Why the future of cannabis is female

Working or striving for success has always been predominantly male. But as American history went on, things began to change. During the Great Depression in the 1920s, women entered the world of work in large numbers. By helping men who went to war, women got a taste of what it means to roll up their sleeves and get to work. According to current data, the number of employed women rose from 18 million in 1950 to 66 million in 2000. In relation to 2020, the proportion of employed women is 57 percent.

But because of these momentous steps towards equality, the world of work remains male-dominated. Women face numerous problems in the workforce, such as equilibrium, adequate maternity leave, sexism and sexual harassment. Unfortunately, you see this in the cannabis industry too. Studies show that only 9 percent of female trimmers report sexual harassment. But that should change.

As the cannabis industry is still in its early stages, more women have started businesses, laboratories, and communities to balance women making careers in cannabis, which begs the question:

Will the cannabis industry be the first female dominated industry?

One of them is Brooke Morgan Westlake, the founder and owner of the Women in Cannabis Expo. Westlake worked in health care twenty years ago.

Westlake organized trade shows and sold medical equipment in a variety of locations from doctors’ offices to prisons. But in 2018 she decided to take a new path and opened a cannabis testing laboratory. “I didn’t know anything about cannabis,” admits Westlake. “I started doing research and figured this was a viable business.”

With cannabis not legal at the federal level, cannabis testing laboratories are increasing in states that have legalized medical and recreational use.

With this newfound inspiration, Westlake began attending trade shows to network and found that something was missing. “I was a woman who got into the cannabis business with a testing lab, and the majority of the business owners were mostly male, with women running the show,” Westlake recalls. “I wanted to go to some fairs that had more women. Women in the industry who run business and I couldn’t find anything. “

She saw a need in the industry and decided that if no one addressed and fixed this, she might as well be. Westlake self-financed the money and launched the Women in Cannabis Expo. For three days women can come together to network with other entrepreneurs, salespeople, speakers and sponsors. The Women in Cannabis Expo showcases many different women who work in the cannabis industry.

The need for a feminist approach in the cannabis industry

As more women penetrate this booming industry through routes such as cultivation, cooking, pharmacy, wellness products, scientific analysis, and writing, Westlake sees plenty of room for diverse opportunities for women. “Women need that. Women need to feel supported by other women and know that there is enough business. We can all strengthen each other, ”she said.

This year, the Women in Cannabis Expo took place in person from Monday, September 27 through Wednesday, September 29, 2021, at the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa in Reno, Nevada.

The idea of ​​making the cannabis industry a more balanced place to work is the ultimate intent – and it’s growing year after year. According to a survey by Vangst, the largest female-run personal services company in cannabis, 38.5 percent of 166 cannabis companies in 17 states were identified as female. There are still problems within the cannabis industry that need to be addressed. However, the number of women asserting themselves in this growing industry has skyrocketed.

A return to the divine feminine

In a way, it feels like paying homage to the women charged with witchcraft and murdered in American history. It is a recovery of healing and femininity. It is also an indication that women will never stop fighting for freedom, equality and a place at the table.

In the words of legendary cannabis activist Jude Nagle before her death, “Cannabis is the divine feminine energy, and isn’t it interesting that it comes back to the time we need that balance?” As a female cannabis advocate, I say : Yes, the time has come.