flight up and get out here early. So,
: Well, it's great to see you because you've been located in Amsterdam the last year or so.
undefined: Yeah, I've been out there for the past year and a half, which is wonderful because it's a hop, skip and a jump to all of the other conferences in the EU.
: Right.
undefined: Yeah.
: Yeah. Well, we saw each other in Prague.
undefined: We did. We did.
: And you were at NoCo. as a sponsor of the Innovate Earth Symposium and Diversify the Hemp. Yes. And we'll be doing that again next year in April.
undefined: In April. I'm looking forward to it.
: So what do you think of the conference thus far?
undefined: This has been amazing. I have to say, and I'm a little embarrassed to say, this is the first time I've been to this particular conference. And Mary Jane and Rob have done an amazing job putting this together. There are folks who've come in from all over the place. And the amount of information that I've received is phenomenal. So I get to use this and take it home, apply, and run with it. And hopefully, our organization will benefit as well as the communities that we work with.
: Well, I'm completely impressed as well. I mean, I've been fortunate for the last several months to go to a bunch of conferences. All the organizers are really stepping up. As an organizer myself, it's so refreshing just to continue to come to really good high-level conferences. Mary Jane, Rob, the whole ICIA team has done a wonderful job with bringing together a great group of speakers, really good programming, and being able to paint the picture of indigenous hemp and cannabis where it is now and where it can go in the future. I think the future is very bright for the indigenous communities here in North America and beyond in South America, Africa, Asia. As we were talking last night, I think I told you that the growth of the global hemp industry, particularly the hemp side and cannabis is a little bit different when you've got the import export type stuff. But I think that indigenous folks on the global hemp level over the course of the next 5, 10, 20 years are going to play such an important role in developing this in being a major producer and grower of industrial hemp?
undefined: Absolutely. Especially you start thinking about, you know, creating shelters for people in remote areas, people who are undisturbed, people who are in the impoverished areas. This is the best plant overall. I mean, it takes care of making sure we have a roof over our head to medicines, to clothing on us, you know, so you can't beat it. It's an amazing social justice plant.
: It is. And we'll see where that goes with this brand new administration.
undefined: Yes, we shall see. We shall.
: I guess the positive note is there's certainly a handful of people in Trump's orbit that are pro-cannabis. While the GOP themselves have not been pro-cannabis, but we'll see how some of these folks in Trump's orbit influence him and and see if that leads to some better policy and not locking people up and making sure the people that have been locked up for this plant are released from jail and released from prison.
undefined: Yeah, we'll see what happens. I mean, we keep in mind that Republicans had an influence out of Kentucky just to get things moving. And I'm hoping that there's that continued influence from certain Republicans in their party.
: Yeah, I hope so as well. You know, one of the things they're talking about kind of a common theme is the unity and the collaboration of all of our organizations. And I think looking down the road, as long as we're all working together and communicating and focusing on the right type of policy initiatives, we're going to get there eventually. We don't know how long it's going to take, but we will. And as long as we've got a really good support system, and that is communicating with all of our groups, because there's so many organizations and I think that we've seen over the last couple years more effort for the organizations to work together and not be islands out there just trying to, you know, row in whatever direction. I think we're trying to row together in the right direction.
undefined: It's been impressive, you know, listening to people collaborating, sitting down for their collaborations here. One has one thing the other needs, and people, tribes, are coming together. And I am really, it does my heart good to know that indigenous peoples are in a way starting to lead this movement at this point. You guys have really, you started it, you ignited it. We've had all of these rocky roller coaster rides. And if you're tired at some days, it's completely understandable because of all that you've had to put yourself through. And there are a lot of indigenous peoples who were picking up the baton to continue this. You know, you think of Danny and his folks at Lower Sioux and what they were doing. They came out with their… Patagonia did their film on green buffalo. They have built so far five hempcrete homes. You know? Growing the hemp? Processing it? They're doing the whole… It's all in-house.
