Meet Marianne
Marianne Bays is an accomplished business consultant, educator, and entrepreneur with a rich professional history spanning government and corporate consulting, academia, and the emerging cannabis industry. Holding a Ph.D. in Organization and Policy Studies, she spent over two decades advising Fortune 200 companies on organizational effectiveness, outsourcing governance, and performance measurement. Her expertise in strategic planning, organizational design, HR management, outsourcing and IT systems management enabled her to lead complex projects across industries, driving efficiency and business transformation. She later transitioned into the cannabis sector, applying her analytical skills to licensing, regulatory compliance, and industry advocacy, helping businesses navigate the evolving landscape of legal cannabis.
Passionate about innovation and entrepreneurship, Marianne is deeply committed to shaping a sustainable and equitable cannabis industry in New Jersey and beyond. She has played a pivotal role in advocating for fair cannabis regulations, working with industry groups like the Coaltion for Medical Marijuana NJ and the New Jersey CannaBusiness Association, where she serves as Vice President. Her advocacy is rooted in a desire to create opportunities for diverse business participants, including those from legacy markets, and to foster an industry based on abundance rather than exclusion. As a lifelong learner, she continually seeks to deepen her knowledge and contribute to the industry through policy engagement, education, and business development.
Marianne’s aspirations center on building a pioneering cannabis manufacturing enterprise that supports other businesses by providing high-quality cannabis processing and product development services. Her company, Northeast Corridor Provisions (NEC Provisions), is designed to fill a critical gap in the market, offering brand licensing, contract manufacturing, and white-label production. She envisions NEC Provisions as a business that not only generates economic growth but also promotes ethical practices, job creation, and community benefits, reinforcing her long-held belief that responsible business can be a powerful force for positive change.
Northeast Corridor Provisions
Northeast Corridor Provisions (NEC Provisions) is a contract cannabis manufacturing company founded by Marianne Bays, dedicated to bringing high-quality cannabis products to the Northeast U.S. market. Designed to provide a vital service to cannabis entrepreneurs, NEC Provisions allows existing brands from other states to enter the New Jersey market without the financial burden of securing their own facilities and licenses in the state. Through brand licensing agreements, tolling arrangements, and white-label production, the company enables businesses to scale efficiently while ensuring compliance with New Jersey’s strict cannabis regulations. Committed to excellence, NEC Provisions will source, manufacture, and package all products under the highest quality and safety standards.
Beyond its role as a manufacturing hub, NEC Provisions is built on a vision of fostering a sustainable, equitable, and innovative cannabis industry. The company prioritizes partnerships with diverse entrepreneurs, including those from the legacy market, offering them a pathway into the legal cannabis space. As a certified Women-Owned Business Entity in New Jersey, NEC Provisions also emphasizes diversity and inclusion in its hiring and operational practices. Through its strategic approach, the company seeks to create not only a thriving business but also an industry model that values fairness, community engagement, and long-term sustainability.
New Jersey CannaBusiness Association
The New Jersey CannaBusiness Association promotes jobs and growth in a sustainable and responsible NJ cannabis industry. Starting with the pioneers in the medical cannabis market to the emerging players in the adult-use space, NJCBA’s focus is to make certain that decision-makers and regulators understand and respect the needs of the NJ cannabis business community and that our community remains responsible corporate citizens.
Podcasts
Inside the Hidden World of Cannabis Manufacturing:
A Business Leader's Blueprint
Use This As You See Fit:
"The Diary of Mari" A History & Mystery Podcast for Cannabis Enthusiasts; a product of Elucidation Strategies
Understanding Cannabis:
Education and Accessibility for Older Adults
Questions for Marianne
What motivated you to get into the cannabis industry?
How did you become a cannabis advocate?
What do you wish more people were educated in about cannabis?
What is your vision for the NJ cannabis industry?
Why is your company positioned to expand regionally?
How important is a concept like "FDA Compliance" for cannabis manufacturers?
How does medicinal cannabis differ from adult use cannabis?
How did your experience as a business consultant and educator prepare you for work in cannabis?
How would you characterize your own personal relationship with cannabis? How does cannabis support your health?
What business skills and knowledge from your background have been most useful to you since you entered the cannabis industry?
If you had the chance to correct one fallacy about cannabis, what would you choose to correct in the public’s understanding?
As a cannabis product manufacturer, are there cannabis product types that concern you from a health or safety perspective?
What type of new cannabis products do you think are needed?
Address
78 Cotswold Circle
Ocean Township, New Jersey, 07712
Phone
(973) 464-5116