ICIA’s new campaign supports legalization of medical cannabis, based on a platform of community health
MADISON, Wis., Sept. 3, 2024 — Wisconsin-based national cannabis advocacy nonprofit the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) and the Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on Cannabis announce the launch of its Wisconsin Wellness state-wide public awareness campaign, calling for the legalization of medical cannabis in Wisconsin. The ICIA, in partnership with the Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on Cannabis and ICIA’s Tribal Government members, encourages Wisconsin voters to choose healing over harm, hope over fear, and wellness for all by joining the fight to legalize medical cannabis in Wisconsin.
The Wisconsin Wellness campaign is focused on community health and based on an urgent need to increase accessibility to plant medicine. Medical cannabis is effective for treating chronic pain and other conditions without the dangerous side effects of opioids, which, according to the Wisconsin Department of Health Services, were responsible for 1,464 deaths in the state of Wisconsin in 2022 alone. The availability of medical marijuana as a treatment option would empower individuals to have greater freedom of choice over their own medical decisions.
“The time to take action is now,” said Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association Founder Rob Pero. “As a historically and culturally appreciated plant medicine, medical cannabis offers relief for some of the most vulnerable members of our communities, including aging individuals and veterans. While we wait for legalization, our communities are losing out on important medical care.”
Pero, a Wisconsin-based cannabis entrepreneur and member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians, is also the founder of Wisconsin’s first independent Indigenous-owned hemp company Canndigenous. He 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.
Pero joins Michael Decorah, Senior Intergovernmental Affairs Specialist for the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin and Kristin White Eagle, District II Representative for Ho-Chunk Nation, as the preliminary directors of the Wisconsin Wellness Coalition. Decorah is also the founder of the Wisconsin Tribal Task Force on Cannabis.
“Tribes are motivated to work within the regulations of the USDA Farm Bill and within existing legal opportunities. Meanwhile, we’re going to begin educating the public about the importance of passing cannabis policy reform,” said Pero. “We have to stop waiting to get good medicine to people throughout this state the right way.”
Wisconsin Wellness will include film production, state-wide advertising, and educational tools to support knowledgeable and responsible, community-centered conversations around cannabis. For more information on Wisconsin Wellness and the ICIA’s efforts to increase access to plant medicine in Wisconsin, please visit wisconsinwellness.info.
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. Join us at indigenous cannabis.org.
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