: Yeah. I mean, there's the circular economy right there. And that's a shining example of what tribes can do all around the country and all around the world. Absolutely. This is grow your own homes right there on your farmland.
undefined: Yeah. And we have members from African nations here today. You know, for this conference, there's a woman in here from Bangladesh. You know, the folks are coming.
undefined: Yeah.
undefined: South America all over.
: And everybody's welcome. Yes. It's a big tent. And the more that all can participate, the better the outcome's gonna be.
undefined: I gotta say, it was really, I felt the heart of coming to the first few conferences. It felt like going home, it felt like spending time with family. I felt the warmth of you and your team as well, the first few times I showed up. And everybody, I have found that everybody in the hemp industry has been open and willing to help. More people have said, hey, you know, I understand you have a nonprofit and you're doing some work, how can we help? And you don't always experience that. So for me, the hemp industry, the folks here are family.
: Couldn't agree more. Anything else you'd like to say before we call this good?
undefined: Well, for my organization, Her Many Voices, we provide practical education and resources for women and children in underserved communities, predominantly indigenous, and we focus on climate issues as well. And we're doing a lot of the work around the hemp industry now for the past, I'd say, maybe seven years or so. And our core value is whatever I do for another, I do for myself. And that's what I'm finding here. People are really doing for each other to help make this a better world.
: Well, you're doing amazing work, and it's been a pleasure to get to know you over the last five, six years. have you participate in all the great work you're doing around the world. And you got the DAS award because you serve and you are here to serve.
undefined: Thank you.
: And we all love Agua DAS.
undefined: Yes, we do. We do.
: He is an amazing man, full of grace. But you certainly deserve that award for all the wonderful work that you do.
undefined: Thank you very much, Morris.
: And again, hats off to Mary Jane.
undefined: Mary Jane and Rob, yeah. And the whole team. And Joanie. Joanie, yeah.
: She's awesome. All right, thanks. All right, good to see you. Yeah, we'll catch each other in Colorado pretty soon.
undefined: Absolutely.
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: Final day here in Washington, D.C. at the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit. I'm here with Ross Sloan from Dart Bank. How are you doing today, Ross? I'm doing well. Hope you are, Morris. I'm doing great. It's been an excellent conference and a lot of great people here. Awesome to see you here. You guys are a sponsor of the event, correct? We are.
undefined: Yeah. Yeah. And glad to be. I attended the event last year and had a great experience. That's why I'm back this year and why we decided to be a sponsor this year. So very, very pleased with it.
: Yeah, so Mary Jane and Rob have done a wonderful job and the indigenous folks are really working hard to get everybody organized and be able to participate in this industry like they should be able to participate.
undefined: Absolutely, and that really has been seen here over the last few days. I mean, Mary Jane and Rob have been such a great resource for the cannabis industry at large, but particularly for Indian Country. And you're right, there's just great collaboration, and there needs to be. I mean, there are so many different tribes, that are already either in cannabis or looking at getting into cannabis and hemp, that they need to collaborate and share lessons learned. And I'm glad to see them doing that.
: Yeah, I don't know how many are directly involved now because there's 500 and some sovereign nations here in the United States, which is amazing. And maybe there's, I don't know, 20, 30, 40 of them that have dipped their toes into either hemp or cannabis or both.
undefined: That's probably right. Yeah. Yeah. But I think they're really well positioned and you and I talked about this a little bit yesterday. Um, I think they're really well positioned to lead in the cannabis space. when you look at sovereignty, and perhaps even more importantly, their understanding of the plant and their use of the plant for centuries as medicine. So they have both the understanding of the plant that a lot of folks don't have, and then also that combined with sovereignty, I think positions them really well to lead in the cannabis space.
: I agree. And then the talk of free trade zones, which from an export standpoint and import and just being able to do trade with countries around the world without having to deal with the U.S. government, really, and whatever is going to happen with all the tariff situation that you know, Trump has talked about putting out there and then if that happens, what are other countries going to do? Are they going to say, all right, well, we're not going to be buying your goods.
undefined: Right. And I think you're right. The free trade zone aspect is another reason that tribes are really well positioned. And I think the discussion about that also speaks to the creativity that we're seeing as tribes and all businesses in the industry. tribes in this case are showing and how to make it work.
