These days, when many people think of the cannabis industry, they think of a multi-billion-dollar industry dominated by large corporations, brands with sophisticated aesthetics, and entertainment moguls looking to jump on the green rush. But for 40,000 people across the United States, being involved with a cannabis business has led to prison sentences.
I was one of the entrepreneurs lucky enough to enter the cannabis industry at the start of the green rush. From the beginning, I was often one of the only women in the room, whether the meeting was about everyday business practices or government policies. The disparity was even more pronounced at industry conferences where I was one of only a few female executives in a sea of male entrepreneurs. Female leaders are still widely underrepresented in many mainstream industries, and I believe it is time to challenge this archaic precedent within the cannabis space.