Women Grow: Mentoring Women in the Marijuana Industry

Women are an essential component of the weed world, as growers, trimmers, caregivers, smokers, makers of edibles and topicals, and much more. However, sociologist Karen August published a 2013 research paper on gender dynamics in the NorCal marijuana industry that concluded that “nearly all” of the business transactions she observed over a year’s time were conducted by men. August wrote, “Rarely are women encouraged to set up and maintain their own operations.”

Enter Women Grow, a new organization founded by Edibles Events Co. owner Jane West. West hopes to mentor female business executives in the burgeoning cannabis industry. “I was observing that women weren’t equal in positions of power in the industry,” West told the National Journal. “There are a lot of eager young professionals and so little information about who enters it.”

According to the National Journal article, entitled “How Big Pot is Wooing Women,” West’s organization has three goals: To rebrand the marijuana industry as female-friendly, to foster female leadership at the highest levels, and to encourage more women to buy marijuana and participate in cannabis culture. Women Grow plans outreach events such as marijuana-themed spa and yoga retreats, upscale culinary events, and art soirees. West said, “We want women to know that there’s a big opportunity now,” she said. “And they should get in on it.”

Women who love weed will certainly embrace West’s mission to reach female pot enthusiasts as marijuana goes mainstream. Women Grow’s inaugural networking event will be held in Denver on August 14.