Celebrating Women's History Month
Women’s History Month is celebrated every March to recognize the contributions and achievements of women throughout history, and yes. That includes the cannabis world, too! This month we’re celebrating women changing the game for the better. But first, let’s explore how Women’s History Month started. Here’s the HER story.
What is Women's History Month?
Women’s History Month began as a weeklong observance, introduced in the United States in the early eighties. It was then expanded to a month-long celebration six years later. March was chosen to coincide with International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8th each year. Decades later, with the help of social media and new waves of feminism, Women’s History Month has become a global celebration that connects millions of women worldwide.
Throughout the month, special events and programs are held to recognize the accomplishments of badass ladies in a number of fields, including science and technology, politics, literature, art, and social justice. The month is also an opportunity to highlight the ongoing struggle for gender equity and raise awareness about the challenges many women continue to face today.
Women's History Month and the Cannabis World
Women’s History Month also serves as a platform to promote education and research around the use of cannabis by women. Not to mention, women and weed go way back! Since early recorded history, women have been considered healers, and cannabis is the healing plant. From ancient herbal practitioners to the early pioneers of cannabis advocacy, right down to the genetics of the plant itself, Women and cannabis are two peas in a pod…or perhaps, two buds sharing a stem?
Five Famous Females in Cannabis History
There have been many ladies throughout history that have served as significant advocates for marijuana reform. Here are a few forsisters who’ve fought for cannabis legalization and female representation.
Alice B. Taokls was an American writer and the lifelong partner of the famous feminist,philosopher, and author Gertrude Stein. In 1954, she published a cookbook with an “HaschichFudge” recipe containing cannabis.
Helen Clark was a Canadian activist who was among the first people to challenge the legality of cannabis in the country. In 1969, she founded the “Concerned Parents for Drug Abuse,” which advocated decriminalizing cannabis.
Mary Jane Rathbun was an activist in the 1970s and 1980s, primarily in San Francisco and The Bay Area. She’s notoriously knowns as “Brownie Mary” because she baked and handed out cannabis brownies to early AIDS patients in desperate need of pain relief. She became an iconic figure in the medical cannabis movement and was arrested several times for her activism.
Jeanne Stellman was a researcher who conducted one of the first major studies on the healtheffects of cannabis. Her research, published in 1975, found that cannabis did not cause significant harm to users.
Sindiwe Magona is a South African author and activist who has written extensively about the use of cannabis in traditional African medicine. She has argued that the criminalization of cannabis has negatively impacted traditional healers and their patients.
Women Who are Changing the World of Weed Today
Dasheeda Dawson is a globally-known cannabis advocate working to increase diversity and equity in the cannabis industry. She founded The WeedHead, a platform for education and empowerment in the cannabis industry. Dawson is also a member of the Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition. She now serves as the Cannabis Czar of NYC, as her LinkedIn profile describes.
Dr. Rachel Knox is a physician and cannabis expert who co-founded the American Cannabinoid Clinics, which provides medical cannabis consultations and education. She is also a founding member of the Minority Cannabis Business Association and an advocate for equitable access to medical cannabis.
Dr. Chanda Macias is the CEO of Women Grow, a networking organization for women in the cannabis industry. She also owns the National Holistic Healing Center, a medical cannabis dispensary in Washington, D.C. She is a vocal advocate for social equity in the cannabis industry.
Mara Gordon is the founder of Aunt Zelda’s, a medical cannabis company that specializes in personalized treatment plans for patients with chronic illnesses. She is also a prominent advocate for medical cannabis research and education.
Rosie Mattio founded Mattio Communications, a public relations firm specializing in cannabis and hemp companies. She has helped to shape the image of the cannabis industry. She is a prominent advocate for cannabis legalization and education.
How to Celebrate Women's History Month
There are only a few ways to celebrate Women’s History Month in the cannabis world. Here are a few suggestions:
1. Support female-owned cannabis businesses: Seek out and support female-owned cannabis businesses in your area. Whether it’s a dispensary, a cultivation facility, or a brand that sells cannabis products, choose to spend your money with women making a difference in the industry.
2. Attend virtual events and workshops: Check out virtual events and workshops focused on women in the cannabis industry. These events may include talks by female industry leaders, networking opportunities, and educational sessions on cannabis cultivation, marketing, and advocacy.
3. Donate to organizations that support women in the industry: Consider making a donation to organizations that support women in the cannabis industry, such as Women Grow, which is a networking organization that connects women in the cannabis industry, or the Minority Cannabis Business Association, which works to promote diversity and equity in the industry.
4. Share stories of women in the industry on social media: Use your social media platforms to share stories of women who have impacted the world of cannabis today. Share articles, videos, and podcasts highlighting the accomplishments of female cannabis entrepreneurs, advocates, and researchers.
Women's History + Legal Weed = A Force to Be Reckoned With
Today, women in cannabis are making bigger moves than ever before, and they’re honing in on the idea that being a cannabis consumer is more than just smoking pot. It’s a lifestyle that goes beyond the plant itself. It includes the world of feminine aesthetics, from women-owned cannabis brands to smoking accessories, home decor, and much more, in a highly curated, creative, and beautiful way.
Combined with inclusive, educational content, events, and resources for female cannabis lovers by female cannabis lovers, we’ve got a force to be reckoned with. So, for all the badass ladies out there managing smoke shops, working as budtenders, hustling their own brand or e-commerce store, and everyone else in between and beyond: we puff puff pass it to you!
Happy Women’s History Month from World of Smoke & Vape. You deserve it!
