Value of NATO Membership:
Membership in NATO is open to all retailers that sell to***co products, to***co wholesalers, and to***co manufacturers. The value of membership in NATO can be measured by the benefits members receive from the association’s specialization in to***co legislative and regulatory issues, the organization’s grassroots legislative efforts, its local advocacy project, the expertise of NATO staff on FDA rules and to***co issues, and the acclaimed NATO News Bulletin for its to***co legislative updates and regulatory news. NATO is the principle industry resource for answering questions about to***co legislation and FDA regulations. It is the only national retail trade association that monitors to***co-related legislation on a local, state, and federal level and assists its retail members in responding to proposed to***co legislation and regulations. Specialization: NATO is the only national retail trade association that specializes exclusively in to***co issues on the local, state and federal levels. No other trade organization devotes all of its resources and staff to informing, advising and assisting to***co retailers on to***co legislation and FDA regulations. NATO is the best ally that a retailer can have in protecting the right to sell legal to***co products. Legislative Advocacy: NATO was founded on the belief that to***co retailers need to become engaged in the legislative process to protect the right to sell legal to***co products in order to protect their businesses. NATO provides association members the information and tools needed to make sending a letter or calling a lawmaker a simple process that can impact the outcome of legislation. Local Project: In 2012, NATO launched a national project to respond to proposed local retail to***co restrictions and to***co taxes. Since its launch, the NATO Local Project has helped hundreds of retail stores respond to local proposed regulations. Across the country, local governments are proposing ordinances to ban the sale of flavored to***co products, eliminate to***co displays from public view, prohibit to***co coupon redemption, limit to***co promotional pricing, set minimum cigar package sizes, raise the legal age to purchase to***co products, increase local to***co tax rates, limit the number of retail stores allowed to sell to***co products, and ban self-service displays in adult-only to***co stores. FDA Compliance and Staff Expertise: The NATO staff has a wealth of knowledge about FDA to***co regulations and rules and assists members in understanding the regulatory requirements and how to comply with federal to***co regulations. Also, NATO staff members are experts on legislative issues and help members become involved in the legislative process to protect their businesses. News Resource: The NATO News Bulletin is an acclaimed electronic news update that contains up-to-date information about pending local, state and federal legislation and FDA regulations. The information that retailers, wholesalers and manufacturers need to know is found in the weekly NATO News Bulletin. Legal Resource: When a member has a legal question on legislation or FDA regulations, a call to NATO results in a prompt response from NATO Executive Director and Legal Counsel Thomas Briant or association staff, who find the answer to the question. Also, NATO sues when necessary to protect the rights of to***co retailers, including bringing lawsuits against Worcester, Massachusetts for its to***co advertising ban, which a federal court has now overturned, and against Providence, Rhode Island for its flavored to***co sales ban and promotional pricing restriction, which is currently on appeal. NATO Show: The premier annual to***co trade show for retailers and wholesalers, with free admission for NATO members to the show floor and educational seminars as well as exclusive event access. For more information, visit www.NATOShow.com.
