100+ Of The Most Important Women In Weed 2019

In honor of International Women’s Day, we decided to put together a list of the women in the industry that have collectively moved the industry forward with all of their hard work. As we could not name them all, we would like to thank and celebrate all of the women who have dedicated their precious time to the advancement of cannabis globally. It is because of each one of these ladies that this industry remains in the lead above all others as far as female leadership is concerned.

This list is in no special order. Each one of these women provide a great contribution to the cannabis industry in their own unique and badass way:

The “List”:

  1. Mara Gordon
  2. Kristin Nevedal
  3. Ophelia Chong
  4. Jamie Cooper
  5. Tiffany Bowden
  6. Elise McDonough
  7. Rosie Mattio
  8. Kristin Jordan
  9. Nancy Birnbaum
  10. Ellie Siegel
  11. SaraMitra Payan
  12. Yvonne DeLaRosa Green
  13. Leslie La Duke Banionis
  14. Anh Solis
  15. Jayn Green
  16. Terre Cutrone-lowe
  17. Mara Felsen
  18. Melodye Montgomery
  19. Emily Paxhia
  20. Tracey Mason
  21. Tahira Rehmatullah
  22. Leslie Stern
  23. Karyn Wagner
  24. Jessica Versteeg
  25. Amy Fisher
  26. Kristin Heidelbach-Teramoto
  27. Eve Lentz
  28. Alison Draisin
  29. Pamela Squatch
  30. Amanda Ostrowitz
  31. Pamela Epstein
  32. Frannie Shulman
  33. Jennifer Price
  34. Larisa Bolivar
  35. Anne Kelson
  36. Karson Humiston
  37. Beth Stavola
  38. Bonita Money
  39. Jackee Stang
  40. Jamie Pearson
  41. Jessica Billingsley
  42. Jeannette Horton
  43. Kyra Reed
  44. Heather Sobel
  45. Saramitra Payan
  46. Nicole Pietrangelo
  47. Nancy Biderman
  48. Sheena Shiravi
  49. Shawna Mcgregor
  50. Gretchen Gailey
  51. Olivia Mannix
  52. Andrea Burnett
  53. Adelia Lorena Carrillo
  54. Jennifer Chan
  55. Sarah Harf
  56. Karen Paull
  57. Cyo Nystrom
  58. Gaynell Rogers
  59. Lori Ferrara
  60. Lindy Snider
  61. Karen Paull
  62. Wendy Robbins
  63. Mariah Dodson
  64. Vanessa Macias
  65. Kathleen Thibault
  66. Kerri Accardi
  67. Heidi Haller Groshelle
  68. Michelle Ross
  69. Kelley Usborne Bruce
  70. Tamara Lovemelots Anderson
  71. Christie Lunsford
  72. Cait Curley
  73. Emalee Hyde
  74. Erin Lumley
  75. Luna Stower
  76. Amber E. Senter
  77. Anna Valent
  78. Jennifer Skog
  79. Dr. Lakisha Jenkins
  80. Gia Moron
  81. Dr. Chanda Macias
  82. Rosa Cazares
  83. Shaleen Title
  84. Vivien Azer
  85. AC Braddock
  86. Dr. Suzanne Sisley
  87. Lori Glauser
  88. Jennifer Sanders
  89. Whitney Beatty
  90. Devon Soloniewicz
  91. Elisabeth Stahura
  92. Bethany Gomez
  93. Julia Jacobson
  94. Anne Fleshman
  95. Stormy Simon
  96. Anne Fleshman
  97. Rosie Rothrock
  98. Natalie Shaul
  99. Kimberly Dillon
  100. Jaene Leonard
  101. Ashley Kingsley
  102. Erica Daniels
  103. Erin Gore
  104. Kyra Hoffner
  105. Molly Peckler
  106. Amanda Reiman
  107. Taylor Blake-Massive
  108. Debby Goldsberry
  109. Parisa Rad
  110. Julie Weed
  111. Anne Donohoe
  112. Talia Rubin
  113. Eliza Nova Maroney
  114. Ashley Manta
  115. Lorna Donohoe

Thank you to all of the women who do so much in our industry day in and day out. Your work does not go unnoticed and is deeply appreciated.

Happy International Women’s Day to all women around the world!

Special shout out to our Green Market Report founders Debra Borchardt and Cynthia Salarizadeh on this day!

33 comments

  • Parisa

    March 9, 2019 at 1:04 am

    Thank you so much for highlighting all these amazing women!!

