Why Cannabis Companies Need Female Leaders More Than Ever
By Jazmin Hupp
If there is one constant in the cannabis industry, it is change. As cannabis executives, our job is to build businesses that can successfully adapt to new regulations and laws, growing competition and expanding markets. Volatility makes it hard to develop long-term strategies with staying power, but there is something you can do today to help your brand compete for years to come: engage women.
Women business leaders and consumers will drive the legal cannabis industry. Women are creating a fair, sustainable industry, and we will be the dominant purchasers of cannabis products after national legalization. Businesses that align with female leaders and customers now are stacking the cards in their favor. What’s good for women is good for everyone.
Female advocates and voters turned the legalization movement into an industry. As the cannabis industry expands, women will be vital stewards of its social values. We lead with empathy and awareness, but we have to claim our ground now. The cannabis industry is new, and it is growing fast. The “old boy’s club” mentality that dominates established industries hasn’t had time to take hold, but the playing field won’t be level forever. Women need to take ownership today if we are going to lead a fair, inclusive industry with global reach and trillion-dollar potential.
Women have the opportunity to shape the cannabis industry as entrepreneurs, but our dominionce as consumers is inevitable. Women will be the primary buyers of cannabis products after national legalization. The brands that succeed will meet female customer’s needs and values.
How do I find an investor in order to start my business, I continue to run into stumbling blocks or people who want to steal an original business idea having to do with marijuana, I am frustrated and need help after having tried to go through men I’m discovering that I need to work with women if I want my business to come to fruition. Any advice or direction you could give me would be most helpful.
Know anyone who currently uses medical marijuana for an illness already? Describe a business plan and ask for an investment. How much seed money do you need? At what interest could you pay her back? Ask her to join your collective.
Wow! For awhile I was wondering how long it would take for Women to play a more integral role in the new & promising world of Cannabis. I had attempted to arouse the interests of some former colleagues back in 2009 to establish a point-of-entry into this Industry, but response was lukewarm at best (due to location). It was very early in the process, and fear was a predominant factor. A close male friend of mine responded once by saying that whenever Women discover its’ effectiveness at neutralizing menstrual cramps- it’s off to the races! I am a former Analytical Chemist- though the myriad benefits of Cannabis captured my attention long ago because of an acquired condition while working in various laboratory settings for more than 20 years. I am unable to join today- but I do plan to attend an event soon. Perhaps by that time I will have done so. Thank you!
I would love to know alot more about your chemistry and science field. Looking to get into some field of it, but want to make sure that I have all the information I need before diving in head first.
I have run into the stumbling block of the male dominated investor wanting to invest in the “ME TOO” companies. You just have to shove ahead. I see it as the hunter gatherer viewpoint. Even back as far as the caveman days them men hunted and brought the animal back to the women. They made food, clothing, medicine, tools etc with it in order to take care of the men. So think about it. The male dominated market has brought the women the plant/oils (this is not to say the women cant) and now we as women take plant and make things out of it. Clothing, medicine, food etc. Now it is time for the women to band together and move forward 🙂