15 Powerful Women In the Weed Industry

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Dr. Lakisha Jenkins has a doctorate in naturopathy, is a member of the American Herbalist Guild, and is a master herbalist, and founding board member of the California Cannabis Industry Association. Beyond helping write the legalization laws that just passed in the state of California, Dr. Jenkins can take 500 varieties of herbs and marry them with cannabis to treat whatever ails you. If you love pot and natural medicine, she’s someone you want to know.

Unfortunately, despite the abundance of healing Dr. Jenkins gives back to the world, she went through great loss to get where she is today. “My oldest daughter Kiona was diagnosed with two different types of brain tumors in 2002 when she was eight years old, and I questioned whether chemotherapy and radiation was the right course of action for treatment for her,” explains Dr. Jenkins. “I was informed that the State of California knows what’s better for my daughter than I do and that if I did anything different than conventional treatment, then I’d be acting outside of medical advice and that I would be a threat to her. Unfortunately, I was forced to accept, but while she was going through chemotherapy and radiation, I started researching and studying for my doctorate, and figuring out other holistic alternatives.”

Kiona passed away in January 2006, 12 days shy of her twelfth birthday. Dr. Jenkins now practices in her honor, going back to her roots and using ancestral healing techniques.

“My family is from the Mississippi band of Choctaw Indians, so we have Native American lineage and my grandfather is a native healer,” she explains. “I just went back to my native roots and just researched.” Along with her work as a healer, Dr. Jenkins strives to create room for minorities in the cannabis industry that is too often dominated by white men due to financial advantages and their inherent privilege.

“There’s a privilege that is associated with being a white male in this country, you don’t have that same type of fear that other minority groups or other people do and you’re more in a position to take a risk in jumping into this industry,” explains Dr. Jenkins, who has also been a part of the Minority Business Council for three years.

Her advice to women and other minorities looking to break through? “Be fearless and strong in your conviction. Know what you stand for and know what you are trying to accomplish and don’t let anything get in your way. Surround yourself with other like-minded people who can be your support system and your tribe and then educate yourself, because education is going to be what’s going to help you persevere. Because people are going to challenge you all the time. But if you can come back with those challenges with hard evidence and experience, and really speak to the level of professionalism that this industry is going to command, you’ll be taken seriously.”

An unfortunate aspect of the cannabis industry is that due to lingering federal laws and constantly evolving local ones, if you work with weed, you'll likely need a lawyer at some point. That’s where Rachel Gillette comes in; an attorney who has been working with the regulated cannabis industry since 2010. Her areas of practice include corporate licensing compliance, tax law for marijuana businesses, and pretty much anything related to the operations of cannabis businesses regulated by the state of Colorado.

“I’ve always been an advocate for the legalization of marijuana,” says Gillette. “So in 2010, when I saw the state of Colorado was going to be regulating, being the first state in the nation to do so, I decided to quit my job and to start my own practice which focused on the representation of these newly-formed business enterprises.” At the time, Gillette was taking a major risk since few larger firms were ready to take on cannabis clients. However, Gillette’s instincts and boldness paid off and she staked her claim in what is now a booming industry.

Gillette says her favorite part the job is that marijuana law is constantly evolving “We’re doing something that has never been done before, so there’s a lot of opportunities to blaze the trail, so to speak, no pun intended,” she explains. Not to mention, working to help victims of America’s War On Drugs: “We’ve had 40 years of a failed drug war, our fathers, our brothers, our children are incarcerated at alarming rates unfortunately for minority populations, and disproportional rates for minority populations, and as women, we shouldn’t stand for that anymore.”

While California cannabis users celebrate their state’s recent marijuana legalization accomplishment, (nice Hollyweed sign), Lynne Lyman’s work is just getting started. She's the California state director of the non-profit organization Drug Policy Alliance, "the leading organization advancing drug policies grounded in science, compassion, health, and human rights." 

“We always say November 8th wasn’t the end, it was the beginning,” she explains. “That’s true with most laws; often policymakers forget to think about the implementation piece and sometimes that’s the most important piece, because if you pass a law and it doesn’t get implemented, then it’s as if it didn’t pass.”

Along with working to fund cannabis research, Lyman’s biggest passion is making marijuana and marijuana-advocacy communities more inclusive, especially by creating space for those were were a vital part of the weed industry before it was sanctioned by mainstream society.

