The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association launches new cannabis enthusiast level membership for individuals to join cannabis policy advancement movement
Milwaukee, Wis., — The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) launches “Friends of ICIA” membership level, backed by legendary actor and musician Gary Farmer. The ICIA, a national nonprofit founded in 2022, exists to build an equitable and sustainable Indigenous cannabis industry through sensible policy, empowerment, and connection. Cannabis enthusiasts and individuals can now support the ICIA and its mission to build equity into cannabis policy reform by visiting indigenouscannabis.org.
Farmer, an award-winning actor and member of the Cayuga Nation recognized with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2011 Native American Film + Video Festival, is best known for starring opposite Johnny Depp in the 1995 film “Dead Man” and for recurring appearances on the now-streaming comedy series “Reservation Dogs” as Uncle Brownie. Reservation Dogs, created by Sterlin Harjo, is the first and only television series featuring an all-Indigenous writing, directing, and lead acting staff.
“My acting career has deeply overlapped with my activism efforts, and I have been honored to work on projects that are renowned for their accurate portrayal of Native people and issues important to our community,” says Farmer, a brand ambassador for the ICIA. “Indigenous representation in Washington and collaboration with state legislators is critical to ensuring that cannabis and hemp are safe, legal and recognized as plant life that nurtures our planet and population.”
To promote the equitable advancement of cannabis policy reform, the ICIA hosts national and state-wide events that bring together cannabis and hemp experts, Indigenous leaders, and non-Native partners for educational seminars and networking to discuss the cannabis industry, plan policy reform efforts, and further Indigenous interests in cannabis. ICIA aims to educate the public and business community, destigmatize cannabis, and move forward cannabis policy reform and legislation in a responsible, ethical, and inclusive way.
“The ICIA is highly focused on developing equitable state and federal policy reform strategies. We recognize the unprecedented economic opportunity of the hemp and cannabis industries for both the public sector and for Indigenous communities,” says Rob Pero, who is the founder of ICIA, owner of the first independent Native-owned hemp company in Wisconsin Canndigenous, and member of the Bad River Tribe. “Indigenous people and Tribal Nations have deep historical roots in the agricultural development of medicinal plants and have been disproportionately impacted by prohibition of cannabis in the United States. Now is a unique chance to pursue cannabis policy reform and ensure Tribal sovereignty.”
Individuals and cannabis supporters can join the movement to promote equitable advancement of cannabis and hemp policy reform by purchasing an ongoing Friends of ICIA membership, a $100 annual sponsorship, at indigenouscannabis.org.
About Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association
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.
About Gary Farmer
Gary Farmer is an actor and musician, born on the Six Nations along the Grand River, Ohsweken, Ontario. He is widely recognized as a pioneer in the development of Indigenous media in Canada and was the founding director of an urban Indian radio network, Aboriginal Voices Radio Network. He also published Aboriginal Voices Magazine from 1993 - 2003.
Gary began performing on stage, working in theater from 1975 - 1987 in Canada. Winning Dora Mavor for best new play in 1989 for Tomson Highway’s, Dry Lips Oughta Move to Kapuskasing. Gary has been nominated for three Independent Spirit Awards for Best Supporting Male in the films: Powwow Highway (1989); Dead Man (1995) which won the 1996 European Academy Award for Best Foreign Film; and Smoke Signals (1998).
Recent credits include series regular on Resident Alien, Reservation Dogs, The English, The Curse (2023) and Independent films: Quantum Cowboys, Blood Quantum, The Incredible 25th Year of Mitzi Bearclaw and Run Woman Run. Appearing in Cody Lightning’s new feature, Hey Viktor!
Gary Farmer and the Troublemakers released their sixth album in 2022: Fool For Love.
