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I have been fortunate enough to have either featured one of these ladies at an event or am lucky enough to call them my friend…. or if I am super blessed, both! Please take a minute to show some love to the amazing women of cannabis. I would like to say thank you to each and every woman on this list – and so many more. These bios have been gathered over the years and if this is you and you need an update to the bio please email it to me and I will update this post! The women are listed in descending alphabetical order. Love you all queens!
Harvest Honey’s Shero’s of Cannabis List 2021
Xenia Kachur leads Corporate Development at one of the fastest-growing cannabis retailers on the west coast, Have a Heart. Leveraging her background in academic research, medical device startups, and big tech, Kachur jumped head first into the cannabis industry in 2016, running several manufacturing operations in Western Washington. In fall 2017, Kachur was recruited to lead the national expansion of the Seattle retail brand, Have a Heart. In just 18 months, the company went from 5 retail locations in Washington State to 11 locations across 5 states, with 7 more stores currently under development. Kachur received her M.S. in Biomedical Engineering and Materials Science Engineering from the University of Arizona, sits on the Boards of several small businesses, and enjoys sunset hikes with her two big pups.
Whitney Beaty – Inspired by a lack of stylish, safe cannabis storage systems and a disdain for storing medicine in a shoebox, Apothecarry Brands CEO Whitney Beatty is a entertainment industry executive turned cannabis storage designer. Her company was selected for the first cohort of Canopy San Diego cannabis business accelerator, won the ArcView Groups $50k pitch prize and was selected as Pipeline LA portfolio company. Apothecary closed her seed round in 2017 and has been featured in Forbes, Inc, Entrepreneur and the New York Times. Whitney is also a verified social equity applicant in LA and a board member of Supernova Women, an organization formed by and for Women of Color with the goal of utilizing our diverse talents to empower our people to become self sufficient shareholders in the evolving cannabis economy.
Wanda James – Wanda James is the co-founder and CEO of Simply Pure Dispensary and is a leading advocate in the cannabis industry. In 2009, she and her husband, Scott Durrah, became the first African Americans, legally licensed, to own a dispensary in the country. She is also the founder and President of the Cannabis Global Initiative (CGI), a consulting firm that specializes in diversity development, regulatory framework and innovative solutions through strategic alliances and business development surrounding the legalization of cannabis. Wanda’s positioning on both the political stage and on cannabis reform has led to her being named one of the most influential people in cannabis by a number of media outlets. Her political involvements have included Jared Polis for Congress in Colorado’s CD2 and Lt. Colonel Jay Fawcett for Congress in Colorado’s CD5. In 2008, Ms. James was appointed to President Obama’s National Finance Committee and became one of the largest bundlers of donations for President Barack Obama in Colorado. In 2018, Ms. James was appointed to Colorado Governor Jared Polis’ Transition Team and currently serves as an advisor to the Governor.
Veronica Perez – Veronica Perez has a unique skill set and breadth of experience, with over 17 years in the Los Angeles political, business and legal sectors. She has fostered substantive public and private sector relationships and possesses a heightened understanding of the challenges facing regulated industries. Prior to founding Veronica Perez & Associates, Veronica led the West Coast Public Policy and Regulation practice group as a Partner at international law firm Holland & Knight. While at H&K, Veronica represented Fortune 500 companies, California corporations and trade associations on a variety of lobbying and legal matters, including legislative and government counsel, policy advocacy, land use, development and public contracting (at agencies including Los Angeles World Airports, Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, City of Los Angeles Department of Public Works and the Los Angeles Community College District). Veronica joined Holland & Knight from the Central City Association, a leading business advocacy organization representing 450 corporations, trade associations and nonprofits. She led CCA’s Legislative and Legal Affairs Department, where she worked closely with Los Angeles City, County and State decision makers. While at CCA, she successfully advanced the organization’s public policy agenda on a broad range of issues, including housing; transportation; labor; sign regulations; rent control and tenant relocation; grocery, restaurant and retail; municipal lobbying regulations; telecommunications; banking; entertainment; and hospital issues. Prior to CCA, Veronica served in the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office as the Managing City Attorney of the American Dream Program, a strategic partnering of the public and private sectors to facilitate development of vacant nuisance properties. She launched the program to six projects in development, with 45 units of affordable and market-rate housing and live/work space in underserved communities throughout Los Angeles. Previously, Veronica practiced litigation at two international law firms in Los Angeles, where she gained broad-based experience in complex commercial matters in both state and federal courts. Named a “Rising Star” by Southern California Super Lawyers Magazine, Veronica received her B.A. from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and her J.D. from Columbia University Law School. While at law school, she was named a Harlan Fiske Stone Scholar.
Valentina V – Valentina is Italy’s most active cannabis advocate & reform seeker! High Times 50 women to watch 2019/2020. She is a digital creator with a passion for storytelling!
Tyla Salley is a young entrepreneur entering the cannabis industry as the CEO of her own cannabis brand, Deuces 22. Her brand Deuces 22 features three premium flower pre-rolled joints, vape cartridges and a soon to come CBD line. Tyla has used her experience working in entertainment and influencer marketing with Adidas to market and push her brand to a national level.
Tracy Ryan is the Founder of CannaKids, a California based medical cannabis company, and the 501c3 http://www.SavingSophie.org. After her infant daughter’s low grade brain tumor diagnosis in 2013, Tracy dedicated her life to helping patients who suffer from life altering ailments, with a focus on children. Having witnessed years of unheard of success in tens of thousands of patients suffering from cancer, and many other ailments and diseases, she is now supporting pre-clinical human & humanized mouse model trials led by Dr. Anahid Jewett.
After two years of research on Tracy’s daughter Sophie, and 17 of her CannaKids patients using her line of oils, Tracy and Dr. Jewett have made groundbreaking cancer discoveries, and will be publishing these findings to the medical journals early this year. It’s her mission to not only end the suffering of those inflicted by cancer, but also develop a cure for her daughter that millions could benefit from.
Toni Forge – For over 26 years, she has worked as a litigator, managing attorney, state mediator and associate general counsel. Toni co-founded 4LeafConsulting in 2016. 4 Leaf Consulting is a California cannabis licensing and compliance consulting firm dedicated to offering clients a practical approach to establishing their cannabusinesses. 4 Leaf Consulting specializes in local and state licensing, interpreting cannabis regulations, strategic partnerships with industry professionals, contract negotiation and drafting and operational business strategies. Toni also serves in an “Of Counsel” role for two law firms in Los Angeles.
