“By encouraging more women to pursue careers in cannabis, we can create a more inclusive and equitable industry that better serves the needs of all consumers while also advancing important social and political issues related to cannabis legalization, criminal justice reform, and public health.”
– Kristina Lopez Adduci
Women in cannabis are uniquely positioned and committed to moving the cannabis industry toward a more equitable and inclusive space. Historically, cannabis has been a male-dominated industry with a disproportionately low number of female C-level executives. As cannabis teams become more diverse and inclusive of women, cannabis companies can better serve the needs of all consumers while also addressing key social and political issues and see real benefit to underlying financial performance.
This Women’s History Month, we celebrate 5 notable women in cannabis who are making waves toward a stronger industry.
Christina Wong
Christina WongWhat is your role in the industry? What do you do?
I’m a cannabis food, drink, and travel writer and creator. I am also the founder & CEO of Fruit + Flower Co.
How did you get into cannabis?
I was in between jobs and looking to dive into a new industry. I loved the entrepreneurial startup nature of cannabis and was fortunate to land a job at Papa & Barkley, a leading California cannabis wellness company, as their head of PR, communications, and content.
Why do you think women, in particular, should consider a career in cannabis?
Because women’s voices, talents, skills, and collaborative nature is essential in this industry. We bring a much-needed different perspective when it comes to the new cannabis consumer and retail experience. There’s room to create the type of career and space that you want in cannabis because it’s a budding, fast-growing industry.
Besides making money, what do you hope to achieve working in cannabis?
I hope to use my work at the intersection of cannabis food, drink and travel to educate and break stigmas to make it more accessible for canna-curious consumers. I use food as a way to teach people to appreciate their cannabis in the same way we care about the food we eat. I hope that my work will inspire people to discover the benefits of cannabis for their personal well-being and empower them to choose better products for themselves and their families.
What has been a major win for you in your cannabis career?
Being profiled in High Times (twice!) was a huge highlight and a major win. Never-ever did I think that my ideas and work would be featured in the ultimate journal for high culture. In addition, I recently started writing about cannabis for Thrillist and turned in my first article about cannabis bars and consumption lounges for High Times! I went from being a publicist and content marketer to a thought leader and advocate.
What are some career paths that you see as career growth opportunities in cannabis?
What I love about seeing people’s career paths in cannabis is that it can start from anywhere and grow wildly in any direction you’re most interested in. From cultivation to social media, accounting to creative, I’ve seen people take their careers from budtender to C-Suite and corporate job to an entrepreneur in just a few years. Just be ready to be flexible and ready to pivot constantly.
What’s your superpower?
Connecting. I love meeting people, making connections, networking, and making introductions to help people go where they want to grow. It’s led to incredible opportunities like being featured in and writing for High Times, making desserts for celebs like Tommy Chong and Qveen Herby, and incredible friendships in this industry who make it possible for me to do what I do.
What is your favorite product to consume?
If I’m consuming edibles, Papa’s Select ice water hash gummies, Kiva’s Lost Farms solventless rosin chews, and Big Pete’s Treats cookies are the BEST. All these products are made with solventless whole-plant cannabis – hash, rosin, and cannabutter. I also love that the cannabis flavor is being celebrated and appreciated rather than masked behind sugar and chemicals.
Yesensia Garcia
Yesensia GarciaWhat is your role in the industry? What do you do?
My official title is Chief Marketing Officer for Southern Crop. I am responsible for all marketing, commercialization, product development, outreach, education, wholesale & retail Sales.
Why do you think women, in particular, should consider a career in cannabis?
The industry is still in its infancy stages and has endless opportunities for women who are willing to apply their skill sets in an ever-evolving industry as we shape what these programs will look like. Being able to multitask and think creatively is essential for staying nimble.
Besides making money, what do you hope to achieve working in cannabis?
I am truly passionate about providing access to the plant and paving the way for a cannabis industry that does not shame or punish people for their right to consume the plant. I think we can accomplish this through open dialog and education, and I am grateful to be able to have a direct impact in those sectors.
