1. Be A Good Neighbor

Reach out to your neighborhood–from local businesses to local citizens. When the federal government shut down Oaksterdamn, the NCIA got neighborhood businesses to hang green flags in solidarity. It's a lot easier to move forward with neighborhood organizations on your side.

2. Be Professional

Everything from answering the phone to paying your bills on time affects your own business and the cannabis industry as a whole. Don't use marketing that you wouldn't want your mother to see. Create a professional industry that shows the country what they've been missing.

3. Engage Politically

Find out who your elected representatives are and get on their email list. Attend their events and give money to their campaigns to support your cause. Be present and make phone calls so that they hear from the Cannabis industry a lot more than they do now.Make it easy for your customers to engage their officials as well. Reward customers that call their elected representatives or send emails. Make it easy for customers to engage while they wait. Harborside Health Center has a robust Patient Activist Center that rewards customers with product for participating.

4. Join an Organization

If you come from any other industry, you're no stranger to organizations and why they're important. Join an organization like Women Grow, that will lobby for Cannabis businesses.