The Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association (ICIA) hits the golf course in Washington state for Masters of the Green May 1-2.
Masters of the Green is a new fundraising venture from Cambridge-based ICIA, a nonprofit that advocates for cannabis reform. The fundraiser will feature a cannabis policy roundtable, networking, reception and golfing at Red Wolf Golf Club in Clarkson, Wa.
Masters of the Green has a star-studded cast joining the two-day fundraiser. Celebrity golfers Mike Lowe and Anna Berman will make an appearance during the golf outing. Influencer Nathan Apodoca, more commonly known as “Doggface” for his videos drinking juice while skateboarding to songs like Fleetwood Mac’s “Dreams,” will speak at the reception.
“We’ve been out there a couple times now, specifically with Washington tribes and mind you, Idaho just — nothing’s legal there,” said Rob Pero, founder of ICIA. “They can barely grow hemp. Right across the border, you have the same situation that we experience here in Wisconsin, people just driving to Washington to get their stuff and then driving back home.”
Pero alludes to Wisconsin’s situation, where its bordering states, except Iowa, have legalized recreational marijuana. A memo in 2023 from the Legislative Fiscal Bureau found that Wisconsin’s lack of legalization at any level is causing a loss of $36.1 million in revenue to Illinois.
“We’re born out of Cambridge, Wisconsin. Like, how cool is that? Out of two prohibition states, Wisconsin and Idaho, that have built this conglomerate of Native tribes, operators, friends, advocates,” Pero said.
Masters of the Green also sheds light on Red Wolf Golf Club. The club, which sits on the border of Washington and Idaho on Nez Perce Tribal land, is one of the few Indigenous-owned golf clubs in the country. The current estimated total of Indigenous-owned golf clubs is somewhere between 55-80.
Pero hopes to continue to make bridges with tribes around the country. Since its founding three years ago, ICIA has seen a continuous explosion in Indigenous communities around the country.
“ICIA kind of plots its way around the country and builds a community through plant medicine, which is a really pressing topic, not just because of the money aspect of it,” Pero said. “Because of opioids, because of fentanyl, because of alcohol… I think everyone, every single person, knows someone who was impacted or is being impacted.”
Masters of the Green will span May 1-2. For more information, click here.