Tiffany Bowden – Entrepreneur, Business Consultant and Corporate Diversity Expert, Tiffany Bowden is the founding President and Co-Founder of the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA) and Co-Owner of Comfy Tree Enterprises. The MCBA is the first non-profit dedicated to the needs of minorities in the cannabis industry. Comfy Tree Enterprises provides business consultation to cannabis enthusiasts, start-up’s and established companies. Additionally she has a budding life coaching and wellness coaching practice, and is writing a book on how she treated her spinal fracture with cannabis, she helps seniors discover cannabis remedies, she also does work at the intersection of consciousness and cannabis. She is completing her dissertation focusing on cannabis and have discovered research suppression by the government since the 40’s. THC would have been discovered in the 40’s otherwise. She advocate for academic freedoms in effort to advance medical research and help advance wellness practitioners, doctors, and other medically inclined professionals via application assistance for licensure. Her Tedx Talk “Beware of Balloons” a comedic talk on cannabis, wellness and safety was voted into the top 5 of the TED People’s Choice Awards. Honing her entrepreneurial savvy in the corporate arena, Ms. Bowden built a solid reputation as a go-to expert in investor building, grant writing and contract bidding. During her corporate tenure, Ms. Bowden brought in profits of over 500 Million dollars.
The Dank Duchess is an international Hashish Consultant, Writer, and Cannabis Cultivator using all available media to achieve her mission to help spread cannabis and psychedelic wellness awareness globally. With 17 years of cultivation experience to her credit, and trained by Hash Master Frenchy Cannoli, she has dedicated the last 6 years to educating hundreds of thousands of people via print, film, and social media about high quality cannabis and Hashish. Currently serving as the Managing Editor of Skunk Magazine, dozens of her hash stories and hash tutorials have appeared in Weed World UK, Weed World Italia, Cannabis Now, and in Ed Rosenthal’s books. Duchess has also made several media appearances including Seasons 1 and 3 of VICELAND’s Bong Appetit. Duchess is a contractor, traveling to small farms and large cultivation facilities to teach hash making and increase efficiency. She is a respected public speaker; featured at conferences including Spirit Plant Medicine Conference, including Spirit Plant Medicine Conference, Boston Freedom Rally, Outside Lands, and the Emerald Cup. Known both for her discriminating palate and Hashish knowledge, Duchess has served as an esteemed judge for cannabis and Hashish competitions around the world. Cannabis is essential to her existence and with her dedication to an All Weed Everything lifestyle she has found a way to integrate it completely into her life; hence her motto: “Cannabis flower fuels my power and my niche is Hashish.”
Taylor Bush – (@tayykushh) is the founder and producer for High Times’ 420 Live, a daily interview series celebrating cannabis and those people who have built an industry around it. She also works with an array of cannabis clients for digital and social media advertising. Previously she worked with professional speaking clients at top entertainment agency CAA. Taylor is passionate about progressing women in the cannabis space and entertainment industry overall.
Susan Soares, a grandmother and cannabis rights activist, has always had a green thumb. But her botanic aspirations were not always focused on marijuana, a plant that dismantled and rebuilt her life after she turned to it to cure two years of injury-induced migraines. At age 33, Soares was a single mother, a faithful member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a staunch anti-drug advocate, when her pain pushed her to cannabis. Now, after being shunned from her community and with decades as a cannabis advocate, Soares has combined her love of gardening and her polarizing experiences with cannabis into a new children’s book, “What’s Growing in Grandma’s Garden”. The book, illustrated by Swiss artist Gustav Davies, tells the story of a boy who loves to work with his grandma in her garden. One of grandma’s favorite plants is cannabis. Together they tend to the garden as grandma explains why he can’t touch or use the plant until he’s grown up. The story is based on her life, Soares explained as she showed off the pages of her book. As parents, her children are very open with her grandkids about cannabis, so much so, that the kids call the plants “grandma’s medicine,” Soares shared with a grin.
Stephanie Wilson is co-founder and editor in chief of Sensi Media, where she oversees the brand’s magazine division. The woman behind Sensi’s creative vision and award-winning editorial approach, Stephanie has spearheaded the brand’s rapid growth from one Denver/Boulder edition in April 2016 to 15 in April 2020. In the four years between, Stephanie has been leading a team that’s published 253 original local editions of Sensi magazine for markets coast to coast. She also remains the editorial head of the brand’s flagship Denver/Boulder edition, which grew by more than 300% since launch under her guidance. Sensi magazine was named Publication of the Year in 2017, 2018, and 2019 by the Cannabis Business Awards. Prior to Sensi, Stephanie was the launch editorial director for Miami Beach-based Royal Media Partners, where she created an integrated media program in partnership with a billion-dollar travel brand, Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. The highlight of this role for Steph: interviewing Oprah for the cover feature of one of her magazines. Before that role, Stephanie was editorial director of Haute Living, a series of luxury lifestyle magazines with bimonthly editions in Miami, New York, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. The high-profile role earned her a spot on the Apex Society’s ranking of Miami’s Power 30 Under 30 in 2010. Stephanie began her career with Dining Out Miami in 2003, after earning her degree in journalism from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She’s been obsessed with magazines since her mom got her a subscription to Sassy in 1992.
Stacey Hyde is a Colorado native with a background in science that has evolved her career through the development of regulated cannabis industry. With almost a decade of experience in retail, cultivation and manufacturing Stacey specializes in creating solid process flow for businesses data and logistics and has been a part of opening 5 new retail cannabis dispensaries.
Sheila Gibson – Sheila Gibson is the founder of Aura IP Law. She started her career in Intellectual Property (IP) at a nationally recognized IP boutique and practiced at several top-tier law firms over her first 16 years as an attorney. She has worked with clients in many different industries, such as biotech, medical device, agriculture, food packaging, pharmaceutical, green technology, mechanical, sports innovation, beverages, and more. Sheila has counseled clients from the research and development stage to startups to small- and medium-sized businesses to large, publicly traded companies. She has advised her clients in all aspects of IP, including patents, trademarks, copyrights, branding, licensing, IP transactions, IP agreements, opinion work, due diligence, and product launch. Having always been passionate about the treatment of diseases but feeling drawn toward a career in business she worked in the biotech industry prior to attending law school and pursuing a career in IP. Thus, she brings a unique combination of strong science and IP experience with a solid understanding of her clients’ business needs. Rather than tackling her clients’ IP objectives in a vacuum, she uses her clients’ business objectives and considerations to guide her IP strategy and recommendations in order to achieve her clients’ goals. In addition, having received exposure to all aspects of intellectual property including some of the most complex prosecution, litigation, and transnational issues at her prior law firms, she learned to approach each matter with big-picture thinking that includes an eye toward global strategy and avoiding possible future pitfalls and/or litigation. Thus, her approach to her clients’ matters is multi-faceted with each facet of every legal issue receiving her careful attention and scrutiny. Now free from the constraints of Big Law, she is able use her unique skill set and approach to provide more efficient and tailored legal services for her clients.
Sarah Evans is co-founder and VP of Feelgood Distribution and Feelgood Sales Group. With no investors, hand-outs or short-cuts, Sarah helped build these companies from the ground up. From setting up these companies from a legal, financial and operational perspective to working the field, opening and servicing dozens of dispensary accounts, working with brands, hiring staff, dealing with ongoing changes in regulations in a volatile industry, her journey and experience are as real as it gets.