What has been a major win for you in your cannabis career?
There are so many complexities that restrict us as marketers in this industry, and to have successfully launched a multi-market marketing campaign for a new product launch in over a dozen markets was a major win.
What do you see as some of the barriers/obstacles for women working in cannabis?
Women in cannabis face the same barriers in any other industry with the added complexity of fear of judgment. I think it is essential to be proud of the work we are doing and eliminate the added pressure we put on ourselves.
What’s your superpower?
My superpower is the ability to develop stellar teams. I take great pride in working with people and helping them excel in their own right. This is especially vital in this industry where passion is key.
What is your favorite way to consume?
I consume periodically, and when I do, I prefer non-smokable products that allow me to microdose.
Victoria Dang
Victoria DangWhat is your role in the industry? What do you do?
I am a Regional Marketing Manager at Weedmaps. In my role, I identify opportunities for the Weedmaps brand to best show up in dispensaries, online, and in the community. There are so many brands and organizations to partner with. I use my role to collaborate with people that align with the brand’s values, as well as my own.
Outside of my full-time role, I offer marketing consulting to new product launches & retail store openings, both cannabis and non-cannabis related.
How did you get into cannabis?
Cannabis has always had an important part in my life – from socializing to mental health. I joined the industry in 2020 after getting laid off from the sportswear industry. During my unemployment, I used that time to join virtual cannabis seminars and networking events, read articles about the War on Drugs, and learn how Black and brown people still struggle for equitable opportunities in the industry. I learned how I could use my visual merchandising and trade marketing skills in cannabis.
Why do you think women, in particular, should consider a career in cannabis?
While it’s important for women to be in the industry because we represent such a large and untapped market, it’s also important to have our voices in the room because when we are discussing marketing, funding, or any other type of capital, it’s extremely important that these women are also representing other women. So that we can continue to pass on these opportunities to the next generation.
Besides making money, what do you hope to achieve working in cannabis?
I hope to continue to be a steward of the plant. Whether that means educating others on the plant’s benefits, what terpenes are, how to properly dose, or discussing the injustices that have surrounded the plant. My home state, Maryland, is legalizing adult-use in July. My hope is that MD will set a high standard on how to create an equitable adult-use industry through their regulations. I use my time to advocate for the BIPOC and women’s community to legislators and other organizations.
What has been a major win for you in your cannabis career?
While working for the largest multi-state operator in the world, I successfully launched a new brand, more than 10 products that ranged from drinkables to craft strains, and opened three dispensaries throughout the northeast. The success was attributed to an impactful PR strategy, digital and retail marketing campaigns, memorable experiential launch events, and exclusive collaborations with local artists.
What advice do you have for someone looking for a career in cannabis?
- Find opportunities! It’s hard to know where to start if you are not in the industry yet. Don’t be afraid to connect on LinkedIn, send an email, or ask a question. The women I have met in the industry are more than happy to take the time to support and point you in the right direction.
- Equal pay – do your research on the market outside of the cannabis industry! And do not be afraid to ask your counterpart what compensation range they are in.
What is your favorite product to consume?
Flower – specifically joints, but I love a good blunt. My favorite strains are anything high in myrcene and caryophyllene.
Meaka A. Brown
Meaka A. BrownWhat is your role in the industry? What do you do?
I am a Cannabis Banking Regulatory Specialist at Green Check Verified. I manage the compliance rules engine that confirms transaction compliance between cannabis businesses and financial institutions. Most recently I was appointed to the Massachusetts Cannabis Social Equity Advisory Board. I am also the owner of Babes Handmade Body Care Products and I’m developing CBD and cannabis body care products.
How did you get into cannabis?
When I first started Babes Handmade, it was a hobby for me, but when my grandmother had her third knee surgery, I began to consider creating a topical that she could put on her knees to help ease her pain. I began to become more curious about cannabis and its healing properties, so I studied herbal medicine and cannabis medicine in order to understand how to best work with the plant. I fell in love! I left my job and took a pay cut for an entry-level position at a local dispensary in Boston, Pure Oasis, where I became the general manager after 4 months.
