Origin story: One of our co-founders has applied her banking/AML expertise to be involved for years in anti-human trafficking – “follow the money” to catch the bad guys In 2019, law enforcement called with a large case, with a kingpin of many criminal networks including child trafficking. But in this case, all of the money was cannabis cash with no electronic trail – driving an extreme challenge in efforts to “follow the money”. It was then, in learning that even licensed cannabis businesses had limited access to full financial services (FS) – that EMC was born.

We all know that in a society, too much cash – if opaque as it moves – can draw and facilitate all types of criminals and crimes, be unsafe for employees and residents, and reduces legitimate businesses taxes to fuel growth, education, and safety.

EMC’s 2 co-founders have had success in an earlier high-risk FS market – to pass legislation, change tax treatment, build positive relationships with law enforcement, and drive well accepted positive media. That market was where cannabis FS is now, being negatively impacted by misperceptions (by government and by the FS and cannabis industries about each other), and misinformation. But now is a well-accepted profitable FS product set, fully serving a high risk market.

From the above, grew the simple goal of EMC – to make financial transactions Transparent. Traceable. Taxable. In the 4 years since EMC was founded, added are:

• Cash CAN be transparent with proper technology & processes.
• Traceable can now work with a variety of e-pay platforms and with cash.
• Taxable – add “fairly” to respect the current taxation challenges, including the Federal status of cannabis triggering IRS 280E.
• Having a fully functioning transparent compliant FS ecosystem to serve any industry – helps to drive growth, cost savings, fair/equitable FS to businesses and their employees, and reduces crime to increase safety.

What is the Emerging Markets Coalition?

EMC is non-profit 501c3 trade coalition of financial services (FS) companies involved in all things money in cannabis – banking, payments, insurance, lending, retirement, and investors. We serve as the front face for FS – to government (legislative, regulatory, law enforcement, taxation), industry, trade organizations, media, advocacy groups & academia.

EMC serves to educate, advocate, protect, and promote on behalf of its Members, and Alliances. It leads the drive to normalize FS – across the 3-legged stool of: government, cannabis, and FS. More education and collaboration can increase the number of FS companies involved, making FS more widely and equitably available, with a broader/deeper set of compliant and competitively priced offerings.

EMC is led by the Executive Council – FS leaders whose companies collectively serve ~90% of US cannabis businesses and ~85% of the US financial institutions actively serving this industry. EMC is informed by the cannabis industry via the Advisory Council – which includes the largest cannabis operators, alliances, and trade coalitions.
This gives EMC great reach, vision, influence, network, and impact to this emerging and growing FS market.

Why join EMC?

Be part of the powerful collective voice of top Financial Services(FS) companies – to proactively drive change. Join the drive to build & leverage relationships with law enforcement, legislators, regulators, IRS, media – for workable rules and positive collaboration.

Membership is open to all FS companies who agree to follow the EMC Best Practices and Code of Conduct. Membership tiers are based on the size of the organization and desired level of influence, presence,and benefit

To learn more about how your organization will benefit by joining EMC, contact us at 202-964-0522 or send us an email

EMC MEMBERS

Due to the present federal status of cannabis, many EMC financial services
members choose to not be listed

Emerging Markets Coalition (“EMC”) is a Delaware nonprofit, nonstock corporation that has obtained tax-exempt status as a public charity under Section 501(c)(3) of the federal tax code.