Propane Jane is the founder of WelCompliant, an education-centric, cannabinoid processing solutions company. Based in Colorado, she entered the cultivation and extraction space during the height of the recreational movement in 2015. Jane earned the moniker “Propane Jane” after her promotion of propane extraction as a superior method was deemed controversial by traditional butane extractors. With a passion for extracts and safety, Jane has trained clients for certification on equipment use, methods and best practices in Colorado, Oregon and California. Combining her experience in commercial cultivation with various methods of extraction, Jane’s current focus is on cannabis/hemp education and advocacy with the mantra: “Grown with Love, Hashed with Pane”. Additionally, she is actively researching new processing methods and equipment to remain adaptive, offering a wider range of experience for clients. Jane recently joined the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce for their series, “Cultivating Success”, where she will teach a dedicated class on extractions. She is in the process of opening a licensed manufacturing lab on the east coast.
Peachie Wimbush-Polk was born and raised in Pittsburgh’s Historic Hill District in 1964, the same year that the Civil Rights Act was signed into law. Her first memory of community, was the National Guard occupation of her neighborhood following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in April 1968. Most baby boomers can tell you where they were when JFK was killed. Peachie was baking in her Mom’s belly. She was born into a revolution, and it continues to inform who she is today. Peachie is a US Air Force veteran, author, speaker, wife, teacher, counselor, closet comedian, self sufficiency expect, straight shooter, fairy godmother , Mommy to her two children and OG aka elder to her grandson, Sebastian and the 25 + grandchildren that she shares with her husband, Richard. Retired from the Commonwealth of PA, Peachie has found over her 33 year career that every time she helps someone get what they need, the collateral benefit is she gets to realize her wildest dreams.Service is her magical superpower. She mentors at risk girls, does work to benefit minority mothers and domestic abuse survivors and of course supports veteran causes such as The Warrior Rocks Concert Series. She’s most proud of the work she gets to do with DoWork.org to help eradicate poverty through dignified jobs in earthquake ravaged Haiti because Peachie believes we have an obligation to leave the world and each space we inhabit better than we found it.
Pamela Epstein is the Founder of Green Wise Companies – Green Wise Legal & Green Wise Consulting, California’s premiere full-service cannabis consulting company and law firm, providing a range of legal, consulting, business development and application permitting services to every facet of the cannabis industry. Pamela’s diverse background, inclusive of legal, land use, and environmental work, places her in a unique position to lead and advise Green Wise clients and the cannabis community in general. Pamela has become known as a fearless advocate for local cannabis businesses along the supply chain guiding them through the ever-changing legal and regulatory landscape. Recognized as an expert in her field, Pamela serves as a featured speaker, providing energetic and compelling commentary focused on topics such as land use and zoning, regulatory compliance and environmental issues. Pamela’s current mission is to advance the importance of supply chain agreements.
Pam Chotiswatdi, MPH As cannabis regulations came to fruition in 2016, Pam dove into cannabis research while completing a Master Degree in Public Health. Looking for solutions to provide needed cannabis education at the public level, she found a position in the cannabis space as an Executive Administrator in the industry and Director of Education at the Long Beach Collective Association. In this capacity, Pam collaborates with community leaders and city officials to provide cannabis education for the public at large while helping to shape fair business policy, safe access, and public safety. Pam is co-founder and CEO of Peer Education Community Center, a budding non-profit focused on community peer-led education, peer support, and navigation. Bringing skills from a decade as an Editor/English tutor, seven-years as a Medical Assistant, and non-profit work with the senior community, Pam’s expertise in cannabis education is found specifically in cannabis history, medical access, responsible consumption, and breaking stigma with science-based information.
Paige Cecchi has 6+ years of experience in the cannabis industry with a background in investing, building brands, raising capital, developing products and business models, and implementing go-to-market strategies. Paige’s mission to work with entrepreneurs and leaders across the sector led to her early involvement at Women Grow, building the company into a nationally recognized brand. Her diverse skill set has supported a wide range of consulting roles that vary from treating animals with cannabis and CBD to inventing a consumption device inspired by a tube of mascara. Driven by a desire to create products that didn’t exist (yet), Paige launched the female-focused lifestyle brand Stigma & Style with her sister and lifelong friend. Paige is also currently consulting with TerrAscend, a Canadian LP and U.S. MSO, on M&A and business development initiatives.
Ophelia Chong – StockPot Images is the first stock-photo agency to specialize exclusively in cannabis-related imagery. We feature rights-managed and royalty-free photography, illustration, and video. Our selection reaches far beyond the small number of stereotypical images currently offered by major stock agencies and refocuses on aesthetic, content, and feeling.
Nicole Laggner focuses her practice on regulatory compliance and intellectual property transactions, as well as local and state permitting and licensing. She assists clients with business formation and transactional matters, including business to business contracts. She has extensive experience advising and representing cannabis clients at every stage of their businesses. Nicole thrives on helping client achieve their goals and become leaders in this emerging industry.
Murphy Murri is a cannabis extraction expert with over ten years of experience in the industry, specializing in LPG solvents. Murphy has owned and operated multiple medical and recreational licenses, and continue to deliver high end concentrates via Sano Gardens in Colorado as well as through license partners across the United States. Murphy hosts educational seminars and hands-on equipment operator training courses in Denver, Colorado.
Ms Kindness – With both a given name and a calling, Mskindness B. has remained committed to a life of service and philanthropy. Following a long, successful career in large-scale fundraising and earning her Masters degree in Education, Ms Kindness became a high-school math teacher. Only to soon discover that life had other plans for her skills, when a bad slip and fall during her second pregnancy led her down a path toward Cannabis for healing.
This bold Mom officially entered the Cannabis space in 2015 when she founded Club Kindness, a non-profit organization that supports patients, brands and dispensaries with holistic cannabis education and outreach programming. In 2016, she developed Elixirs by Kindness, a CBD rich apothecary line geared toward the mature consumer. She is the host of Sneaking in Silence, a podcast about mindful Cannabis consumption, co-owner of the luxury CBD store, ECS, and the author of her upcoming children’s book, Our Very Special Garden; written to spark the Canna-conversation between kids and their parents.
Ms Kindness is an educator, wife, mother and all around hard-working lady; Who remains gracefully balanced through her daily meditation and mindfulness practice.