: Right. Any main takeaways from this event?
undefined: Aside from what we've talked about, just how well positioned the Indian country is for the industry. just their passion for it. I mean, I think you and I have both seen a lot of emotion from speakers and panelists over the last few days. It just underscores the passion that they have for the plant and the passion that they have for serving their communities. So I think as much as anything, that's going to carry them forward.
: I would agree and I assume that DART Bank is They're supporting opening up accounts for some of these folks.
undefined: We are absolutely. Yep, yeah, we've actually amended some of our documents to make them more tribal friendly. So I think that's very smart on your guys's part for sure. Well, I'm lucky to work with smart people.
: Alright, well up there's the siren. I guess that means that we're done. That's the bill.
undefined: Alright, always good to see you more. You too. Safe travels, thanks.
: back in the back alley here in Washington D.C. at the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit. I'm sitting here with Eben Sumner. We met in Peru, man.
undefined: How's it going? It's great. Yeah. It's, um, this has been an awesome event. Uh, really nice to, to meet everybody, make, make new, um, uh, expand the network and, and learn about, uh, uh, indigenous community and what's happening in cannabis. It's great.
: And so you've got a hemp company in Maine. What's the name of the company?
undefined: That's right, it's called Casco Bay Hemp. We do manufacturing and export. We work with countries in Europe and South America and then here in the US as well. And you've got a new project that's working on phytoremediation? That's correct, yeah. There's a huge need for managing PFAS and PFOS and other brownfield sites, and there's been some research showing that hemp, being the magical plant that it is, can phytoremediate these from the soil. So we're working on a project to take on, to continue the research that's already happening, work on top of that, try to find the best strains and the best Climate zones where we can implement this and and hopefully clean up the topsoil and and and then head for groundwater after that and there's a tribe up in Maine that just got like a 1.6 million dollar grant Yeah, there's two tribes, Mi'kmaq and Passamaquoddy, and they're both doing research and they've actually, Mi'kmaq tribe, just released some findings and that's what we're hoping to kind of build off of. It's pretty interesting.
: So, being here at this conference, we were just in Peru like a few weeks ago, which was a wonderful conference as well, but what are your thoughts and takeaways from this conference thus far?
undefined: Yeah, Peru is awesome. Absolutely. Really nice to connect again with a global group. This conference is unique being that there's a lot of community here and I see that difference from other conferences around the world. You can really feel the indigenous community and it's nice to talk to people either who are already pretty deep into this or are getting started and to be able to see the support through the tribes is great. And everybody's got an interesting story here. You know, anybody in cannabis typically does. But it's nice to see how they're communicating and sharing ideas and really kind of pushing things forward for this community. I think it's really important. And this event has been excellent for it.
: Couldn't agree more. I'm really happy that I connected with Rob in Peru. I was like, you know what, you should come speak at this conference in DC in a few weeks. And I'm like, you know, I really should. So that was the first time you met Rob.
undefined: Yeah, absolutely. It was in Peru and then, um, hit it off and then, uh, just stayed connected and, uh, had a meeting with him last week, virtual meeting. And he said, you should come. And, uh, yeah, did it booked a flight and I'm really happy I did. It's, it's been an excellent networking event and, Yeah, just made a lot of great connections and some new friends for sure.
: Well yeah, I mean we just became friends in Peru and then all of a sudden we're having lunch in Maine like a week later.
undefined: Yeah.
: Now here we are again in D.C. and who knows, maybe Bangkok here in a few weeks.
undefined: Yeah. Potentially. Potentially, that would be excellent. Yeah, we're collecting continents.
