Women Aim to Avoid Glass Ceiling in Marijuana Industry Before It Forms

By
Maureen Meehan

Dina Rollman, co-founder of Illinois’ Women in Cannabis, is encouraging women to get involved now in the pot industry, which she described as “too new to have a glass ceiling.”

Women in Cannabis, which was founded last August, aims to connect female professionals and entrepreneurs to business opportunities cropping up after Illinois legalized medical marijuana in 2013. According to ChicagoBusiness.com, their intention is to steer the pot industry into commercial areas, while ensuring that women’s roles go beyond being attractive advertising props or bud tenders, explained Rollman, an attorney whose practice is focused on cannabis law.

Wendy Berger Shapiro, co-founder with Rollman, said opportunities go beyond working in or even owning a cultivation center or dispensary and that lots of services are required, including staffing, legal services, marketing, public relations and caregiving for patients.

“Unless we open each other’s eyes to the opportunities, we don’t always know where to look for them,” Shapiro said.

Donna More, partner at Chicago’s Nixon Peabody law firm, said the industry’s newness creates opportunities for women because clients want people with relevant expertise. More, whose practice focuses on gaming and now medical marijuana, said being the only woman in a room full of men is not unique to the pot industry.

“It’s not an old boys’ network,” she explained. At least not yet.

And these women are hoping to keep that from happening in the future.

Maureen Meehan

Maureen Meehan is a New York-based writer, who has worked as a foreign correspondent for many years.

By
Maureen Meehan
Tags: feminism

Recent Posts

Cannabis Products Recalled in Arizona Over Possible Contamination

Onion Bhaji was recalled due to possible contamination with Aspergillus.

8 hours ago

Virginia Launches Reporting Website for Tracking Cannabis Exposure to Minors

Health officials have been directed to use the reporting portal to track “adverse events” of…

8 hours ago

Poll: Majority of U.S. Adults Report Positive Cannabis, Psychedelic Drug Experiences

Those in the survey who tried each drug were also more likely to show support…

8 hours ago

Mexican-Grown Pot Hits Record Low at Border as Competition with State-Legal Pot Rises

U.S. Customs and Border Protection data shows that 2023 was the slowest year at the…

8 hours ago

Psychedelic Plants Found in Ancient Mayan Ballcourt

The ballcourt at the Ancient Mayan city of Yaxnohcah revealed four medicinal plants that were…

8 hours ago

Living Off the Land

Canna Country Farms is what Humboldt is all about.

1 day ago