Tag: WomensCannabisChamberOfCommerce

Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce
Women Cannabis Entrepreneurs

Being a young woman entrepreneur in the cannabis space is overwhelming. The industry is populated with egos, want-to-be’s, business predators, and drama. Working hard in these industries does not translate into money; instead, it labels you as the “go-to person” to get the job done for free. We continue to hustle with the hope that it will open up opportunities for us. The reality is that hard work and hustle do not open doors in the cannabis industry. 

The reality is that we, as women, cannot overcome the obstacles presented by men in the industry. We are fighting against centuries of oppression, struggling to maintain a business, be successful, navigate the cannabis industry, manage our personal lives, and maintain physical and emotional health. We, women, are amazing, and it is exhausting.

I have spent a lifetime fighting battles and have seen the Wins! What I am advising seems out of character for me. In this industry, there are too many battles that need to be fought; stop fighting them all. Allow yourself time to breathe and be still. Stop making business decisions from a place of emotional chaos. 

I saw the emerging cannabis industry as an opportunity to change business models and build an industry of equality and integrity, and for women to hold more executive positions, own a majority of businesses, and be acknowledged for our expertise. It is women, like yourself, who can make this happen by building financially successful companies, inspiring and supporting other women. 

Ignore the noise, drama, and other people’s agendas. Focus your energy on actions that produce revenue and growth for your business. Focus on setting business boundaries. These are your s.o.p.’s. These are your “No, we cannot volunteer our time and our business to help make yours successful.” You are the CEO and the COO of your company – You are not a volunteer. You are more than a woman in the cannabis industry. You are a trailblazer. You are part of the change that is moving women into positions of equality and power in the cannabis industry. 

Through conversations with WCCC members, I have come to realize that we, the women, ARE building new business models based on equality and integrity. WE are changing the industry.

You are an important part of making positive change happen. Be selfish with your time and energy. Your success is a Win for all women in cannabis. 

Sincerely, Addison

Women's Cannabis Chamber of Commerce
Marijuana Businesses, Women Owned Cannabis Businesses

Founding a Cannabis Chamber of Commerce in 2011 in Colorado was not an ah-ha moment. It was based on my decades of experience as an entrepreneur, and member. and ambassador for my communities’ chambers. Chambers of commerce are a group of businesses that support the interests of its members. I felt cannabis businesses would benefit from communicating and working together to find solutions to non-political issues. It turned out to be a hard sell. 

What was not a hard sell was the monthly women’s breakfast. The subjects of conversation were consistent and specific to women working in the cannabis industry. It was obvious that the direction of the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce should be focused on women entrepreneurs and career women transiting into the industry. In 2016 the Cannabis Chamber of Commerce had evolved into and became the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce.

Six months into 2014 and the legalization of adult use, smart women who had worked in the medical marijuana market in Colorado started coming to me with stories of how they had verbal agreements and sweat equity in medical marijuana businesses that were not honored. I heard stories of women getting their business open but with no money or plan on how to market they found investors. They lost their companies to their investors.

That was the turning point for WCCC. I could not help each woman individually, but I had a platform that could provide networking, connections, resources and business education – the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce.

The Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce continually evolves, like the industry, to meet the needs of women entrepreneurs and business owners in the cannabis space. My vision in 2011 for a chamber of commerce for the cannabis industry was based on traditional chamber templates. It became obsolete immediately. The cannabis space is complex and multifaceted. 

For me the Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce is not a business, for me it is a passion, an obsession, my swan song, my legacy.Â