: Yeah, collecting continents. I like that.
undefined: Any final thoughts you want to share? Yeah, just to piggyback off of what you said, you know, it's great. This community is small, relatively, for the industry this size. And just to be able to keep things moving forward, keep connections going, that's super important. And yeah, hopefully it's in Thailand.
: Yeah, exactly. Well, it's been great connecting again, and we'll see what happens here in a few weeks. Likewise. All right, man. Here at the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit in Washington, D.C. with Mike Lamuto. I got it right. There we go. From MCBA, Minority Cannabis Business Association. There's a lot of groups and associations here. at this conference. And it's been a wonderful conference. You just got done speaking and said some very profound words. So thanks for everything. It was great to be on the panel with you yesterday as well.
undefined: Absolutely. No, it was a lot of fun yesterday and I appreciate, you know, the kind of words this morning right now. You know, I just kind of said whatever came to me, you know, I was This has been a great few days. This has been really moving, really inspiring. Just right there, even right after I spoke, Samantha had amazing insights that I was sitting there, my brain was clicking. I was like, okay, this is some of my takeaways. I know what I'm writing down later today. on the train so I can start following up and doing some things and already planning ahead for next year based on just like that's 10 minutes. This was like three days of this. So this was incredible. This was impactful. I know I'm not the only one that feels this way because I've been seeing it and hearing it the whole time for everybody else. So I think that there's going to be a lot of great impact that comes out of this. You know all the people that were here will go home and impact the 10, 12, 20, 100. Sometimes in some of these circles some of these folks have thousands of people following them on these channels and stuff now. So that reaches a lot of people. I don't know who this goes to. How many people go to this thing?
: Well, a lot. I mean it's on Spotify and iTunes and I've been doing the podcast for a long time. I just fired up a new kind of Season of I went to Japan and did a Japan podcast. I did a Peru podcast. I'm doing this indigenous podcast I'm gonna do one in Thailand here in a couple weeks. What are you gonna be in Thailand? Flying out on the 24th. It's for the Asia International Hemp Expo.
undefined: Yeah, I'm going at the end of next month. Oh, yeah, that's right So yeah, so I definitely want to follow up with you and see you know Any contacts or something I should follow up with while I'm out there. Okay, absolutely. Yeah, I
: You were talking about SMART goals.
undefined: What does SMART stand for again? Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timely. You can go read anything. There's like a million memes and infographics and people have written books I think probably about this stuff by now. It's just a really great way to make sure that you keep knocking down your goals. A lot of times people have aspirations, not really goals, aspirations meaning, this is something I want to do, I kind of want to try this, it's like I know I want to have this massive thing that maybe is like a pipe dream, so to speak. And then as a result, a lot of times we don't achieve it, because we don't set up the dominoes of smart goals as like a pathway to that big smart goal. And so I'm a big fan of like daily smart goals and weekly smart goals and things of that nature to just kind of keep knocking everything down and just next thing you know, you're where you're supposed to be.
: Well, that's one of the takeaways I got today from you. So I really appreciate it. And you and Mary Jane going back and forth and then bringing Cheryl Murray Powell into the conversation. And me and Cheryl have known each other for a long time. And she shows up and she's consistently shown up for years and years and years for the hemp industry, and the cannabis industry, and social justice, and just the little round robin of stuff you guys were talking about was really, really, really inspiring. Awesome, I appreciate that. So, a little bit of information about the organization?
undefined: Yeah, our organization, you know, our focus is making sure that minorities thrive in this industry. That takes, you know, an advocacy policy side of things, as well as a business side of things. That's the kind of work we do. And so this next year, the big thing we're going to be working on is the equity policy report revamp. It's like 2.0. We published one a few years ago before my time here at the organization, and it was very impactful. We know we've got a lot of great feedback, requests for the next version. Now we're going to go out there and run this next version out. We're going to really develop it grassroots style. It has to do with the Equity Workshop Tour. Feeds it back into that. We're going to do 30 events with the Equity Workshop Tour next year. So hopefully I'll see you out in Denver or wherever else you are because you're everywhere. So, you know, link up somewhere on the tour hopefully.