“You’re walking in today to this whole nice legal world where everybody can wear a name tag that says they’re with some cannabis association, whereas five years ago even, people were still doing federal time for having a dispensary,” Lyman explains. “The advice I give to all of the people who come into the cannabis industry is understand the history. There’s the sense that people are just waltzing in as if it’s just any other industry. I want to discourage that and remind that a lot of people have died, people have been incarcerated, they’ve had their families destroyed. Making sure you’re a good neighbor, and you’re working with the community that you are based in.”

Lyman says that while we see often see white men as the faces of legal weed businesses, that doesn't mean they're the ones who laid the groundwork for legalization in the first place. “One thing that has been true historically in the cannabis movement is that it’s been men’s faces at the forefront and yet it’s been a lot of women doing the behind-the-scenes work,” explains Lyman. “I’m in room after room saying it cannot be all white men in the industry. You have to find a way to expand and let other people in. That’s a policy priority for DPA.”

You may remember Charlo Greene from when she went viral for quitting her job as a reporter on like television while outing herself as the founder of Alaska Cannabis Club. Now living in Los Angeles, Greene says, “I’m Charlo “Fuck it, I quit” Greene, and I’m credited with the legalization of marijuana in Alaska.” An exceptional entrepreneur, she’s also behind NewCannabisTimes.com and the founder of Go Greene, a cannabis diversity summit series.

“I use my connections to pull in as many community leaders of color to come in and share their knowledge, experience and expertise with people that really need a leg up in this industry, and make it mean something for them and their communities,” says Greene. “I think a lot of the work that I’m doing is overlooked because I am a woman and because I am a person of color.” 

Greene’s success has come with a heavy price that proves the War on Drugs in far from over. “I’m facing 54 years for creating the Alaska Cannabis Club, so in the meantime, it’s dreary that my life could be over this year," she explains. "But if I stop doing what I know I am here to do, which is share these amazing stories and activate people, then the state has already won."

Greene adds that she didn’t quit her job as a reporter because she hated it, but because she knew there was work to be done in marijuana advocacy: “There was a community of people that needed someone to be bold and I knew that was me. So I’m gonna continue what I’m doing, just on my own terms with The Weed Show.”

Her next court appearance is January 11, and she’s assembled a top-notch legal team and is feeling hopeful, yet knows both America and the weed industry still have insurmountable work to do. “It will be interesting when they try to drag up club members that literally credit the [Alaska Cannabis Club] for saving their lives. I think the state of Alaska will be on trial just as much as they’re putting me on trial.”

Moxie Meds, a CBD-rich line of cannabis tinctures, is medicine for women, by women. Available in a variety of combinations to heal what ails you—from anxiety to PTSD to period cramps and pain—Moxie Meds grows their CBD-rich flowers following organic standards to create what is known as FECO (full extract cannabis oil), using organic ethanol to extract the cannabinoids and terpenes.

“We add organic basil extract (which contains beta-caryophyllene) and lab grade, U.S. made, naturally extracted beta-caryophyllene (BCP) as well. We also add organic strawberry extract for flavor balancing - doesn't taste overwhelmingly like strawberry, it just balances out the plant and BCP flavor profile,” explains Peters.

She says the favorite part of her work is without a doubt assisting patients, from veterans whose PTSD is diminished with treatment, to elderly patients who now live happier and healthier without chronic pain, to women who are no longer feeling stuck without options to address their reproductive concerns. “Women have always been healers throughout history and this (female) plant represents what I personally consider the fastest moving area of science and medicine,” says Peters. “We need women to help bring cannabis medicine to the next level for the sake of patients everywhere.”

After working for 30 years in Colorado government and leading the state’s Liquor Enforcement Division before taking over its Marijuana Enforcement Division, Laura Harris is now stepping up as the Executive Director of Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce.

“What differentiates the Colorado Cannabis Chamber of Commerce from other cannabis industry groups is we’re focused on the business success of our members who are cannabis-focused, who are trying to make a success in a heavily, heavily regulated environment and with the public policy around it constantly changing," Harris explains. "So our goal is to be business-focused: How can we help our members enhance the advantages of the different businesses in this space?”

With her experience working in the Liquor Enforcement Division, Harris shares great insight into the problems that arise when government tries to implement prohibition on a substance that most Americans believe should be legal. “The similarities are amazing. The attitudes of our society [about cannabis] now were very much what they were [during prohibition] about alcohol.” Cannabis legalization advocates have long pointed to the failure of alcohol prohibition as reasoning for pushing weed legalization.

“This is something that the majority of the public thinks is relatively safe when used responsibly,” says Harris. “There is much to be gained by creating a legal structure. It’s not going to go away. Re-living that piece of history again would be surreal.”

