In recent decades, demand for equitable work environments has skyrocketed. Included in this is the demand for female representation on par with that of their male counterparts. Our Exclusive dispensary is honored to see the cannabis industry as a whole paving the way toward gender parity.
Even in the legal industry’s early days, meeting women in cannabis wasn’t uncommon. A 2019 study saw women dominating close to 37% of executive-level roles within the cannabis industry. It’s not parity, but it’s trending upward at a decent clip. This is also much higher than the national average of women in executive-level positions across the workforce as a whole, which sits at an abysmal 21%.
International Womens’ Day is around the corner and Womens’ History Month is upon us. We want to honor both by spotlighting women in cannabis and women that have positively impacted the cannabis industry. Let’s dive into our guide to highlight some women in the cannabis industry who we think you ought to know.
Cassandra Farrington
Co-Founder and Board Chair
To be more precise, Cassandra is the co-founder and Board Chair of Marijuana Business Daily and MJBizCon. These are two incredibly well-known names in the cannabis industry.
Founded in 2012, many agree MJBizCon helped pave the way for the industry we have today. At a time when the market was finally starting to spark, Farrington and her partner, Anne Holland, jumped straight in.
These women in cannabis continue to inspire and educate others with their conference series. Pre-COVID, their series brought record numbers of cannabis professionals together from across the nation.
Olivia Alexander
Founder and CEO
Another absolute boss in the cannabis industry is Olivia Alexander, AKA the founder and CEO of Kush Queen. An infamous beauty and wellness brand, Kush Queen’s lines of CBD-only and THC-infused products are a hit. The brand’s since branched out into other cannabinoids, too, including CBG and CBN.
Olivia is also the founder of the cannabis content hub The Budd and the cannabis accessory brand, The Crystal Cult. Talk about a powerhouse! Now the proud CEO of multi-million-dollar brands, we’re inspired to see women like her in cannabis.
Kristi Knoblich Palmer
Co-Founder
Another co-founder, you’ll likely recognize the brand name Palmer helped co-found: Kiva Confections. She entered the marketplace at a time when the edible space still left much to be desired. Branding was lackluster, dosing was inaccurate, and edibles, as a category, suffered as a result. Then, Kiva’s products provided a true culinary difference.
What’s even more impressive? Now, Palmer’s Kiva products are home across six different states at more than 550 different dispensaries. Their best-selling, cannabis-infused chocolate is none other than Kiva’s Blueberry Terra bites. Yumm.
Kate Stem & Katie Black
Co-Founders
Finally, we can’t help but mention Peak Extracts: a women-owned, Oregon-based, cannabis extract business. Katie Stem and Kate Black inspire us as the co-founders, and CEO and COO, respectively, of the Peak operation.
Their couverture chocolates are single-strain (for consistency), vegan, and gluten-free. They’re also incredibly delicious, on top of being powerfully potent. It’s no wonder Peak Extracts is one of the highest-selling brands in Oregon with Stem and Black leading the charge.
Final Thoughts
Women in cannabis are the future of the cannabis industry. We’re happy we could mention a handful of the many leaders that we honor during Womens’ History Month and International Womens’ Day. Every day, women in cannabis are leading by doing, especially in this potent market.
Want to know which women-led brands we have in stock? Reach out or stop by! Our experts would love to tell you about the products we’re digging right now.
At Exclusive, we offer premium cannabis items sourced in-house and from a range of local growers and product manufacturers. Our extensive menu includes pre-rolls, concentrates, cartridges, edible products, and much more. Check out our menu or download our app to place your order today.
