Women in the cannabis industry

1. Dr. Lakisha Jenkins, Master Herbalist
Founder, The Jenasis Medical Group

A member of the American Herbalist Guild, Dr. Lakisha Jenkins is a registered master herbalist and traditional naturopath. Dr. Jenkins has helped write legalization laws for the state of California as a founding member of the California Cannabis Industry Association. She’s committed to traditional and alternative health therapies, striving to educate patients and empower them to live healthier lives.

2. Tahira Rehmatullah
Managing Director, Hypur Ventures
Chief Financial Officer, MTech Acquisition Corp

Managing director at strategic venture capital fund Hypur Ventures, Tahira Rehmatullah helps early stage venture leaders and entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry realize their ideas. As chief financial officer at MTech Acquisition Corp, she is part of a venture capital fund solely dedicated to investing in businesses within the cannabis industry.

3. Pamela Hadfield
Founder, HelloMD

Pamela Hadfield was first introduced to the benefits of low-THC products when she found they could end her struggles with debilitating migraines. A UX software designer, Hadfield created HelloMD, a user-friendly resource for patients looking to use medicinal cannabis. HelloMD facilitates consultations with doctors, precise product recommendations and access to supportive communities.

4. Jessica Peters
President, Moxie Meds

A cannabis clinician, Jessica Peters is the founder of Moxie Meds, which offers medicinal cannabis for women, by women. Its therapeutic cannabis tinctures are used to lessen the symptoms of menstruation, menopause, hormone-related stress and reproductive issues. After seven years in the industry, Jessica is an advocate of the medicinal properties of cannabis and heavily focuses on the research and development of its healing properties.

5. Priscilla Vilchis
CEO of Premium Produce

A proponent of cannabinoid products and owner of the Queen of the Desert cannabis brand, Priscilla Vilchis is the first minority female CEO awarded two licenses to cultivate and produce cannabis products in the Nevada desert. When she’s not busy managing Premium Produce, she educates physicians on the use of medicinal cannabis to relieve pain. Priscilla aims to provide clean, safe remedies to a greater number of consumers.

6. Shanita Penny
Founder and CEO, Budding Solutions

An internationally recognized management consultant, Shanita Penny has helped companies improve their business performance for over a decade. Founder and CEO of the consultancy Budding Solutions, Penny’s a proud cannabis activist who lobbies on behalf of the industry on Capitol Hill. Through Budding Solutions, Shanita strives to help the world “rethink cannabis” by providing management consultancy to entrepreneurs in the field.

7. Dr. Rachel Knox and Dr. Jessica Knox
Cofounders, The Canna MDs

The Knox sisters are passionate about all-natural remedies to fight disease and promote general well-being. Cannabis therapeutics are at the heart of The Canna MDs, a venture the doctors founded with other physicians in their family. They’ve counseled several thousands of patients on the use of medicinal cannabis for illness and chronic disease. And they continue to educate, inspire and motivate patients to take control of their health.

8. Johanna Motz
Cofounder, PolyKulture Cannyard

Striving to pioneer a more ethical way to farm, Johanna Motz is cofounder of
PolyKulture Cannyard. She oversees marijuana plant growth operations using only regenerative farming practices. Johanna believes in responsible cultivation practices with no harmful chemicals, soil degradation or water waste. She encourages the public to ask where its cannabis comes from, warning that not all of it is a result of ethical farming.

9. Charlo Greene
Reporter turned advocate for marijuana legalization, gogreene.org

Charlo Greene is a pioneer in the cannabis industry, likely best known for quitting her job as a reporter on air while covering the Alaska Cannabis Club, a medical marijuana organization. High Times awarded Greene its Courage in Media Award, and ELLE listed her as one of its “13 Most Potent Women in the Pot Industry.” Charlo continues to fiercely advocate on behalf of cannabis legalization, with a popular daily talk show, new CBD beauty line and ongoing.

10. Tiffany Bowden
Cofounder, The Minority Cannabis Business Association
Chief Happiness Officer, ComfyTree

Chief Happiness Officer at ComfyTree, a cannabis e-learning enterprise, Tiffany Bowden is passionate about educating cannabis industry professionals. A major driving factor of Bowden’s journey in the cannabis industry is her outrage at mainstream media’s misrepresentation of cannabis, which she counters with highlighting its medicinal value and the opportunities it presents for entrepreneurs and communities at large. Through her work educating and connecting future cannabis business owners, she strives to provide entrepreneurs an equal chance to enter the cannabis space.

11. Emily Paxhia
Cofounder and Managing Director, Poseidon Asset Management

Emily Paxhia is cofounder of the cannabis hedge fund Poseidon Asset Management. Paxhia reviews thousands of companies in the cannabis industry, aiding countless entrepreneurs with pitching preparations, business strategy, business operations and product launches. Supporting cannabis as an innovative, alternative investment, Poseidon Asset Management operates a portfolio of more than 27 cannabis-based companies. Ultimately, Paxhia aims to raise a venture capital fund.