Formerly General Manager of Marley Natural, the cannabis and lifestyle brand based on Bob Marley’s legacy, Rehmatullah now works as a consultant by helping cannabis entrepreneurs and early stage venture leaders bring their ideas to life.

“I am particularly interested in assisting female leaders further develop in the cannabis industry, increasing diversity throughout organizations, and advancing social impact initiatives,” she says. Although cannabis wasn’t yet on her radar when she arrived at Yale School of Management, Rehmatullah became drawn to the industry after watching her grandfather’s battle with cancer: “I learned more about cannabis as a treatment for many illnesses and its history, but found myself frustrated that the plant wasn't readily available for those suffering.” By using her management expertise to help others turn their passion for cannabis into a sustainable business, Rehmatullah says, “As more people around the world learn about the plant and its many benefits, there's even more support to further develop in every area. We are charting our own path, which can be terrifying at times, but incredibly exciting. I can say with certainty that I've never gotten bored. Overwhelmed, exhausted, frustrated, perhaps—but never bored.”

With more than 10 years of experience in the cannabis industry, owner and founder of Colorado-based marijuana edibles Mountain Medicine​ Jaime Lewis, loves edibles. “It really is what puts the fire in my belly,” says Lewis, an exceptional chef who's worked in top-notch kitchens, including as an executive chef of a Michelin three-star restaurant in San Francisco. 

But Lewis doesn’t just love edibles; she blends her knowledge as chef and cannabis connoisseur to create some of the most delicious products on the market. “We specialize in supporting local farmers, we worry about everything from what kind of cannabis we put into it, to the honey we use,” says Lewis. The edible queen (whose products include caramel pretzel bites, chocolate fudge, and cheese nibbles for the salty crowd) says: “This is actually the safest way to medicate, especially when you know your dosage,” suggesting that users start with 5 mg, even though the recommended starting dosage is 10 mg. Edibles are heaven on earth, and allow the use of cannabis in a smoke-free manner, but if you pull a Maureen Dowd and consume too much, you’ll ruin the magic.

Even cooler than the scrumptious and healing cannabis products Lewis creates is her attitude towards fellow women in the industry. “I have said this time and time again, if I have hired women who will eventually leave me to become some of my most challenging and direct competitors, I will be beside myself with shits and giggles,” says Lewis, “because it would just mean that I would have some real fucking competition in all of this. I love competition, and I would love to have a competition with my sisters.”

Mary Jane (and yes, that is her real name) is the Culture Editor for High Times, the iconic cannabis publication founded in 1974. Gibson oversees the entertainment, lifestyle, and reviews sections of the magazine, as well as contributing feature articles and interviews. Originally from Newfoundland, Canada, Gibson moved to the U.S. in 2000.

“I had no idea that a job in the cannabis industry was a possibility,” she tells Complex, but soon after moving to New York City in 2004, she began freelancing for the magazine and moved her way up to become one of its most distinct voices. “I've learned so much more about cannabis since then,” says Gibson, “from industry experts, from my own enjoyable research, and from spending days on end at Cannabis Cups and other industry events.”

Currently residing in Los Angeles, where she moved last summer to help open the publication's West Coast office, Gibson says, “It's a thrilling time for the cannabis industry, but it's also a time in which people who have zero connection to cannabis are suddenly interested in turning a profit. I've met several people in positions of power at cannabis companies who don't smoke pot—they don't use it medicinally or recreationally, and in fact, they're not particularly interested in what it does. They're interested in making money. That's the nature of capitalism, of course—but we need to continue to listen to the people who smoke weed.” Hear, hear.

Gibson’s advice to young women looking to break into the industry is to “Learn everything you can by getting involved with a local collective or organization. Be informed, and be on time. Be better prepared than everyone else, work your ass off, and be kind to those around you. Honor those who have gone before you, and teach those who come after you. And kick some serious ass.”

Childhood best friends Cindy and Leone co-founded Treat Yourself, a wellness company featuring female-friendly cannabis products as magical as medicated pop tarts (they even have a gluten-free option). They launched the company in 2014, explaining that their mission stemmed from interests in health and wellness.

“We were both involved in health and wellness at the time, and we noticed that there weren't any edible products available that were healthy enough to be considered medicine. We felt passionate about the healing power of cannabis and of food, so we wanted to create a brand that combined the two. We also wanted to give a voice to women who consume cannabis, and to encourage women to speak freely and openly about the reasons they use cannabis.” Along with such guilt-free yet delicious treats like coconut-banana cakes, Treat Yourself provides soothing and handcrafted topicals (did you know cannabis is also an excellent addition to your beauty regime)?