Besides making money, what do you hope to achieve working in cannabis?
I hope to level the playing field and aid in making the cannabis industry equitable. I am working on several projects at Green Check to do just that. I want to see areas that have been disproportionately impacted by the War on Drugs repaired and thriving. I want to see formerly incarcerated people get their lives back through record expungement. My work with the Massachusetts Social Equity Advisory Board will give me the opportunity to see these goals come to fruition.
What has been a major win for you in your cannabis career?
This is the first time I have had a career that didn’t keep me up at night. I am well compensated, and I love what I do. I have the flexibility to do all the work that I love in this industry. I work from home and am able to care for my children. My cannabis career is a WIN-WIN.
What are some career paths that you see as career growth opportunities in cannabis?
One year in the cannabis industry is like five years in the industry. Almost all entry-level positions can give you access to a career in the space. I have seen dispensary budtenders become wholesale and inventory managers in 12 to 18 months. For instance, when I worked at Pure Oasis, the retail skills I had learned in college were now incredibly useful and helped me quickly move from supervisor to general manager. I also leveraged my knowledge of laws, regulations, and compliance at both Pure Oasis and Mello Dispensaries, which prepared me for my current position at Green Check Verified.
What’s your superpower?
I am a jack of all trades and a problem solver, and fixer… I won’t stop until I find a solution.
What is your favorite product to consume?
During the day Mindy’s 1:1 edibles in the evening a pre-roll usually a Sativa leaning hybrid right now I’m loving Pina Grande by Bountiful Farms.
Kristina Lopez Adduci
Kristina Lopez AdduciWhat is your role in the industry? What do you do?
I’m the founder and CEO of House of Puff. House of Puff is a Latina-led and women-owned cannabis brand based in New York City. We help people imbibe unapologetically by normalizing cannabis consumption through art-inspired products and stylish educational content.
How did you get into cannabis?
My first business was an art magazine, so I’ve seen firsthand the transformative power of art in shaping culture and driving social change. That’s why I launched House of Puff as a means to drive the future of cannabis and bring new depth and meaning to discussions about everything from consumption rituals to criminal justice reform. Through House of Puff, we aim to elevate the conversation around cannabis and its role in society, making it accessible and approachable.
Why do you think women, in particular, should consider a career in cannabis?
Women are uniquely positioned to bring much-needed diversity and innovation to the cannabis industry. We bring a fresh perspective to an industry that has historically been male-dominated. By encouraging more women to pursue careers in cannabis, we can create a more inclusive and equitable industry that better serves the needs of all consumers while also advancing important social and political issues related to cannabis legalization, criminal justice reform, and public health.
What has been a major win for you in your cannabis career?
Our collaboration with artist, author, and activist Chris Wilson. Hands down, one of the highlights of my career. We launched our limited edition artist-series rolling papers with Wilson’s powerful painting, Positive Delusions, which memorializes the mental process he used to survive the torment of solitary confinement. We hosted a month-long exhibition at Etain Health entitled, “I Can Show You the Way Out,” which featured new abstract paintings by Chris curated by Gregory Thornbury. It was a deeply meaningful event for us.
What do you see as some of the barriers/obstacles for women entrepreneurs in cannabis?
One of the biggest barriers for women is access to capital. Due to a variety of factors, including gender bias in the industry and the ongoing legal and regulatory challenges facing the cannabis industry, women entrepreneurs often struggle to secure the funding they need to start and grow their businesses.
What’s your superpower?
My intuition is pretty astounding. Whether it’s a business meeting or an event with friends, I’ve found that being able to understand the dynamics of a room and respond accordingly can make all the difference in terms of building connections in cannabis.
What is your favorite product to consume?
I like to pack my House of Puff Le Pipe with a local New York strain called “Dirty Taxi.” It’s a wonderful hybrid and it’s just a chef’s kiss.