Moriah Barnhart – When Moriah Barnhart’s daughter was diagnosed with aggressive brain cancer in 2013 at the age of two, she began lobbying to end Prohibition. Barnhart is an author, a TEDx speaker, a contributor to The Politics of Marijuana by Colorado State University’s Dr. Tim McGettigan, and is regularly featured in media and documentaries worldwide. She co-founded CannaMoms (a first-of-its-kind non-profit dedicated to helping the families of children who benefit from cannabis medicines) in 2014, was a founding chair of Women Grow Tampa Bay in 2015, developed Dahlia’s Botanicals (one of the country’s first organic hemp tinctures) and became an advisor at St. Jude’s Family Centered Council in 2016, co-authored Florida’s first CME program for physicians and advised the formation of the YMCA’s first pediatric cancer survivorship program in 2017, was appointed to the Florida Department of Agriculture’s Hemp Advisory Committee in 2018, and co-founded High Heels (a hemp and cannabis company dedicated to women’s healing and self-care) in 2019. She will be holding Florida’s first cannabis retreats and opening Florida’s first cannabis consumption lounges in 2020. She works tirelessly to push research forward and on federal and statewide legislative initiatives, particularly in her home state of Florida.
Mila Janssen’s story is the tale of a mother, a businesswoman and a pioneer. It is about love, freedom and the fundamental questions of life: Who am I? Where do I belong? What happens after death? Mila smoked her first joint relatively late in life. She was already 20 years old and the mother of a daughter. It is not cannabis that is the theme of her life, but being on the move and being able to keep on moving. Mila was the first woman to win a High Times Cannabis Cup and is the owner and founder of Polinator Bags a cold water / ice extraction technology and the Author of “How I became the Hash Queen”
Michelle Reefer or Miss Rad Reefer, loves to lean in on being first and foremost, a Cannabis Cultivator with tons of passion for what she does. Navigating her way through the early industry in California, her and her partner were well known cultivating highly sought varieties of cannabis and she’s built a Brand well known for growing quality craft product, The Rad Reefer Company. With a background in photography Michelle has shared captivating photographs splashed with bright colors across social channels and has taught some of her craft through her platforms, becoming incredibly reputable the journey has opened up more opportunity than one could imagine, simply by documenting her journey through the highs and lows of the journey called entrepreneurship in the booming cannabis industry. She was voted Hightimes’ Women of Weed, Top 100 Women in High Places. Tending to crops as a gardener she finds the importance of caring for this sacred herb to be something shared with everyone.
Michelle Mabugat is an attorney at Manzuri Law, a boutique all-female firm in West Hollywood that represents some of California’s largest cannabis businesses alongside the start-ups that fuel the soul of the industry. Known as a strategic out-of-box thinker, Michelle has handled a wide variety of cannabis-related matters, ranging from criminal defense at both the state and federal level, to closing large, complex and innovative corporate transactions. Backed by 8 years of dedicated cannabis experience, Michelle regularly advises licensed operators, brands, ancillary businesses and investors on a variety of business and legal issues including corporate formation and governance, regulatory compliance, capital raising, M&A due diligence, IP transactions and licensing, business contracts, best business practices and defense. Last year, Michelle co-authored “Legal Weed: A Comprehensive Guide to California Cannabis Law & Regulation,” one of the first authoritative publications on California’s regulatory landscape.
Melissa Davis is a Colorado native with a focus on cannabis education. Melissa has worked in regulated cannabis for 6 years and as the former education director of one of the largest chains of dispensaries in the nation Melissa worked closely with educators and business owners to create a program to teach staff coming into a business or the cannabis market. Melissa now resides in Florida where she is bringing her focus on compliance and love for teaching to the south peninsula!
Melissa Burgstahler – In February 2019, Melissa Burgstahler was recruited to the nascent cannabis industry to help companies establish sales channels and operating standards. Since then, she has worked with over 40 brands, 21 distributors, and launched sales for several companies throughout Northern California grossing over 5 million dollars in sales revenue over the last two years. In March 2020, Melissa Burgstahler founded Dear Cannabis; an open source network of cannabis companies driving a global movement to produce compassion resources for patients in need. Melissa dedicates each day to cultivating strong partnerships that advocate, organize, and scale licensed compassion projects to serve communities in need. Beyond building and maintaining a compliant compassion product pipeline, Melissa is currently focused on expanding the Plug of the People program, a free road map for licensed Retailers to set up a compliant, MMJ gifting program throughout the state of California
Mary Carreon is an award winning journalist from SoCal who’s written about cannabis for the past 4 years. She’s landed stories in Forbes, Sensi Magazine, Kitchen Toke, and (the old) LA Weekly. But Mary got her start writing about herb, music, and the environment at OC Weekly, where she earned her reporting chops under old school journalists. From there, she became the News Editor at High Times Magazine and is now the Associate Editor at Merry Jane where she’s bringing truth to the people, one puff at a time.
Manndie Tingler is a recognized marketing and sales leader with 12+ years of Business Development and Operations experience. She currently serves as the Founder and Chief Revenue Officer at Khemia Manufacturing, a women owned and founded cannabis packaging company, and owner of Silver Leaf, LLC, a cannabis business development consulting company. Manndie also previously served as Director of Business Development at Papa & Barkley, and is currently working with brands such as Natura, Space Station, Humboldt’s Finest, Viv and Oak, and CannaRita. Manndie is a human rights advocate and cannabis lobbyist, meeting with California and National lawmakers to shape the future of cannabis. Manndie holds a Master’s of Science in Marriage, Family, and Child Counseling from CSU Sacramento, and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Minor in Non-Profit Business, from CSU Fresno. Prior to her career in cannabis she founded and ran a non-profit counseling agency in Roseville, CA, providing low cost or free mental health counseling services to children and families. She’s certainly found her stride sharing her love for the ‘Power of the Plant’.
Loren Brazel – Sales and Logistics for Ethos Seeds, one of the worlds most well known seed brands. With over 15 years experience in the regulated cannabis market from, retail, to manufacturing to cultivation…… Loren’s auto-bio “I wake up, get high and do weed stuff with my dogs”
Lindsey Kirk is the Founder and Chief Product Officer of Joiant, formerly Prism Lites, the first branded CBD preroll. Lindsey spent 4+ years in the cannabis space before launching Joiant. Over that 4-year period starting in 2014, Lindsey built out the SoCal brand ambassador program for KIVA, doubling both their in-store presence and overall consumer exposure and sales.
Lauren Noriega grew up in Victorville, California. The oldest of five in a family of law enforcement, Attorney Noriega always loved school and had an interest in the law. She received her undergraduate degree in health sciences with a certificate in gerontology from California State University, San Bernardino in 2012. Attorney Noriega spent one year as a full-time nutritionist for a supplement manufacturer before deciding to pursue her career in the legal field. Attorney Noriega received the Loyola Scholar Award and graduated from Loyola Law School, Los Angeles in 2016. While at Loyola Law School, she was heavily involved in Loyola Law School’s Project for the Innocent – a clinic where students work on cases of wrongful conviction. Attorney Noriega helped to exonerate a man who had been wrongfully imprisoned for 20 years. It is during this time that Attorney Noriega realized she wanted to pursue a career in criminal defense. Seeing how police and government misconduct can lead to wrongful convictions, Attorney Noriega set out to ensure the government is held accountable in all of her cases. While still in law school, Attorney Noriega landed a job at a criminal defense firm in West Covina, California. She worked at the firm as a law clerk until passing the California state bar on her first attempt. She worked as an associate with the firm until May of 2017. In May 2017, Attorney Noriega decided to open her own firm. In just under a year and a half, The Noriega Law Firm has built a reputation for aggressive criminal defense at every stage: from investigation to sentencing, and even post-conviction. Attorney Noriega handles many California wrongful conviction cases, and prides herself in developing close relationships with every client. She believes that developing a relationship with the client is the only way to properly advocate and tell the client’s story – a duty that many of today’s attorneys fail to prioritize. Attorney Noriega advertises primarily via social media, which allows her clients to peek inside her personal and professional life – building trust and rapport in a way that many attorneys are unable to emulate.
