Women In Cannabis Lobby Day

Written by Kimber Arezzi and Kait Caridi

On March 8th 2021 The CannaDiva is supporting the “Women In Cannabis Lobby Day” sponsored by WomenGrow and Drug Policy Alliance. Also known as International Women's Day (IWD), March 8th spotlights different political, cultural, and economic achievements of women while marking the call to action for accelerating women's equality. Women in Cannabis Lobby Day 2021 will be a virtual event full of opportunities to activate and educate, all while bringing you information to help you understand the road to legalization and introduce you to women leaders in the NYS Cannabis community. Help amplify our voice by joining us March 8th as we unite in requesting a legal, fair and accessible cannabis program that doesn't criminalize.

EMAIL US AT HELLO@CANNADIVA.COM AND TELL US WHAT MAKES YOU A CANNADIVA! FOLLOW US ON IG AT @THECANNADIVA

WHY THE CANNADIVAS FIGHT

KAIT:

High!! My name is Kait, I'm the Social Media Director and Event Coordinator of The CannaDiva; a community of Womxn in cannabis consisting of entrepreneurs, patients, caregivers, advocates, moms and everything in between. I came to this space as a longtime cannabis consumer. I never understood the business side of cannabis and I didn't even consider the plant as medicine. Tanya Osborne, the Founder of CannaDiva, LLC invited me to my first WomenGrow event in 2017. I eagerly sat in the front row to learn about "Cannabis: The Exit Drug to Opioid Addiction". With pen and paper in hand, I jotted down tons of notes. It was there that I first heard about the endocannabinoid system and our receptors. I also learned about organizations like 'StartSmart Coalition' and 'Drug Policy Alliance'. I was amazed by all the information given by an entire panel of women, in a room full of women! There were doctors, nurses, caregivers, moms, patients, and advocates. The energy was HIGHly inspirational! I started volunteering at monthly WomenGrow events, which allowed me to network with others in the cannabis community! From there, I got into social media and event production, working for various cannabis brands and organizations. I'm so excited that New York State is closer now than ever to Adult-use legalization. Join The CannaDivas and me as we Lobby for legalization to be done the right way.

KIMBER:

Hello, HIGH!!! I'm Kimber. I'm the Education Director for The CannaDiva. There is nothing I love more than sharing the benefits of adding cannabis to our daily diet and why this plant is essential to our search for physical and mental health. Although I've been using cannabis since 1995, I didn't consider myself a patient until I was diagnosed with a rare autoimmune condition in 2002. It took months to diagnose it, but one thing was consistent -- constant and chronic inflammation. No matter how many medications I was given, the symptoms would repeat. Only cannabis helped me find a way to move forward. How could one plant offer so many options? In 2018, my high school friend Tracey Henry, a publicist in the cannabis industry, introduced me to CBD and the various research being done for children with Autism Spectrum Disorder. As a parent of a 9-year-old with ASD and sensory issues, I was fascinated and inspired by the results. Then she invited me to a Women Grow meeting and changed my life. She wanted me to see that there was an entire business world around this same plant that I swore saved my sanity and health -- and that there was a way for me "transition" my career in retail development to cannabis. That night I listened to a room full of leaders who shared how their personal cannabis experience led them to become educators, entrepreneurs, and advocates. I was inspired to be all of those things but had no idea how to even get started. As the night went on Tracey whispered and pointed, "That's Tanya Osborne. You NEED to know her. Come on - I'll introduce you." From there, I became a monthly volunteer with Kait, and I found my place in the community. I was able to feed my entrepreneurial spirit and developed a line of single-dose CBD, Chime&Chill, that was MCTfree. As the organization helped support my brand, I helped members build their own brands, source products, and find their space. A year later, the CannaDiva Community, led by Tanya, spun off to continue to connect with Women Grow and welcome the canna-curious and intersectionality representing women in this industry. I am thrilled to be invited as an inaugural member. As NYS moves closer to Adult Use, I'm hoping that our Lobby Day will show our legislators why we need a fair and equitable program, as well as an expanded medical program.