Fast forward to the 1900s. Ever heard of Mary Rathbun? Known as “Brownie Mary," she was a hospital volunteer in the late 1950s and early 1990s who baked special brownies for patients suffering from HIV/AIDS. She had noted that cannabis seemed to ease the pain for the patients in the San Francisco bay area. One of her famous sayings was:
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by Tatiana Melendez
T
Medical marijuana has been legalized in most states, and recreational cannabis legislation was significant in 2019. By the end of the year, even the federal government was making recommendations about de-scheduling marijuana. Still waiting for that, may I add. All in all, the rise of the cannabis industry has been remarkable. Still, another fantastic story is embedded in the green wave: much of the industry’s
associated marijuana with men. Most of our stereotypes about “stoners” focus on young men as well. If we think about the realities of the black market, we often associate that with men too. However, that does not mean women were not involved in the black market or had never touched cannabis before legalization. More or less, it was considered less socially acceptable in some circles, and these attitudes could have contributed to the initial invisibility of women in the cannabis movement.
recently conducted a survey measuring diversity and inclusion. Jennifer Whetzel of Lady Jane Branding founded the study. The organization’s mission is to tell the stories of women and individual women’s stories with
Also, the study asks hard questions with the hope of understanding women’s work histories
When and if they legalize it, I’ll sell my brownie recipe to Betty Crocker or Duncan Hines and take the profits and buy an old Victorian for my kids with AIDS.
However, today, women are in leadership positions at every level of the cannabis industry, from CEOs of mega-companies to cultivators taking cannabis from plant to product. Women grow cannabis, make medicines, own their farms, and operate their dispensaries. Some women are also producing and directing documentaries to fight the stigma of cannabis and its consumers. But before all of this happened, women had begun experimenting with the plant way way back in the day.
success is being driven by women! For decades, people have typically
speaking out about cannabis now than ever before. The Women in Cannabis Study (WICS)
data.
WOMEN LEADING THE WAY IN CANNABIS here’s no doubt that the cannabis industry has been growing by leaps and bounds.
More women are
Sounds like a sweet lady. Now, zoom to the 2000s, and you have Hannah Deacon. Hannah is an award-winning medical cannabis campaigner. She ran a campaign in 2017 and 2018 with the lobby group “End Our Pain,” which resulted in her son Alfie Dingley receiving the first legal National Health Service (NHS) prescription for medical cannabis.
Research proves women’s
His doctors received a permanent schedule one
involvement with cannabis advocacy harkens back to a tradition of caretaking. Women in many
license in June of 2018, which enabled them to prescribe medical
indigenous communities acted as healers. Before the advent of modern medicine, they would use traditional
cannabis legally for Alfie.
knowledge of plants to help people with all kinds of ailments. For many cultures, this kind of traditional
campaign for fair access to medical cannabis treatments on the NHS.
knowledge involved cannabis too. So it may be little wonder that we see more women taking up cannabis to
She is also the Executive Director of The Medical
assist with conditions that disproportionately affect them, such as anxiety and depression.
cannabis Clinicians society and Director of Maple Tree Consultancy.
Hannah now continues to
and professional trajectories and reveals their roadblocks to success, including their experiences with bullying, harassment, discrimination, and disrespect. More questions in the survey seek to identify women and non-binary participants as groups and individuals and amplify inclusivity for underserved or overlooked voices in an industry estimated to be worth $10billion. It focuses on gender expression, race and ethnicity, sexuality, and whether women are nondisabled or have the support and means to thrive in the cannabis industry. Here is the link if you are interested in the results: www.womenincannabis.study
Another study recently published by Marijuana Business Daily attempts to analyze the economic impact of the marijuana industry on women and minorities.
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NOVEMBER ISSUE 32
