The Feminine Side of Cannabis Culture - Women's History Month

Women have been active in cannabis culture since the earliest days, before commercialization and now. However, this is not to say that women have not faced many obstacles in the industry due to their gender. Cannabis has always been a highly male-dominated industry. Even on television, stoners and hippies were more than likely portrayed as men. Today, we are seeing a less gendered gap in representation in media and in the business sectors.

In 2019, cannabis was growing at an insane pace, and women were being less included than in 2015. In just four years, according to The Green Entrepreneur, women’s space in the cannabis industry declined by nearly 20%. In 2015, women held 36% of the cannabis space, but in 2019, they only held 17%. However, women-owned businesses tend to make about three times as much money as male-owned businesses in the cannabis space, and the industry still favored the latter. Dr. Chanda Macias, owner and CEO of Women Grow, an organization focused on advocating and educating women aspiring to be cannabis entrepreneurs, considers, “the glass ceiling is pretty thick in the cannabis industry for women.” That thick glass ceiling is exactly why she works so hard with Women Grow. Luckily, it seems that the percentage of women owned businesses is steadily growing as of 2024.

This is likely due, in part, to organizations like Women Grow. Women Grow “was created to connect, educate, empower and inspire the next generation of cannabis leaders.” Other organizations to help women in cannabis include Women Employed in Cannabis (WEIC), Supernova Women, and the Women in Cannabis Association

WEIC focuses on providing community and mentoring by hosting events and using media to assist women working in cannabis businesses. Supernova Women is a slightly different company, they are a “nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Black and Brown women that works to empower Black and Brown people to become self-sufficient shareholders in the cannabis and natural plant medicine space through education, advocacy, and network building..

While this is not only focused on women, the women running the organization are making a huge and important impact. Last but not least, the Women in Cannabis Association has a vision of “fostering a diverse and equitable industry, empowering women through education, advocacy, and community support. We strive to cultivate an environment of growth and innovation, where every woman's contribution is valued, and their potential is fully realized.” Each of these groups has done great work for women within the cannabis industry.

These industries are not only for assisting women to get into front side businesses, but also backside, which would have to do with testing and consumer safety. One woman that stands out among the rest in cannabis testing is Rowshan Reordan. In 2011, Reordan opened the first woman-owned, and nearly all-women run, cannabis analytical testing laboratory in the United States, called Oregon's Green Leaf Lab LLC. Her journey began after losing a close friend to HIV, and wondering whether or not they had clean, tested cannabis to rely on. Two years after opening Green Leaf Lab, she joined a subcommittee for Oregon’s House Bill 3460, advocating for the safe testing of medical and recreational cannabis. She later went on to address the Oregon Legislature outlining multiple product safety and public health recommendations to better regulate cannabis business practices. Since then, Reordan has gone on to open a second facility in California.

But why are women so drawn to the cannabis industry? One example would be how much it helps with pain surrounding biologically feminine issues like menstrual cycles and menopause. According to Harvard Medical School, more and more women are turning to cannabis and CBD to assist with these pains. Their study found that in a group of over 300 women, “79% endorsed cannabis to alleviate menopause-related symptoms. Of those, 67% said cannabis helps with sleep disturbance, while 46% reported it helps improve mood and anxiety.” Although there has been no research into the long term effects of using cannabis as pain management, we all know someone who uses cannabis for pain and would swear by it.

Another example, can be just like men, women love cannabis. Not only for pain management, but for relaxation, energy, arousal, and fun. Unfortunately, in a recent study from The Harris Poll on behalf of cannabis retailer MedMen Enterprises found that nearly 40% of women, over the age of 21, use cannabis and most tend to hide it from their friends, family, children, or coworkers. While this is understandable, no one should feel ashamed of using cannabis, especially for pain. The study also found that

“one in three women who use cannabis spend more than $100 at the dispensary in a typical month; with 35% of purchasers preferring to shop with a female budtender. Women also prefer edibles as their method of consumption (57%), followed by flower/pre-rolls (43%), and vapes (39%).”

Lastly, it has been hypothesized that women may actually benefit more from cannabis than men. Sounds crazy, but it may be linked to estrogen levels. It has been proved before that women and men react differently to cannabis. According to Psychology Today, “the behavioral and neurobiological effects of cannabis in females have different magnitudes depending on their level of sex hormones. Additionally, females may be more sensitive to the pain-relieving and euphoric effects of cannabis than males.” This may lead you to assume that estrogen binds to the endocannabinoid receptors but it does not. However, it unquestionably interacts with how cannabinoids, both exogenous and endogenous, influence brain function.” Overall, the study proves that estrogen and cannabis go hand in hand to make women’s euphoria and pain relief stronger.

It just goes to show that women are highly active within the cannabis industry, front-side and back. Hopefully, as the years go by, women will have more and more influence. A feminine touch never hurt anyone! Have a wonderful Women’s History Month, everyone, and a special thank you to all the women who work on this magazine. We couldn’t do it without y’all!