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Join NY Cannabis Insider for our next full-day conference on Nov. 16 at the Sonesta White Plains.
Jahmila Edwards is the co-founder of Stash Queens and associate director of District Council 37. In the newest entry of “NY’s women in cannabis,” Edwards talks about entering the cannabis industry with friends, what tools helped her start her journey and how businesses can support women entrepreneurs.
Women are vastly underrepresented in cannabis, and not just in New York. From 2019 to 2022, executive-level females have seen their industry wide status drop from 37% to 23%. Yet the MRTA makes things very clear: women-owned businesses are a key component of the state’s social and economic equity plan.
NY Cannabis Insider is seeking to elevate women in cannabis through a hyper-focus on female story sourcing and balanced representation in articles.
This series will last for as long as submissions come in.
Why did you launch your career in the cannabis industry? Were there any women who inspired you to do so? How did you do it?
Once full legalization became even a dream in New York State, I knew it was an industry I wanted to be a part of. Cannabis had long been a part of my family’s culture (both my parents are Rasta) and there was not a doubt in my mind that I had something to offer within the legal industry, which has felt overwhelmingly male, pale and stale in other parts of the country.
I called a meeting of my closest girlfriends and we started meeting monthly, then biweekly, then weekly until we hashed out a plan for how we could enter the industry together as one team.
What do you think is the most significant barrier to women leadership? Are the barriers different in cannabis than any other industry?
I believe access and opportunity are the barriers that limit women’s leadership roles within any industry. Someone has to see you and recognize your worth in order to present opportunity. Any industry that does not carve out space for “others” – whether that be women, people of color, etc. – will always lack diversity in leadership. We can create space on our own, and we have, but allyship at the top is what creates inclusion within any organization.
Why do you think women are so underrepresented in leadership roles in cannabis?
I believe the legal cannabis industry has been dominated by finance and Silicon Valley leftovers – neither of which are leaders in the realm of diversity and inclusion. It’s not that women are not qualified nor interested but rather historically it has always been immensely challenging for anyone to break into the old boys club.
What are some ways in which companies can support gender diversity at senior levels?
Actively recruit outside of your network and encourage women applicants. There’s no lack of talent, only lack of effort.
Shout out your other favorite women-owned or women-led businesses in the industry.
Substance led by Sharoz Makarechi. National Holistic Healthcare led by Dr. Chanda Macias. Happy Hounds led by Rianna Young
Who/what are your favorite tools and resources in the industry?
The second I decided to make an entrance into the industry I began doing my research as to what it would take for someone like me to make the shift. After making a few calls to friends in the industry, I went and bought myself a workbook by Dasheeda Dawson, How to Succeed in the Cannabis Industry. It was a great tool to get me thinking about what I had to offer.
Second, I started researching programs I could apply to that would help me get off the ground. I was selected to be a part of the Our Academy 2022 cohort which has been a tremendous launchpad for me and my team, from helping us build new connections in the industry to really helping us feel grounded in operations and organizational flow.
What advice would you give your 25-year-old self? What advice would you give to the next generation of women leaders?
Keep going. It’s your journey and yours alone, that is how you know that you’re on the right path.
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