Laura Albers is a marketing + insights specialist leading consumer research and conscious events. She develops research initiatives for businesses ranging from Fortune 100 companies to well-funded startups. Today, Laura is applying her 10+ years as a corporate market researcher and brand strategist to help cannabis brands mitigate business risks and more powerfully connect to their audiences through proprietary methodologies and strategic advisement. She holds a Master’s degree in Marketing & Advertising Communications. Laura is a founder of Cannaboss Circle, a community who gather monthly to support one another and the collective advancement of womxn and feminine leadership in the cannabis industry. Cannaboss Circle offers a more profound way to network and personally connect with other cannabis business professionals. Laura’s goal is to elevate cannabis perceptions, normalize usage, and create business practices in harmony with this conscious plant. Favorite things to do with cannabis: research it, discuss it, share it, learn from it, teach others about it, connect to myself with it, connect to source, connect with you.
Kellie Carlton – After graduating UC Davis in 2011, Kellie Carlton began her work in social advocacy in Sacramento, California. As case manager for international human trafficking victims, she fought for immigration visa statuses, coordinated state health and social resources for clients, and lead educational workers’ rights campaigns across the state. Expanding on her work, she was voted in as the youngest board member of a regional non-profit benefiting disadvantaged youth. During her tenure as a board member, she drafted and implemented a local mentor program to foster leadership skills in at-risk youth through community-based volunteer projects. While sitting on the fundraising committee she independently raised over forty-thousand dollars through awarded grants and fundraising events. Following her passion in event coordination, she found herself as co-coordinator of the yearly “One Love One Heart Music Festival” in Sacramento. In addition to talent booking, sponsorship acquisition and on-site event management, she spearheaded the event’s traditional and digital marketing campaigns — growing attendance from the hundreds to several thousand over the course of a year. In 2017 she co-founded the photography business Dabs and Dialogue to provide professional commercial, editorial, and lifestyle work for the cannabis industry. In this capacity she works closely with cannabis brands to design and unify marketing collateral across their visual identity and sales campaigns. At the same time, she worked as a brand representative for Kushy Punch, where she was the leader in promotional sales for all of Northern California. Today, Kellie is partner and CMO of Dear Cannabis; a network of licensed companies collaborating on compassion projects to eliminate cannabis product costs for patients in need under CA SB-34. She dedicates each day to cultivating strong partnerships that advocate, organize, and scale licensed compassion projects to serve communities in need. Beyond building and maintaining a compliant compassion product pipeline, Kellie and her team are focused on expanding the Plug of the People program, a free roadmap for licensed retailers to set up a compliant, MMJ gifting program to help protect access for patients throughout the state of California.
Kate Scott is the Chief Operating Officer at Dr. Shu’s Pet Care. She earned a Bachelors of Science in Veterinary Medical Technology from Wilson University and is a Registered Veterinary Technician. Kate has worked in emergency and critical care medicine for over ten years, both in nursing and in management. Kate has an extensive background in veterinary medicine. She is dedicated to the well-being of animals and helping them and their owners access the most effective and responsible therapies available. Her passion is educating both the general public, and the veterinary community on how responsible cannabis therapy can safely and effectively benefit animals.
Karson Humiston is the Founder & CEO of Vangst, the cannabis industry’s recruiting platform. Since launching in 2016, Vangst has connected thousands of people with jobs at over leading cannabis businesses around the world. Karson was featured on the 2018 Forbes 30 under 30 list and Vangst was featured in Entrepreneur’s 100 Brilliant Companies of 2018. Prior to founding Vangst, Karson founded On Track Adventures, a student travel organization based out of St. Lawrence University. Since Humiston founded Vangst in 2016, the employment firm has played a role in filling thousands of positions in the marijuana industry through its Denver and Santa Monica, California, offices. Humiston has grown the company to 50 full-time employees and, in the process, earned a spot on Forbes magazine’s “30 Under 30” list for 2018. Thousands of companies seeking employees have turned to Vangst’s combination of direct hires, workers on demand, job board and career fairs.
Karin Clarke is certified Integrative Health and Cannabis Coach. She specializes in gut disorders, chronic pain and sleep issues. Lifestyle medicine in collaboration with traditional western medicine and the willingness of her clients is where she finds the most long – term results in health and wellness. Balance and homeostasis in the body is the goal…with that comes joy, peace, health and wellness! Karin worked as a licensed bodyworker for over 15 years while raising her son. During her years in corporate positions, she was an educator and public speaker on topics of compliance and sales training. She is active in raising awareness for Cannabis reform and overcoming the opioid epidemic by educating on alternative medicines. She lives in the Los Angeles and can be reached at KC@joyfulmindbody.com or visit her at her wellness center, Mosaic Wellness.
Joan Irvine brings two decades of online child protection management and policy development for high-risk top-level domains. She successfully spearheaded the international award-winning Restricted to Adults (RTA) filtering label. During her tenure at ASACP, she participated on several committees including the Financial Coalition Against Child Pornography and the Harvard Berkman Center Report on Online Safety. She headed advocacy and public affairs in the US, Australia and Europe for online youth safety. At IFFOR she facilitated a council of international experts that included Nadine Strossen, First Amendment Law Professor at New York Law School and prior President of ACLU; Bob Corn-Revere one of the counsels for the Child Online Protection Act; and Fred Cate, Director of the Indiana University Center for Applied Cybersecurity Research.
Jenn Doe is a multiple award winning grower and solventless extractor, mother, and Cannabis advocate. Jen is an innovator, a freedom fighter and soul that prooves “not all that wonder are lost”. As the first female in America to win a cannabis cup when she grew her own flower and washed it into hash she helps women around the world learn how to make non solvent cannabis hash.
Jeanette Affolter who goes by her first and last name on social media comes from the fitness industry as an expert and influencer with over 10 years of experience. Her passion for cannabis has grown over the years and huge key to her fit lifestyle so destigmatizing became an objective. From hosting her own podcast called “Fitness & Cannabis” to now an entrepreneur with a few cannabis centered businesses, “A sleek clothing line “#FITNESSCANNABIS,” a blog “Dream Enlightened,” a Luxury CBD line “Segovia Luxury CBD,” and a workout facility featuring a signature pre-workout cannabis strain for clients to smoke weed and workout “Elevated HIIT.” She’s created a movement to integrate cannabis with wellness, success, and serenity so that more people can experience it without the stigma and live better.