: Well, I look forward to connecting with you again. It's been awesome to meet you and panel it with you and just get inspired by all that's going on with the indigenous communities here.
undefined: Yeah, man. Yeah, it's been an inspiring few days, and it's been great to get to know you, too. Got to walk and talk, tell, you know, some, you know, just the stories about how, what we go through to get to where we're going and make all this shit happen, you know? Right.
: Yeah, as we're both kind of gimping along. Yeah, you know, a little bit.
undefined: Yeah.
: A little bit. Yeah. It's all right. Oh, here comes a trash talk. I guess that means we're done. All right. Right on. All right, man. Great talking to you. Absolutely. Absolutely. Back once again at the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit here in Washington, D.C. I'm hanging out with my good friend Hunter Buffington, who we go way back to music business days back in the pre-hemp.
undefined: Before hemp. Yeah. So you just let our secret out. I know. Now everybody's going to know.
: Everybody knows. And well, we're still in the hemp space after 12, 13 years, whatever it's been.
undefined: Yeah, quality over quantity.
: Exactly. So, what do you think? Why are you here?
undefined: Oh, this is my third year. I've been every year and it's… just an amazing space to be able to welcome and collaborate. It's challenging not just in the hemp space but in indigenous communities we really don't get to come together very often so this is a really meaningful and special event for me. It It helps me to stay hopeful and optimistic no matter what is happening in the world. It's especially needed right now going into this new administration. But incredible political capital, incredible intellectual capital, and just spirit.
: It's been a wonderful event and got to meet several new people and see several people that I've known for a long time. Mary-Jane and Rob have done an excellent job.
undefined: It's amazing what they've been able to do in not very many years, especially what we know, all the obstacles. So it's pretty exciting.
: And you were just up in Canada.
undefined: I was, my first time in Canada, which seems weird because I do a lot of work with folks that are on that side of the border, but that was exciting and I got to see some people that I've only seen in Hollywood squares in meetings, so in three dimensions, so that's always nice.
: And how's the Canadian market looking these days?
undefined: Well, I mean, it's obviously robust and thriving because we're still importing a vast majority of hemp foods for human consumption from our Canadian neighbor. I see a huge opportunity there, especially when people want to talk about scalability and feeding a global population. North American hemp trade. Let's do it. I want to be part of that. Sure.
: So well, there's a lot we can still learn from the Canadians and there's some really good people.
undefined: Yeah, 10-year head start. No pressure. Or more. Yeah. It's true.
: And they had some really, really strong people heading things up there with Mike Fata, Sean Crewe. Yeah. Andrea Herman and Jeff Kostick. There's some solid players up there.
undefined: Yep. And still, and still trying to move it forward. Ted Haney. Can't forget Ted. Ted Haney, one of my favorite Polish influence in Canada, Jan Sloski, like what has happened with the genetics and the research. They've made good use of their time.
: Are the indigenous populations up there involved in hemp?
undefined: Yes, it looks a lot like it does here and organization I think is always one of our bigger challenges. Talked a lot about divide and conquer and the impact still on tribes and indigenous communities just come together and advocate instead of just isolate is a challenge on every continent. So I'm not aware of an indigenous cannabis or hemp association. It's a beautiful thing that we have here with ICIA and the work that Rob and Mary Jane have done, but I definitely interact. I had a wonderful conversation with another Native American just in Canada talking about how to open those free trade zones. I think that's the thing that I've been thinking about it. I've also been thinking about how to take opportunities for sovereignty to alleviate food deserts and try and bring in infrastructure to the tribal areas. So hemp has a lot of places that it can go. It's really meaningful. I'm so excited. It's hard for me to figure out what I should talk about. There's so many. It's weird to feel this optimistic after what happened last week. I'm just going to say it. I'm going to say it.
