This International Day of the Woman, Use Your Dollars to Support These Female Led Cannabis Companies
According to the 14th Annual Rosenzweig Report, published in early 2019 today's millennial generation will be approaching retirement when female representation on leadership teams reaches just 30% across Canadian industries.
Let’s sit with that stat for just a moment. It won’t be my generation that sees gender parity at work, maybe it will be my daughter’s. Maybe.
“As a society, we’ve elevated the conversation concerning gender equality, but collectively we clearly have a long way left to go. Legacy gender-based biases are still far too prevalent across many of our institutions and much of our daily interaction.”
Of 532 Named Executive Officers (NEOs) in Canada, 53 are women, representing 9.96% of all executive positions. In the Cannabis industry, Canadian companies boast 21% female participation at the officer and (depending on the company's management structure) director and vice president levels and in the United States, women account for more than a third of cannabis business executives, up from previous lows of 26%.
Growth like that should feel positive and reaffirming but Jay Rosenzweig, Managing Partner of Rosenzweig & Company actually suggests that women's roles in some sectors is retreating, case in point: Only three female CEOs remain among Canada's top 100 companies — half the number of the previous year.
“Only when women are on equal parity with men in all spheres of activity we will be ready for a more peaceful, just, sustainable and healthy world.”
As consumers, we hold a special kind of power. When we are unhappy with companies, perhaps over the (lack of) representation on executive teams, we have the most powerful vote of all: to stop buying their product. That frees us up to use our dollars for good and support the companies that share our values. Below, we’ve listed a few of our favourite female led cannabis companies.
We’d love to hear about any that we may have missed, tell us about your favourite brands so we can show them some love too.
You can also see our years long list of Spotlight Series Interviews with inspiring female entrepreneurs here. If you are or know a woman who is making change, taking chances and creating a product or service that should get some media love, check out our Q and A here.
“Women’s engagement in decision-making is essential to the success of Canadian businesses, and at the core of our values of diversity and inclusion. ”
Cannabis & Cannabis Products
The following companies are either led by women or have a large female leadership team. This is by no means an exhaustive list but rather a starting off point for consumers who wish to be more mindful in their spending.
W!NK
W!nk lives under the TREC Brands umbrella, which is headed up by Trang Trinh CPA, CA. Ms. Trinh comes from a background focused on M&A through a cannabis lens.
Another great reason to support this company is their initiative to contribute 10% of profits to transformative causes that put people and planet first.
Ladies of Paradise Lady Jays, Day Trippin’
Ladies of Paradise is a a women-positive creative agency + brand house that has launched a couple of cannabis brands of their own.
Tribe Tokes
TribeTokes was founded by two women, Degelis “Dege” Tufts and cannabis advocate Kymberly “KymB” Byrnes, with women in mind.
Eve
Eve's founder Melinda Rombouts is the first female founder to get a cannabis production license in Canada and now Eve boasts 75% female leadership.
Accessories
Stonedware pipes
Founded by artist Ariel Zimman, Stonedware Co. is driven by both form and function, for customers seeking a deeper connection with the objects in their life.
High Society Collection
Designed and handmade in Portland, Oregon by jeweller Erin Colvin, High Society Collection offers luxurious smoking accessories that you’ll love to use and give as gifts.
OHAI
Ohai Collective is a Canadian cannabis lifestyle and accessories brand founded by Emily Leung.
Kushkards
Founded by talented artist, Lauren Miele, KushKards was named "The Hallmark of Marijuana" by Herb.co and Merry Jane magazine. Go analog, send a handwritten card to someone and make their day!
Allume
Founded in March 2018 by Cam Chacra, Allume has become one of Canada's leading female-operated cannabis lifestyle shops.
Milkweed
Milkweed offers timeless cannabis accessories, all made proudly in Canada. Milkweed co- Founder and creative director Emma Baron is also a member of The Green Tent, an organization that creates safe spaces for women to network at busy conferences and expos.
Canndora Club
Canndora is a lifestyle brand, community and online shop for women who enjoy cannabis. Canndora offers subscription boxes full of interesting and new cannabis themed products and they host Canndora Connects events to connect brands with influencers and media.
Fashionably High
Michelle Bell is the founder and designer of the cannabis accoutrement brand Fashionably High, makers of those beautiful tea cups, totes and ashtrays you’ve seen all over instagram.