Jazmin Aguiar brings close to a decade’s worth of experience to the cannabis industries with a specific emphasis on regulation, advocacy, licensing, strategy, and social equity. A bilingual business development expert within the national Spanish-speaking markets, Jazmin used her experience as a Los Angeles native to bridge the gap between business owners and government officials within California and across the border. The Working Group and Roux Black, with Jazmin as president have found success and influence in cannabis licensing and social equity programs within the city and county of Los Angeles, San Francisco, Lynwood, Long Beach and Mexico. Awarded one of the first social equity licenses within the City of Los Angeles, Jazmin understands the challenges and obstacles facing the average applicant. She provides valuable expertise, consulting and support throughout the entire application process by helping empower, shape and streamline processes. Jazmin believes advocacy, education and regulation comprehension create solid platforms of success within cannabis equity development.
Jackee Stang is an executive, serial entrepreneur and founder of numerous pioneering cannabis and hemp brands, including: Pura Ohio, Delic Corp, Quarter, and Praze. Stang is also an advisor to the New York City-based Alchemist’s Kitchen and Bowery Cannabis Club. Stang, a self-made business executive, is a trailblazing member of the new guard of female cannabis entrepreneurs. A passionate advocate for the healing powers of marijuana, psychedelics, and the global legalization of plant based medicine, Stang is doing her part to rewrite the narrative and change the course of history. Spearheading a number of enterprising consumer cannabis brands and marijuana processing operators, Stang is the woman behind Quarter, the cool, colorful and Californian brand of affordable, on-the-go, THC-infused vaporizers and pre-rolls. She is also co-founder of the licensed, Ohio-based cannabis production company Pura Ohio. Recently, Jackee founded a new media platform Delic Corp, whose mission is to use a data driven approach to bring psychedelic culture firmly in the mainstream. Stang is also the Co-Founder of Praze, a large CBD manufacturer in Arizona, and is an advisor to Alchemist’s Kitchen, the Manhattan-based herbal remedy and botanical medicine store, including its international membership network Bowery Cannabis Club. Prior, Jackee served as the Vice President of content and programming for High Times Magazine, the leading publishing authority in the cannabis industry. Stang, the only female senior executive during her tenure, successfully led the magazine’s evolution by broadening its relevance to women by initiating change at a political and consumer-level. In 2018, Stang established the High Times Women’s Council, to highlight and celebrate the rise of female cannabis entrepreneurs from the perspective of the longest standing media voice in cannabis. Raised in Southern Texas, Stang graduated with a B.A. in Art History from the University of Houston, before being appointed Development Director of the Christus Foundation for Healthcare, successfully raising $3 million for non-profit organizations that support the medically-underserved. Shortly after, Stang joined global Health and Nutrition giant, Bulletproof Nutrition, as one of the first employees for the brand that invented biohacking and the butter-in-your-coffee craze, as a producer where she is credited for her significant creative contributions in taking Bulletproof Radio to becoming the #1 ranking podcast. She remains a stakeholder to this day.
GinaJay or @GInaJay.Info is a Cannabis Activist That Refuses To Be Defined In The Generational Stigma Of the healing herb. She Has Committed Her Career To What To Many See As Taboo In Business. GinaJay Is A Crew Member Of Slink Johnson “SmokeYoursCrew,” Invested In “Smoking Sisters Society,” former Host On “The Rollup Show” GM Of “IamHipHoptv,” & CEO Of GinaJay.Info. She Has Blessed Many Stages From Cannabis Festivals To Concerts & Panels. GinaJay Understands The Healing Essences Music & Marijuana Provides. To Keep Up With Her Journey Vibing Thru The Culture Follow Her Via Instagram @ginajay.info | GinaJay |
Gina Marie represents the California lifestyle she lives! She believes that cannabis is Beautiful! With this vision she created XOCAL, a California Lifestyle brand that celebrates the unique and diverse cannabis culture by mainstreaming its visuals and products by design. XOCAL Dynasty, INC is an umbrella LLC with skincare, merchandise and services. Woman owned and operated, they believe the future is female and invite everyone to take part in our positive movement. XOCAL Natural plant based all natural skin care products are kind to the planet and to our bodies.
Emily Walter is a gardener, traveler, medical patient, hash maker & business extraordinaire with over 15 years experience of sourcing growing equipment emily has recently began to follow her soul and do what makes her happy first.
Elizabeth Whiting also known as ThatsBizzy is formerly from the DMV and moved to LA with Daily High Club as their Head of Marketing + Creative. She is a skilled modern-day marketer who’s talents range from influencer and digital marketing to creative direction and content strategy. She is also a women’s health advocate who has used cannabis to treat her symptoms related to her chronic illness. She loves painting and writing in her spare time! Her unique position has allowed her to create a platform for other women and consumers to connect, learn, educate and have fun in a judgment-free zone!
Elizabeth Kremser Barket is a regulatory attorney at Clark Howell LLP advising cannabis companies, ancillary businesses in the cannabis industry, and cannabis entrepreneurs, throughout the state of California. Building on her extensive experience in heavily regulated industries, Elizabeth guides clients as they navigate state and local cannabis and land use regulations, develop compliance strategies, and establish contractual relationships. Elizabeth hails from another fast-moving and closely-regulated sector—telecommunications. She was a member of Best, Best & Krieger’s telecommunications group, advising California municipalities on various regulatory and land use matters. Elizabeth also served as in-house counsel to a nationwide wireless industry trade group in Washington, DC, handling contracts and representing the trade group in FCC regulatory rule-making proceedings on Net Neutrality, privacy, and wireless infrastructure. This extensive regulatory and contracts experience led to an expansion into cannabis law through a solo practice. Immersing herself in the cannabis community, Elizabeth quickly became an ally and adviser to legacy cultivators seeking to gain footing in the emerging regulated market, as well as small licensed operators and consultants in the cannabis ecosystem. Elizabeth is the Director of Legal Affairs for LA NORML. Elizabeth completed her Juris Doctor degree at the University of Michigan Law School, in Ann Arbor. She received her undergraduate degree in English from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Eliza Nova Maroney is a San Francisco native who grew up in the tech booms of the 1990s and early 2000s. Her personal experience with the benefits of cannabis led her to become an advocate, educator, and social media influencer. In 2017, she co-founded Lucky Box Club, California’s #1 cannabis subscription service, in order to share her cannabis knowledge and implement her ability to curate premium, craft cannabis products. Maroney’s passion for holistic wellness was ignited in her teens, and she has continued her education through yoga, meditation and the study of eastern medicine.
