Salal Credit Union is dedicated to serving the cannabis industry, and on May 17, 2025, Salal co-sponsored the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) Equity Workshop in Portland, Oregon. Then, more recently, on August 2, 2025, Salal teamed up with MCBA again, along with the Cannabis Alliance, to present the MCBA Equity Workshop at Salal’s headquarters in Seattle.
Partnering for Equity in Cannabis
The MCBA Equity Workshop Tour is billed as a national initiative designed to educate, uplift, and empower cannabis entrepreneurs from marginalized communities by offering practical resources, professional insights, and meaningful connections. The tour travels to over 30 state markets across the United States and includes presentations, panel discussions, a complimentary lunch, and expert-led breakout sessions at every stop.
A Unique, Community-Focused Format
Participation and collaboration are the watchwords for MCBA Equity Workshop events, which are smaller and more interactive than the broader cannabis conferences. “What I value the most about the MCBA Equity Workshop tour is that it brings people together locally to create a community engaged in dialogue, geared towards ensuring that this industry is both equitable and accessible to all,” said Christoffer McCollom, Salal’s Business Banking Sales Manager. “This comes about through the building of relationships, the sharing of knowledge and information, and participants choosing to come together post-event to make real and meaningful change in their local cannabis industry.”
Why Local Conversations Matter
Christa Kemp, Salal’s Business Banking Officer for Tribal Banking, agrees. “Hosting the MCBA workshop aligns closely with Salal’s mission to advance economic equity and support underserved communities, particularly those most impacted by the War on Drugs,” she said. “The cannabis industry presents a significant opportunity for wealth-building, but systemic barriers continue to limit access for BIPOC entrepreneurs.”
Supporting Entrepreneurs Facing Systemic Barriers
Christoffer views the Equity Workshop tour as an example of grassroots activism at its finest.
“We are proud to have had the opportunity to support the MCBA’s work by being their key presenting sponsor,” he said.
Amplifying Voices Through Strategic Sponsorships
To maximize community inclusion, Salal’s Business Officers collaborated with Salal Mortgage Advisor Frank Elizondo-Alcala. “We partnered with local organizations, small business networks, and cannabis advocacy groups to spread the word,” Christa added. “We also leveraged our digital platforms, member communications, and in-branch outreach to connect directly with those who would benefit most from the workshop.”
Connecting Through Community Outreach
Frank also helped to welcome others who may be outside Salal’s current membership. “I used social media to invite folks to attend,” he said. “I also invited a couple of new cannabis members that I am currently helping with residential financing.”
Kicking Off the Day with Policy Insights
The MCBA Seattle stop started in the morning with a Regulatory Roundtable. Cedric Austin, Community Engagement Specialist at the Washington State Department of Enterprise Services, discussed regulatory priorities, advocacy goals, and the evolving cannabis policy landscape. Attendees had the opportunity to ask questions during this session, facilitated by Jessica Pichardo (Founder of Canna Luz and Board Vice President of The Cannabis Alliance) and Oscar Velasco-Schmitz (Director of Dockside Cannabis and Founding Board Member of The Cannabis Alliance).
Turning Policy into Action
With a solid regulatory focus, Salal plays a key role in advocacy on behalf of our cannabis members. “Being advocates means actively working to dismantle barriers and promote policies and practices that foster inclusion and equity,” said Christa.
Real Talk on Business Realities
Then the topic turned to business: in the MCBA’s afternoon session, three guest speakers shared knowledge at a Business Development and Networking Roundtable. Carlondo Mitchell (5th House Farms), Jim Makoso (Lucid Labs), and Leon Verrett (Magnum Premium Cannabis) led this conversation to help attendees develop solutions for business management in the cannabis realm.
Frank cited the business roundtable session as especially illuminating. “Understanding the cannabis culture, especially the challenges that owners and operators go through just to stay in business, gives us a unique perspective to make a bigger impact for our collective communities,” he said.
Bringing It All Together at Salal HQ
The feeling was mutual, Christa reported, with appreciation for Frank’s participation. “His presence underscored the breadth of Salal’s support for entrepreneurs at different stages of their financial journeys,” she said. “Hosting the event at our beautiful headquarters allowed us to showcase the welcoming environment Salal provides as a community-focused financial institution.”
What Comes Next
Our partnership with MCBA and other industry associations is part of our support for the diversity of the cannabis industry, alongside our Social Equity Cannabis Banking program. Our program aims to mirror the MCBA’s work in creating an accessible, community-centered environment where BIPOC entrepreneurs can connect with real-world tools, time-tested guidance, and each other.
But Salal aims to go further than providing individual support. “By banking the cannabis industry, Salal helps take away the stigma often associated with it,” Christa said. “This reinforces our commitment to financial inclusion and supports the normalization of cannabis businesses within the broader economic landscape.”
Supporting the cannabis industry also lays the foundation for Salal’s continued commitment to financial inclusion across the board. “We see this as the beginning of a broader movement to ensure that emerging industries are shaped by diverse voices and inclusive practices,” Christa said. If you’d like to become more involved in cannabis-related community associations and events, or highlight other industries that Salal can help support, please reach out to your Account Officer or contact Business Services at 206.298.9398 or BusinessServices@SalalCU.org anytime.
