Growing weed with a woman's touch

By Tanya Shelestynski
NELSON — Are you interested in cultivating a career in the cannabis industry? Would you like to know more about cannabis and the future of the industry in general?
We invite you to join us on the evening of Thursday, January 7, in the Hume Room of the Hume Hotel for the Women Grow: Kootenay Chapter kick-off event. This will be an educational evening featuring presentations by distinguished individuals in the cannabis industry, including advocates, CEOs and dispensary directors discussing the current state of cannabis related issues in our municipality. Presentations start at 7 pm
This event is guaranteed to bring with it a plethora of valuable information and networking opportunities to interested individuals and entrepreneurs alike! We encourage people of all gender identities to participate.
Early bird tickets are $25, and can be purchased online at eventbrite.ca, or at the door for $30.
Women Grow was created to connect, educate, inspire and empower the next generation of cannabis industry leaders by creating programs, community and events for aspiring and current business executives. Founded in 2014 in Denver, Colorado, Women Grow is a for-profit entity that serves as a catalyst for women to influence and succeed in the cannabis industry as the end of marijuana prohibition occurs on a national scale. Since its inception only a year ago, Women Grow has grown rapidly to 36 chapters in the United States and Canada, with chapter evens being held the first Thursday of every month.
Is this event only for women?
No — absolutely not! Persons of every gender identity are welcome and encouraged to participate!
Why is it so important for women to participate in this industry?
To quote our new prime minister: “It’s 2015.” The motivation behind Women Grow is equal representation in the cannabis workforce; when diversity in industry is fairly represented, it more adequately addresses the needs of our society as a whole. Right now, women hold 36% of executive positions in the cannabis industry compared to 22% in the U.S. as a whole, and economists predict that the business of legal cannabis will exceed ten-billion dollars within the next five years. Women are a very important part of this equation. As Women Grow co-founder and CEO describes*:
“Once prohibition is lifted cannabis products become just like any other household good, and we know women already control the majority of household spending. On top of that women are more likely to be diagnosed with a chronic illness, more likely to try alternative health therapy, and are more likely to be in charge of the wellness decisions for their families. One in five women will face depression. On in eight will face breast cancer. There is no scenario where I can imagine where women don’t become the dominant buyers of cannabis products.”
“What if,” you may ask yourself, “I don’t know anything about cannabis, but I want to get into the industry?”
One of the main misconceptions about entering into a career in this industry is that you have had to be a part of the black market industry in the past. This is 100% not the case. As Women Grow CEO Jazmin Hupp puts it:
“The truth is the vast majority of people getting into this industry are new to the industry. They’ve got great professional backgrounds in maybe related fields, but being new doesn’t make you unqualified – it just makes you kind of like everybody else.
“Right now the sky is the limit… this is a huge economic opportunity, and everyone can be a part of it. There are opportunities for everyone. Take what you’re good at and think; how could this apply to the cannabis industry? Now is the time.”
*Interviews are credited to Canna Insider
Event sponsored by PlanC BioPharm and The Kootenay’s Medicine Tree.
For more information, please send an e-mail to kootenay@womengrow.com. And if you’re planning on staying overnight the Hume Hotel does have a block of rooms available for conference participants. You can book a room there by calling 250-352-5331. Click here to visit the Hume Hotel’s website.
Tanya Shelestynski is a Women Grow member.