Dr. Michele Ross is a leading psychedelic researcher and educator as well as fibromyalgia patient. She founded the first 501c3 nonprofit on cannabis for women’s health in 2013, and is now CEO of Infused Health, an online platform for cannabis health coaching. Dr. Ross is the author of “Vitamin Weed: A 4-Step Plan to Prevent and Reverse Endocannabinoid Deficiency” and has a Doctorate in Neuroscience. Dr. Ross’s most recent project is an initiative decriminalizing psilocybin mushrooms in Denver in May 2019 as a founding board member of the Society for Psychedelic Reform, Outreach, and Education (SPORE).
Delaney Mason has been working and volunteering in the cannabis industry since 2014. After graduating from Western Carolina University, Delaney moved to Denver, Colorado. She worked closely with veterans and their families providing opportunities for them to explore alternative therapies for post-traumatic stress disorder. She sponsored suicide awareness charity events and helped provide an environment for veterans and their families to come together to create the brotherhood they once knew during their military service. She also provided in-home care for a Marine Corps veteran with service-related PTSD and epilepsy. Delaney also acts as an industry relations coordinator on The Fourth Corner Credit Union project. She worked closely with her father on the case of The Fourth Corner Credit Union v. Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City in which the law firm successfully sued the Federal Reserve to obtain a master account for a credit union chartered by Colorado to serve supporters of the legalized cannabis and hemp industries. Delaney is now in her home state of South Carolina where she recently graduated from law school and passed bar exam and is still advocating for patients who are left without access to medical cannabis due to living in a prohibition state.
Dawn Garcia is Known for her passion, work ethic, and tenacity, Dawn Garcia is an LA born screenwriter/writer for film and television, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of ATOD Magazine, Editor of Sensi Magazine Southern California, a published journalist and author, an entrepreneur and public speaker, and an Influencer for companies like Amazon, Target, Fox Home Entertainment, Universal Pictures, Disney, and more.
Dana Leigh Cisneros, Esq. has practiced law for more than a decade, focusing on business and real estate law, representing a wide variety of individuals and companies throughout California. Mrs. Cisneros is also an experienced, aggressive business litigator with a proven track record of success both inside and outside the courtroom. Mrs. Cisneros prides herself on a strong commitment to maintaining the highest level of professional responsibility and ethical standards. Mrs. Cisneros opened the Cannabis Corporate Law Firm in 2017 to meet the unique needs of the commercial cannabis community with an eye toward diversity, compliance and legality from the outset to further her clients’ interests and avoid complicated legal and criminal issues in this complex, highly regulated industry. The Cannabis Corporate Law Firm represents cannabis operators with a variety of licensing needs, including associated land use and compliance matters. Beyond licensing and compliance, the Cannabis Corporate Law Firm draws upon Mrs. Cisneros’ strong experience and understanding of the due diligence process and handling complicated transactions ensure that the cannabis industry maintains integrity as it continues to grow and evolve. Mrs. Cisneros has delivered more than a dozen presentations throughout the state of California about the commercial cannabis industry in addition to authoring several articles published by Mg Retailer Magazine, both online and in print. Mrs. Cisneros is a member of the National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA), the California Cannabis Industry Association (CCIA), the Minority Cannabis Business Association (MCBA), the National Cannabis Bar Association (NCBA) and the California Bar Association as well as several local bar associations throughout Southern California; she is also a member of the California Cannabis Industry Association’s Diversity, Inclusion & Social Equity Committee.Corey Thomas is a second generation cannabis farmer, with nearly 20 years of experience in the California cannabis industry. She is the founder of Honey Pot and a 14 time Cannabis Cup Winner, currently holding the title of High Times most awarded woman. Corey now lives in Monterey County and has partnered with Greenfield Organix to manufacturer her products from one of the most state of the art cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facilities in California.
Candy Angel, Manager, Corporate Social Responsibility WeedMaps.com
As the first woman to join Weedmaps in 2010, Candy has been an integral force in understanding the importance of corporate social responsibility. Her interest in the cannabis industry sparked in the late 90’s, when Candy saw where the future of the space was heading. Her early hunch is what ultimately landed Candy a job with Weedmaps. Since joining the team, Candy has created new divisions and programs including T.E.A.L which stands for “together for equity, access, and legalization,” has restructured and built departments, and has leveraged her relationships and networking prowess to capitalize on sponsorship opportunities that are minority and female-focused. Today, Candy manages relationships with multiple organizations across the country, develops Weedmaps social justice and social equity initiatives, and is working to incorporate more programs and partnerships to diversify the internal staff and the industry as a whole.
Brooke Ashley – Grassroots cannabis cultivator and business consultant with 6 years industry experience. Brooke Ashley is a Los Angeles native with a passion and gratitude for the cannabis plant.
Brandine Strand is a proven founder & CEO fueled by a lifelong passion for driving growth & business development. With a deep understanding of marketing, consumer behavior & branding, she has a track record for bringing several successful brands to market, many of them overnight success stories. Her keen ability to strategically design & execute a business plan, has built her a reputation as an unstoppable female entrepreneur. Implementing operational quality & efficiency is another distinct skill Brandine brings to the table in any organization. In 2018 Brandine’s sold her first company, a company she started in a storage unit 7+ years prior. Without any funding or partners, she built & scaled one of the largest & most reputable wholesale distribution companies in the counterculture market.
Bethani Jane – has over a decade of experience growing starting in 2008 under OMMP (Oregon Medical Marijuana Program) to have managed all things operations and cultivation on multiple Large-scale cannabis facilities in Oregon. She has managed indoor, both traditional and vertical style grow systems, Mixed light greenhouse operations as well as R&D 2 acres of “boutique style” hemp. With a background in both cannabis and corporate administration she is able to help streamline and implement workflows that work harmoniously to scale with cultivation and state regulatory compliance systems (IE: Metrc). Bethani Currently works both independently as an administrative field consultant as well as with a female owned and operated company, Garden Rebels Wholesale. She has aided in the cultivation permitting/licensing processes as well as implemented inventory management systems and state reporting for multiple farms in both Northern California (Emerald Triangle) and in Santa Ysabel. Bethani is a firm believer that the phrase “The Future of Cannabis is Female.” As a working mother of two children she is incredibly passionate about building and supporting strong female relationships and teams in the grow room as well as expanding those female alliances across the cannabis community in general.
Ayako Monsell – Medicater turned educator Ayako Monsell is the former Manager & Lead Consultant at Cohen Medical Centers in Las Vegas, NV where she focused on patient empowerment through information with the medical cannabis doctors office. She takes advantage of her background in data science to leverage Nevada state regulations while promoting integrative treatment through standardized cannabinoid & terpene testing. In her few short years in cannabis, she has been recognized among the valuable Women in Cannabis, and resident Hemp Fairy, in the local industry.