A cannabis leader and mother with impeccable business sense, Jane West is the CEO of her cannabis-focused lifestyle brand. “We are making the legal lifestyle I enjoy accessible to everyday Americans by offering them everything they need to enhance their lives with cannabis,” says West, who also co-founded Women Grow. Her favorite aspect of the cannabis industry? “The people. Period," she says. "I am surrounded by diverse, passionate professionals who are a constant source of inspiration. There is so much impressive, innovative work being done in the cannabis space right now, and together we are paving the way to transform countless lives.”

She urges others, especially women, to join the booming marijuana industry as legalization increases and mainstream perceptions change. “We are influencing broader social change, and it’s a powerful privilege. We have to get it right by insisting on responsible, fair business practices, sustainable profit models, and opportunities for those who haven’t had a seat at the table in corporate culture before," says West, who advises listening to your instincts. "The legal cannabis sector is growing fast, and we don’t have much time before the white, male status quo takes hold."

Jazmin Hupp is one of the co-founders of Women Grow (along with fellow list-er Jane Wes). Founded in Denver, Colorado, in August 2014, Women Grow holds networking events in 45 cities across the United States and Canada for the sole purpose of allowing those (especially women, obviously) interested in the cannabis industry to connect with and meet others to help them build and create their dream. “It’s a really great industry for women which is absolutely the truth, but it isn’t a story that would be necessarily the case without us,” says Hupp, of the organization she helped created.

When asked what advice she’d give to other women looking to break into the industry, she answered without pause: “Move to California.” If you’re interested in the cannabis industry but not quite ready to pack up your bags, Hupp advises attending Women Grow’s annual summit. This year's conference takes place in February in Denver: “There’s no other time when we bring over 1,000 women in cannabis.”

MJ Freeway is the gold star of the cannabis-software market, creating systems that track inventory for growers. Blazing through the dually male-dominated worlds of cannabis and tech, Poinsett and her partner founded the company in 2010 to provide tools for growing legal cannabis businesses and governments to regulate the industry. Poinsett has seen growing numbers of women leaders in the cannabis industry, but recalls a time when that wasn't the case.

“When we first started this company, we were truly the only women in the room,” Poinsett tells Complex. “It’s a little bit different now, but I think our climate, in general, is more friendly toward women starting businesses of all kinds.” Poinsett says that with eight states making marijuana strides Election Day, there are great opportunities for the future, and that she believes that future is female. “We face big challenges as small business owners and as women business owners, [but] I do think in general that the cannabis industry is friendly and supportive.”

One aspect of the failed War on Drugs is the lack of funds available to research the medicinal benefits of cannabis, such as pain management as a safer option than opiates. Currently the manager of marijuana law and policy at the Drug Policy Alliance, Amanda Reiman will soon be transitioning to conduct even more research on cannabis as a substitute for other substances like opiates.

“Cannabis used to be considered a last resort for pain, but due to concerns over dependency and potential fatal overdoses with opiates, it’s becoming more of a first line of defense,” says Reiman. Thanks to increased legalization, states are now able to generate their own revenue through cannabis taxation and sales—money which they can allocate towards research. 

Reiman believes cannabis research is a woman’s world—and not just because the buds we love so dearly are female themselves. “Make no mistake. This industry belongs to women. The cannabis plant is female, so much of the ways in which the plants interact with the environment and with the people has to do with nurturing and balance. I think it’s really our industry to claim.”

Cannabis-focused hedge funds now exist—process your shock and awe about that real quick. Poseidon Asset Management, dedicated entirely to the cannabis industry, was founded by Emily Paxhia and her brother Morgan after their parents died of cancer in 1996 and a hospice nurse mentioned the benefits of cannabis for cancer-related symptoms like nausea, sleeplessness, and anxiety.

“We had a longtime view of cannabis as a compassionate care option, especially for terminally or chronically ill,” says Paxhia. In 2014, the siblings launched the fund and never looked back. While increasing legalization unlocks new market opportunities, Paxhia reminds that the most recent election ushered in red flags, as well: “It also means we have to take the time to understand the nuances of each state, country, etc. With the new president, there will certainly be areas to watch, as the administration gets going.” 

For women looking to break into the industry, Paxhia advises: “Focus on your strengths! I see some women who pivot into the space, and they overlook their existing talents and experience. Analyze strengths from other fields and look at the way that can be applied to cannabis. The industry needs talented people, especially women.”