The national advocacy organization, the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) will be bringing the voices of Indigenous cannabis to the global stage at the inaugural Andean Hemp & Cannabis Trade Forum in Peru Oct 17-18.
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, according to a press release from ICIA. The ICIA leadership team, including Founder Rob Pero and Executive Director Mary Jane Oatman, an enrolled member of the Nez Perce Tribe and descendant of the Delaware Tribe, will be in attendance to help facilitate an inspirational and productive exchange on the global stage. Oatman will also participate in the We Mean Business Summit in San Juan, Puerto Rico in September.
“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 Pero, a Wisconsin-based cannabis entrepreneur and member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Perp founded ICIA in 2022. “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.”
This international opportunity to highlight the 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.
