We are all about the women here at CannaCurious. It’s only fitting that for Women’s History Month, we celebrate women-owned cannabis brands that are making their mark in the industry.
Check out these amazing women-owned brands and hear from their founders.
Miss Grass
Founded by Kate Miller and Anna Duckworth, Miss Grass is a brand focused on education, advocacy, and providing quality products to their community. Launched in January 2018, they focused on building their community. Then, they launched insight-driven products. Their products are currently available in New Jersey, New York, Illinois, Massachusetts, California, and Arizona.
How do you ensure that your products cater to the specific needs and preferences of female consumers?
We’re part of the community of consumers we cater to. Given that, we’re uniquely positioned to ensure everything we do—from the content we create to the products we offer—serves the needs of our community.
Can you highlight any upcoming initiatives or projects your brand is working on?
We’ve been listening to our community since day one of Miss Grass. They’ve informed everything we do. We’ve gotten incredible feedback and love for our Miss Grass Minis – our terp-forward mini joint packs. You’ll soon see more product offerings to serve the needs and desires of our community.
Black Buddha Cannabis
Black Buddha Cannabis is a brand created by Roz McCarthy who is also the founder of the nonprofit, Minorities for Medical Marijuana. Its mission is focused on people, plant, planet, and purpose. The company creates cannabis products that positively impact the environment, community, and society as a whole. Black Buddha Cannabis can be found in Massachusetts, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.
Why do you think women, in particular, should consider a career in cannabis?
Women possess a unique blend of creativity, resilience, and determination that makes them exceptionally well-suited for navigating the challenges of the cannabis industry. One of the most compelling reasons for women to enter the cannabis space is their innate ability to create inclusive environments where everyone feels heard and validated. As the industry continues to evolve, it’s crucial to have diverse perspectives at the table. Women bring a wealth of experiences and insights that can help shape a more equitable and compassionate cannabis landscape.
If you could sum up your cannabis journey in 3 words, what would they be?
Empowerment. Advocacy. Growth
Goddess Growers
Goddess Growers is a cannabis edibles company founded by Phoebe DePree. Crafted with a team of scientists, the brand’s precisely-dosed product line incorporates THC, CBD, THCV, and its exclusive Mother Elixir™, a proprietary blend of terpenes and flavonoids. The result is a full spectrum, fast-acting edible designed with the explicit intention of providing stress-relief effects for a smooth and consistent high.
What inspired you to start your own cannabis brand, and what unique perspective do you bring as a woman in the industry?
It was really a eureka moment when I realized I didn’t actually need a license to do what I wanted to do – bring to market a carefully formulated, branded edible that helps consumers on their journey to calm. Strengthening industries requires diverse representation, encompassing various facets such as gender, race, ethnicity, LGTBQIA + identity, religion to name a few. Economic & regional diversity and work experience are important too. As a woman, I represent a group that is over half of cannabis consumers – that statistic, and my perspective becomes even more powerful when you consider me as a woman cannabis purchaser. I not only make purchase decisions for myself but for my husband and my aging parents as well. If I like a product, I tell all my friends about it. I think the unique perspective of each human is so important; being a female cannabis purchaser is mine. We can ultimately create a more inclusive and robust industry by representing a variety of perspectives.
How might the cannabis industry do a better job of being more inclusive of women and their needs?
I think community engagement and advocacy are big ones. Engaging with women’s organizations and local advocacy groups to address social and policy issues affecting women in the cannabis industry, such as access to healthcare, parental rights, and criminal justice reform, can help create a more equitable, not to mention supportive, environment.
Shake Brands Corp.
Shake Brands Corp. is a woman-owned branding house founded by Julie Brents, Brittany Phillips, Antigone “Tig” Davoulas, and Syrona Scott. They are Cannabis by Women™ — Southern-based cannabis processors focusing on licensing, product manufacturing, and wholesale distribution in the medical cannabis and industrial hemp markets. Their goal is to provide a canopy of collaboration among women’s voices in the industry.
Why do you think women, in particular, should consider a career in cannabis?
As we all know, the cannabis industry is not for the faint of heart. Women are more than simply underrepresented. In many markets, there are no products made with women in mind. Shake Brands seeks to change the narrative and bring the message of inclusivity through Cannabis by WomenTM to the masses.
Can you highlight any upcoming initiatives or projects your brand is working on?
We are crossing state lines through licensing deals. Contact us if you are interested in expanding your product line with Shake.
If you could sum up your cannabis journey in 3 words, what would they be?
SHAKE. IT. UP.
Gal Pals Minis
Founded by Sarah O’Leary, Gal Pals Minis is a brand designed for the female cannabis experience. Their goal is to give women – especially those who have never experienced cannabis – permission to try and enjoy it.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced as a woman entrepreneur in the cannabis industry, and how you overcame them?
Gender bias is the largest challenge we face. If the majority of the consumer market consisted of unicorns, I would put my focus on unicorns. In the case of legal cannabis, the majority of our shoppers are women. When we get past gender bias, we will sell more products and increase our revenues.
How do you ensure that your products cater to the specific needs and preferences of female consumers?
As we developed the Gal Pals brand, we polled a private on-line group of over 100 women. We also engaged female consumers, budtenders, and managers at every step of our process via in-person engagements to ensure we were delivering on the wants, needs, and desires of women. Female consumers told us they wanted “giggle weed,” and we have done our best to deliver an ultra clean, enjoyable experience to them.
What advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs looking to enter the cannabis industry?
Be tenacious! Be unstoppable! Be relentless! Live in the “yes”, and success will follow! Surround yourself with proactive, dynamic women who also want to put a dent in the universe.
Hudson Cannabis
What is your brand? Tell us a little about it.
Hudson Cannabis is a family-founded, women-led (by founders Freya and Melany Dobson) and employee-owned cannabis company in New York. They grow heritage seeds in organic living soil, utilizing the full powers of the sun and moon for a naturally optimal experience.
Can you tell us about any challenges you faced as a woman entrepreneur in the cannabis industry, and how you overcame them?
Often I feel not taken seriously, but I remember that I am not here for anybody or anything, I am here on behalf of the plant. I am here to give a voice to an earth that is aching and a medicine that can support in healing.
How do you ensure that your products cater to the specific needs and preferences of female consumers?
We are inclusive in our branding and messaging.
If you could sum up your cannabis journey in 3 words, what would they be?
Fulfilling. Exhausting. Whole.
Hear about these founders at FlowerHire.com