Ashley Picillo entered the regulated cannabis market in 2013, and after holding positions in corporate finance, logistics and marketing, she joined one of the largest vertically integrated cannabis businesses in Colorado as the Director of Marketing, Operations and Sales. In that role, Ashley oversaw day-to-day operations including five dispensaries, a high volume extraction facility and a 40,000 square foot cultivation facility. She developed, documented and implemented the vast majority of the Company’s standard operating procedures, created detailed forecasting models and was responsible for increasing the company’s overall production by 300+%. Ashley recognized that Colorado was quickly becoming the model for other States and founded Point7 in 2015 to offer support services to new operators facing the daunting learning curve she had experienced just two years prior. Since then, Point7 has rapidly expanded with offices in Ohio, Denver, Los Angeles and Boston (2019). The team has supported Clients in 56 markets, offering a breadth of services including marketing, licensing, general consulting, facility design, brand development, market research, product development and post-licensure operational support. Ashley is the author of Breaking the Grass Ceiling: Women, Weed and Business, published in 2017 and released at SXSW (2017). She earned her B.S. in Business from Northeastern University and her Master of Arts degree in Education.
Ashley Goldstein – With 7 years working in cannabis retail Ashley has realized her job is so much more than managing cannabis businesses, her job is in out of the box thinking and problem solving. Ashley has had success in opening reatil stores in three states and is well versed in growing the retail model to fit a culture and community. Ashley also has a strong passion for plants, animals outreach and community service.
Ashley Couch is an attorney in the entertainment, media, and cannabis industries, a visual artist, and a theorist currently serving as VP of Legal and Entertainment for Sensi Media Group, LLC. After earning a BA in Public Policy and Visual Art/Art History at Duke University, Ashley attended law school at the University of Denver and is now earning her MFA in Visual Studies and MA in Critical Studies at Pacific Northwest College of Art in Portland, OR. She also completed coursework towards a Music Business MBA and studied art abroad with SACI Italy. Ashley worked as a litigator in spaces such as public criminal defense, as an attorney for international law firm King & Spalding, LLP, and as General Counsel and Vice President of Business Development for a private company. She also owned a law firm with a focus on entertainment law before joining Live Nation, where served as Associate Counsel supporting the Legal, Productions, and Media and Sponsorship divisions. Ashley’s clients include entrepreneurs, cannabis industry innovators, musicians, visual artists, writers, tech gurus, alternative arts practitioners, clients working in tv, film, and gaming, and other creatives. Her past nonprofit and leadership roles include service for Volunteer Lawyers for the Arts in TN and GA and for the American Bar Association’s entertainment and sports divisions and young lawyers divisions. Ashley’s artwork and creative writing explore where art, philosophy, music, ecology, activism, and healing merge to catalyze positive transformation, and she is a published author and frequent public speaker. She enjoys spending time with her partner and rescue pets, creating art, running long distances, trying to save the planet, and checking out live music worldwide.
Ariel Clark is a co-founder and principal of the leading women-owned cannabis business and regulatory law firm Clark Neubert LLP with offices in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Sacramento and Santa Cruz. Experienced and laser-focused on the most timely issues of the day, Clark Neubert LLP empowers their cannabis industry clients to start, fund, finance, and maintain successful and fully compliant businesses and maneuver successfully through all phases of the corporate life cycle, from idea to exit. The firm works with clients that share a vision for a cannabis industry that ensures an even playing field for businesses of all sizes and individuals from all backgrounds and that promotes and fosters a positive impact on the communities it serves and the natural environment we all share. The firm maintains satellite offices in Sacramento and Santa Cruz run by a team of accomplished and experienced corporate and regulatory attorneys. CNLLP was recognized as one of the top five cannabis law firms by Entrepreneur Magazine in 2018, Ariel Clark has been named by Mg Magazine in the “30 Most Powerful Cannabis Attorneys,” by Cannabis Business Times as the “75 Most Important Women in Cannabis,” and by Rolling Stone magazine as one of “18 Women Shaping Culture Tomorrow.” Ariel earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Berkeley School of Law (Boalt Hall), and was awarded a Bachelor of Arts degree with honors from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. She is actively involved with the National Cannabis Bar Association, California Growers Association, California Native American Cannabis Association, National Cannabis Industry Association and the California Cannabis Industry Association.
April Black has been a certified yoga instructor, holistic wellness professional, and cannabis travel agent for over a decade. As the founder and CEO of Higher Way Travel, she has transformed her passions for cannabis, yoga, and travel into a successful career—hosting and teaching at 420-friendly events, retreats and vacations around the globe.
Anna Cozy is a veteran of the relatively new marijuana industry, with over 15 yrs. of experience in all aspects of producing, cultivation and dispensing of marijuana in Colorado & California. Her extensive experience, collaborative leadership style, and operational expertise, position her as an ideal candidate to consultant on out of state cannabis opportunities. Before starting CAM, Anna Cozy worked as a PMP certified Project Manager/ IT Consultant in the software field working for companies such as Computer Associates, SAP and Watson Wyatt.
Annie Iselin is about as real as they come! Annie has over 10 years experience in the regulated cannabis market from retail, to cultivation she has ran and scaled some of the most reputable brands in Colorado. Annie is a freedom fighter and a woman who stands up for the right thing – simply because it is the right thing! Currently located in Arkansas – Annie brings her love for this plant and process to the south!
Alice Moon – has 8 years of experience working as an entrepreneur in the cannabis industry and is most notably known for founding her own cannabis tech startup, which was nominated Best Tech 2017 by Dope Magazine Awards. Known as a “personality” within the space, her efforts in the cannabis industry have landed her in LA Weekly, High Times, Merry Jane, Sensi, and Civilized, with appearances on CNN and Viceland’s Bong Appetit. Moon has also excelled with writing, brand development, event production and creative consulting for industry leading companies.
Agatha Karmelita has worked in the cannabis industry cumulatively for nine years. Her career began in 2007 when she volunteered for over a year at one of Los Angeles’ first medical cannabis dispensaries (Arts District Healing Center) while pursuing her degree in Music Industry at University of Southern California. Agatha graduated from USC in 2009. Encountering a challenging economy and job market, she re-entered the cannabis industry as a budtender for La Brea Collective in 2012. While at La Brea Collective for the next four years Agatha climbed the ladder from budtender to Manager of Operations for the retail dispensary, working closely with owner/operator Daniel Sosa. La Brea Collective was and remains a pillar in the community donating food to local food banks, toys to local children’s centers, and staying active in local politics concerning cannabis regulation. In 2017, she began working at MMAC as a Retail Manager which later rebranded its retail dispensaries into Project Cannabis. Here she helped spearhead a centralized buying system and handled the buying for four cannabis dispensaries across Greater Los Angeles. She also helped homogenize the retail experience across all Project Cannabis stores so customers could begin recognizing the unique Project Cannabis experience anywhere as the company geared up to expand. Agatha also assisted in the opening of a fifth Project Cannabis store in San Francisco. At last, she has come full circle and currently serves as General Manager for La Brea Collective overseeing the day to day operations of the retail dispensary. Driven by a love for the community created by cannabis, Agatha aims to create a retail experience that serves customers and patients from all walks of life. In her free time, she enjoys music and spending time with her partner and their four cats while taking in all that Los Angeles culture has to offer.