ICIA is shaping the future of cannabis on the world stage

Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 20, 2024 — The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) will attend the inaugural Andean Hemp & Cannabis Trade Forum in Peru! Presented by the Global Cannabis Network Collective (GCNC), this history-making trade event will provide a platform to explore the legal framework of cannabis in South America as well as forward-thinking opportunities for launching hemp and medical cannabis brands in the region. The ICIA leadership team, including Founder Rob Pero and Executive Director Mary Jane Oatman, will be in attendance to help facilitate an inspirational and productive exchange on the global stage.

This international opportunity to highlight the opportunity and expertise of Indigenous cannabis follows Pero’s recent first international appearance at the International Cannabis Business Conference (ICBC) in Berlin, Germany, this April. At ICBC, Pero spoke on a panel of global cannabis leadership discussing emerging cannabis markets.

Oatman, who is an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe and descendant of the Delaware Tribe, will also bring her more than 10 years of advocacy experience in cannabis to the international stage this upcoming September at the We Mean Business Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

“We are actively engaged in the international community, because access to plant medicine is a matter of safety and community wellness for Indigenous communities worldwide,” said Rob Pero, founder of ICIA. “As we gather in Peru and Puerto Rico, let’s ask ourselves how Indigenous people everywhere can share knowledge and work within the growing cannabis industry to make positive change and bring the benefits of the cannabis industry home to all of our communities.”

Pero, a Wisconsin-based cannabis entrepreneur and member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, founded ICIA in 2022 as a national advocacy organization with the mission to increase accessibility to plant medicine and empower sustainable economic opportunities for Indigenous people in cannabis through policy, programming and outreach initiatives.

ICIA is eager to create new opportunities, connect with partners around the world and continue to advocate for Indigenous people in the cannabis industry. Learn more and join the movement at indigenouscannabis.org.

The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association exists to promote the exploration, development, and advancement of the cannabis industry for the benefit of all Indigenous communities. ICIA is dedicated to the advocacy and empowerment of our Indigenous cannabis businesses, influencers, and aspiring entrepreneurs along with being a conduit of connection and data for Indigenous Nations as we push towards a vision of an equitable, just, and sustainable Indigenous cannabis economy. To learn more about ICIA’s strategic vision and priorities, visit indigenouscannabis.org.