Unlike chocolate and peanut butter, marijuana businesses and the U.S. financial services industry — banking, payments, insurance, retirement services, etc. — haven’t gotten better so far.

For years, they have been reluctant to interact. From a cannabis perspective, Financial Services (FS) does not offer competitively priced loans, lines of credit, cash management and other services critical to business management and growth.

From a financial services perspective, the lack of industry regulation and cash– The business-only model makes cannabis-related business (CRB) high-risk, as do other emerging industries. However, with marijuana legalization looming nationwide, there is an opportunity for lucrative change.

a new alliance National Cannabis Business Association (NACB) and Emerging Markets Alliance (EMC) takes advantage of this opportunity by building a trusted relationship between the two industries.

Already have a lot in common: NACB is a membership organization that shapes the legal marijuana market into a safe, responsible and ethical industry through education and advocacy; EMC is a membership-driven advocacy and education organization committed to a highly cash-dependent and the provision of financial services in underserved markets.

The alliance is promoting new links between CRB and FS companies; with the greatest focus on compliance and transparency in all activities of both companies.

The partnership creates a safe introduction area to let CRB and FS companies know that the companies involved in the negotiations are the cleanest, best-run businesses, focused on best practices and high ethics – the right kind of incubator for healthy relationships .

NACB and EMC members are educating each other to drive full access standardization finance Serving the cannabis industry.

Most recently, the alliance launched Blazers & Blazers, a new monthly interactive cannabis banking series that opens up communication channels between cannabis professionals and financial services experts.

In addition, the coalition is an active, fact-based source of information and action for governments, media, consumer advocacy groups and community organizations.

“In this industry, there is a flood of information but a desert of facts,” said EMC CEO and co-founder Kirsten Trusko. “Our organization is seeding this desert with facts from research, real-life business and banking organizations to help advance the collective good in the lives of owners, employees, customers and communities that benefit from the industry. “

“If we don’t proactively develop our own narrative and action plan, others will do it for us,” added NACB President and CEO Gina Kranwinkel. how well-regulated businesses operate for the greater good of both industries, communities and society at large, driving informed rules. Together we will make our voices heard.”

Ironically, CRB and FS companies face similar challenges with federal and state regulators and examiners, reminding them that a blunder could have devastating consequences for their organizations and themselves.

The NACB-EMC Alliance is an opportunity for CRB and FS companies to develop standards, ethics and best practices to prevent mistakes and define a better future for both industries. ?