The Connector

As the recently appointed executive director of Washington’s Cannabis Organization of Retail Establishments (CORE), Brooke Davies’ main job is to expand and grow the organization’s membership.

Believed to be the oldest retail-focused cannabis trade organization in the United States, CORE’s main goal is to work for its members and to push for rules and regulations that benefit their business needs. Before taking on the CORE role, Davies, a physics major and former basketball player at the University of Mary Washington in Virginia, was the director of operations at Hashtag Cannabis in Seattle. Her duties included purchasing, hiring and managing the retail store.

Davies’ experience at Hashtag quickly led to an interest in the legislative process surrounding cannabis. “I wanted to learn how to influence change at the local, state and federal level,” she says.

Although CORE is still relatively small and growing, Davies has big plans for the nonprofit: “My goal is to help Washington state make the best policies possible so the cannabis industry continues to thrive. The industry currently employs over 10,000 people in the state and has brought in close to $1 billion in excise tax alone. I also want to help business owners share their story with the state Legislature so that everyone can see the beneficial economic impact the industry has had on Washington state.”

Major issues the organization is focused on right now include CBD regulation, public consumption, delivery and access to safe banking.

With CORE focused on the needs of retailers, the nonprofit has seen a steady rise in membership and influence under her leadership.

“My goal is to create a safe and sustainable cannabis marketplace in Washington with a healthy retail environment so that other states can use our framework as an example as they come online,” she says. “Ultimately, I would love to see every adult, everywhere have safe access to legal cannabis and the opportunity to work in the industry.”