: Well, I'm optimistic, too, even though it's The circus seems like it's really getting ready to rev up.
undefined: Yeah, here we go. I've been telling my friends like, yep, who knows?
undefined: I don't know.
undefined: I'm trying to stay on my toes and it's helpful to be optimistic.
: Well, maybe RFK is going to say hey. Cannabinoids are a go for everybody.
undefined: I mean, there's, I just don't even know. I think. Guess what?
: Stop taking vaccines, start using cannabis. I mean. And that's not advice that I'm giving here, just so you know. But we just have to.
undefined: But you heard it here first.
: You did hear it here first.
undefined: In DC, of all places. Yeah, of course.
: I was wondering what would this week look like because I didn't think that we would even know who the president was. for sure going into this week. I thought there would be super close lawsuits, um, voter fraud, blah, blah, blah, all the stuff. And then, uh, well, Harris Harris got crushed and we know, and they're like peaceful transition of power, which is good. Let's not have any more of what we had four years ago. Um, it's still a black eye on this nation. It did happen. And so let's just move past that, I guess.
undefined: Yeah, well, like I said, optimism. I am really intrigued. I think that we've gotten to a point where It's not working. The things that we've been doing, clearly no one is satisfied. We're not getting what we need. There's not opportunities. I do really hope that a message of unity can come out of this. I think that's the thing that I'm most concerned about is that Through this whole thing. We have an opportunity But you know, you know me, okay, so it's a little social anarchist punk girl right taking on the world ends up in policy there. These are strange things right right and now I'm coming to a place where I I'm not sure that burning it all down and starting over wouldn't be an option. Like I just don't think it's working now. So this is an interesting time. We're going to see, I don't know, again, staying on my toes, trying to be optimistic and also eye on the price. Like with all this chaos and weirdness, not knowing what is it that we need, right? Because if we're not clear where we want to go, what we want to have, what we want to leave our children, Right? Are we going to leave them a thriving planet that can provide them resources? These are good questions.
: Thriving planet or dying planet?
undefined: I mean, well… Yes. I mean, we've got one of those, right? If we're so close, we're on the cusp and taking a step back and remembering ancestors, planning to be ancestors. Right.
undefined: Right.
undefined: And leaving, um, not just leaving something behind, but leaving optimism for those generations too. Right. Can't just keep taking everything. So yeah, we're an extractive culture. But that's, yes, very, very true. And this idea that there's always plenty is a little strange to me. And that's something I think you'll hear in this space, too, is that there's what is enough, right? Like, what are the things that make us happy? And let's make sure that we're remembering that through all of this. Right.
: I think that's probably a good place to leave this, don't you?
undefined: I think it is. We should hug it out. OK, we're hugging. Oh, yeah.
: Awesome to catch up with you, Hunter.
undefined: Yeah. Thanks, Morris. I appreciate it. I'm glad you're here. All right. Thanks.
: That's a wrap for this episode of the Let's Talk Hemp volume up podcast. This time we came to you from Washington, D.C., where I had the honor of attending and speaking at the National Indigenous Cannabis Policy Summit. Let's Talk Hemp was proud to serve as a media partner for this impactful event. A huge shout out to all the participants and organizations that made this summit such a success and to the National Indigenous Cannabis Association for bringing everyone together to champion important conversations. Special thanks to our show sponsor, Her Many Voices, an incredible organization where grassroots activism meets indigenous wisdom to protect all of Earth's children. Next up, I'll be headed to Bangkok for the third annual Asia International Hemp Expo happening November 27th through the 30th. I'll be hosting live Let's Talk Hemp podcasts every day at noon from the Hemp Talk stage. These episodes will be available on the Let's Talk Hemp YouTube channel as well as on the PodConnects YouTube channel. Speaking of PodConnects, they're our amazing podcast partner and home to a great lineup of hemp and cannabis podcasts. Definitely check them out. To stay in the loop, visit us at letstalkhimp.com and follow us on social media. Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast for more exciting episodes. We've got plenty coming your way. Thanks for tuning in. And as always, let's keep the conversation alive. Rock on.