12. Tsion “Sunshine” Lencho, Amber Senter, Nina Parks, Andrea Unsworth and Isamarie Perez
Founders, Supernova Women

Supernova Women aims to empower women of color to plant a stake within the cannabis economy. Fostering a nurturing community and workshops, the organization provides educational resources and the tools to succeed within the industry in a safe environment. Through a partnership with Clean Slate California, a re-entry program in Fresno County, Supernova Women also provides advocacy and education for ex-offenders.

13. Dr. Chanda Macias
Owner, National Holistic Healing Center Medical Marijuana Dispensary

Dr. Chanda Macias owns the number one medicinal marijuana dispensary in Washington D.C., National Holistic Healing Center. Dr. Macias supports her treatment methodology with a scientific background as a biomedical research scientist. She works to provide alternative allopathic medicine to people suffering from debilitating medical conditions.

14. Lynne Lyman
California State Director, The Drug Policy Alliance

Lynne Lyman has worked as the California state director for the Drug Policy Alliance since 2012. Using her experience that includes working with government and civil rights organizations in California and Massachusetts, Lyman manages statewide work and advocacy to create an inclusive cannabis community that also represents people who supported the weed industry before it was legalized.

15. Jessica Velazquez
Managing partner & CEO, Indiva Advisors

Managing partner & CEO of Indiva Advisors, Jessica Velazquez is committed to providing accounting, tax and advisory solutions to cannabis businesses, helping business owners to protect their interests. Given the shortage of financial guidance in the cannabis industry, Indiva Advisors steps in to fill urgent needs in turbulent times.

16. Jane West
CEO, Jane West

Called the “Martha Stewart of pot,” Jane West is widely known for her lifestyle brand of accessories and home goods that encourage women to experience cannabis. Through a growing online presence, West serves as the voice for communities that stand to benefit from the medicinal and economic benefits of cannabis.

17. Jaime Lewis
Owner and founder, Mountain Medicine

Chef Jaime Lewis loves to create cannabis-infused edibles. Her Colorado dispensary, Mountain Medicine, supports local farmers in creating flavorful sweet and savory products using high-quality ingredients. Lewis avidly advocates on the medicinal properties of cannabis, considering them the safest way to medicate.

18. Mary Jane Gibson
Culture Editor, High Times

Mary Jane Gibson has been on the High Times editorial team since 2007. Now covering culture, entertainment and trends, Gibson believes the cannabis industry can benefit from listening to people who actually smoke weed, rather those with no connection to it who are often simply trying to turn a profit.

19. Amy Poinsett
Cofounder, MJ Freeway Business Solutions

Amy Poinsett has provided software to cannabis businesses since she cofounded MJ Freeway Business Solutions in 2010. Her software tracks inventory for growers and provides tools for growing legal cannabis businesses and governments to regulate the industry. A true believer in the future of female, she has experienced firsthand a closing of the gender gap within the cannabis industry. Backed by a firm that’s experienced a 100% growth in revenue each year and is today 56 employees strong, Amy continues to thrive in the male-dominated fields of cannabis and tech.

20. Cindy Pinzon and Leone Posod
Founders, Treat Yourself

With a keen interest in health and wellness, best friends Cindy Pinzon and Leone Posod cofounded Treat Yourself, a company that specializes in female-friendly cannabis products. Noticing a lack of healthy edibles, they created a brand that fuses their passion for health and fervor for food. Treat Yourself provides delicious, guilt-free treats that Pinzon and Posod hope will encourage women to speak freely about their cannabis use.

21. Noa Kahner
Founder, Kahner Global

For more than three years, Noa Kahner has been helping cannabis businesses get the funds they need to get off the ground and thrive. Her company, Kahner Global, hosts Cannabis Private Investment Summits in cities across the US and Canada. Here, investors, hedge funds, high-net-worth individuals and family offices have an opportunity to connect with entrepreneurs. Cannabis businesses often have trouble getting financing, so these conferences are vital to the industry.

22. Susan Bunce
President, cofounder and owner, DB Labs

In 2014, Susan Bunce noticed that although medical cannabis was legal in Nevada, there wasn’t any way to make sure sure consumers were getting a safe product. So, she cofounded DB Labs, the first cannabis testing lab certified by the state.

DB labs tests cannabis products for more than 60 contaminants, including arsenic and pesticides, to ensure the product you buy meets high standards.

23. Wendy Robbins & Karen Paull
Cofounders, Creators and Producers, The Marijuana Show

Wendy Robbins and Karen Paull set out to help guide entrepreneurs to success when they created “The Marijuana Show” in 2014. What started as a journey to find the next marijuana millionaires had soon grown into a critically acclaimed television show. Robbins and Paull’s influence on The Marijuana Show earned the two the distinction as 50 most important Women in the Cannabis Industry. The two continue to use their show to teach, train and inspire those looking for success in this up-and-coming industry.