Vibe a little higher with these industry leaders fighting stigma and challenging norms.
– KEYS SOULCARE
The decriminalization of cannabis has created both controversy and commerce over the last decade. Since Colorado and Washington became the first U.S. states to legalize recreational use of marijuana back in 2012, the cannabis industry has blossomed, with a projected $90 billion market by 2026.
The issue? Top executives of cannabis companies are overwhelmingly white and male, despite racial disparities in marijuana arrests burdening Black and Brown communities. In fact, a 2021 report from a group called Women & Minorities in the Cannabis Industry revealed that female cannabis executives make up only 22 percent of industry leaders and a recent Leafy report showed that only 2 percent of cannabis entrepreneurs or CEOs are Black, regardless of gender.
Notwithstanding, the demographics of cannabis leadership are changing and Black women are leading the charge. Read on to discover the visionaries breaking through barriers and shattering glass ceilings, bringing wealth and wellness back to the community, every day.
1. Gorilla Rx Wellness
The next time you’re in Los Angeles, stop by the city’s first Black woman-owned dispensary, Gorilla Rx Wellness. The shop opened its doors back in August 2021 and houses the largest collection of Black-owned cannabis brands in California. Gorilla Rx was founded by the Kikas — a mother-daughter duo aptly named Kika Keith and Kika Howze — who are reimaging dispensary culture and aesthetics. “We’re seeing the uniformity of these other spaces [with] vendors that will come in and make your dispensary look a very specific way,” Howze shared in an interview with LAist. “Everything just has this feeling of making sure that we weren’t a part of this gentrification aesthetic, [of] things [having] to be overly polished to be a part of the community and thrive.” | FOLLOW GORILLA RX WELLNESS
2. Cannabis Noire
As the self-proclaimed “Olivia Pope of Dope,” founder Sheena Roberson is in the business of justice. As an advocate and educator, Roberson is looking to create a more equitable cannabis industry by providing resources and consulting services to systemically underrepresented groups looking to break into the multi-billion dollar industry. Cannabis Noire is all about “creating the space” they wish to see through wellness workshops, social justice workshops, and education. “I want to show people that there’s more to the cannabis industry than running a dispensary,” Sheena shared in a recent interview, “A big part of our mission is to make sure we help create a better message that resonates with the audience; something that’s more genuine… we want to see [the cannabis industry] becoming a more equitable space. A genuinely medical, patient-focused space.” | FOLLOW CANNABIS NOIRE
3. Buy Weed From Women
Founded by writer Jasmine Mans, Buy Weed From Women (BWFW) has its purpose written in its name. The New Jersey-based shop creates modern apparel and accessories that support and advocate for women entrepreneurs and the legalization of cannabis. BWFW teams up with various creative partners to support woman-owned brands and businesses with portions of proceeds from campaigns like “Good Weed Good Women” going to the New York City Food Bank. The #MarijuanaFeminism trendsetter is a poet at heart, with an impressive resume that includes touring with artists like Janelle Monáe and appearing at the Sundance Film Festival. Mans credits cannabis for easing her anxieties surrounding the vulnerability required to write and create. “There’s been a lot of pain on my journey,” she shared in Leafly, “As a writer, my job — especially as a queer woman — is to talk about it.” | FOLLOW BUY WEED FROM WOMEN
Which women in cannabis story are you vibing with? Share your favorites in the comments!
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