    Reply

  • PurpleDiamond

    March 9, 2019 at 2:27 am

    I’m wondering where Jeannie Herer & Lynnette Monton Shaw are?

    Reply

  • Sarah

    March 9, 2019 at 8:13 am

    Congrats ladies! How was this list obtained? In the future I know there are a lot of women I’d like to vote for.

    Reply

  • Linda hopkins

    March 9, 2019 at 10:32 am

    Your wroters left off Norma Sapp from Oklahoma

    Reply

  • Hydalker "Dodge" Amaral

    March 9, 2019 at 1:19 pm

    Proud to see my friend, Ellie Siegel, on this list since I know how tirelessly she has worked pushing the cannabis industry forward and putting the industry ahead of the curve when it comes to female leadership. Kudos and thanks though to all of you on this list and those unmentioned who still deserve our thanks.

    Reply

  • Veronica

    March 9, 2019 at 1:41 pm

    What about Mikki Norris and Lynette Shaw???

    Reply

    • Luna Stower

      March 10, 2019 at 1:43 pm

      Exactly! Amd sunshine lencho and nina parks!

      Reply

  • Jp

    March 9, 2019 at 1:53 pm

    I know of two women that should have made this list. Dr Regina Nelson with ECS Therapy and Angela Panks. Dr Nelson has done extensive research on the Endocannabinoid System and has written books on it. Angela is the first deaf cannabis activist and canna business owner (Home Grown Oregonicx) that provide her deaf community with education, medication and opportunities for their culture in the cannabis Industry.

    Reply

  • SD

    March 9, 2019 at 9:39 pm

    How about some information? Links to bios.. company names…how the list was compiled?

    Reply

    • Adrienne Wheat

      April 29, 2019 at 4:33 pm

      Exactly! This editorial is very subpar.

      Reply

  • Malcolm MacKinnon

    March 10, 2019 at 8:06 am

    Really sick of this stuff. I don’t know who compiled this list, but leaving out Debby Goldsberry is unbelievable and unforgivable. Debby has been a singular force in the community for 30+ years. Her articulate, direct and intelligent leadership has inspired thousands of other women. I’ve seen countless “top women of cannabis” lists over the past couple years. They’re always questionable — click-bait, nothing more. Several of the women listed here are absolutely laughable as far as their contributions. But being included sure looks nice on a resume.

    Reply

    • Cynthia Salarizadeh

      March 10, 2019 at 10:57 pm

      Well, Malcom, I appreciate your comment. Our team compiled this list and we are proud of it. We cannot know everyone or include every single person. But we noticed someone was listed twice, so we went ahead and replaced the second name with Debby. She sounds like quite the force and deserves the recognition. We want to recognize all women in our industry and will open the list up for nominations next year. Thanks for your suggestion. We had never heard of Debby Goldsberry until your mention and wish we would have sooner.

      Reply

      • Bethany Moore

        March 11, 2019 at 1:07 pm

        As well as Shanita Penny (MCBA), Sabrina Fendrick (Berkeley Patients Group), Amber Senter (Supernova Women), Christie Lunsford, Maureen McNamara, … all pioneers and some have been in the movement for 10+ years.

        And I’m extremely proud of the communications/content work I do at NCIA, including hosting our popular weekly podcast “NCIA’s Cannabis Industry Voice’ on Cannabis Radio.

        Reply

  • Luna Stower

    March 10, 2019 at 1:42 pm

    Who wrote this? What were the criteria?

    Reply

  • Dani Walton

    March 10, 2019 at 2:53 pm

    Agreed on what was the criteria and who wrote this? Lots of amazing cannabis powerhouses left off this list

    Reply

    • Debra Borchardt

      March 10, 2019 at 5:05 pm

      It’s difficult to have a formal set of criteria since the women on this list come from a variety of places within the industry. For example, if it was just based on executive roles, it would exclude women in science or activists. It was really based on personal knowledge as an attempt to make sure more women were recognized. It’s clear from the response, we can’t know everyone. It seems the best solution in the future is to ask for people to send in names and nominate people. We want to be inclusive and not leave important people out. Email the names you think should be included to info@greenmarketreport.com.

      Reply

  • Carolyn

    March 10, 2019 at 8:20 pm

    This is an honor for those listed, BUT it would have been much better had each name had a link to the woman’s website or her organization’s website. A list is one thing – but to know what they’ve done and are doing is far better. Oh, PS Suzanne Sisley for next time. 😉

    Reply

    • Debra Borchardt

      March 11, 2019 at 8:46 am

      Hi Carolyn,
      All good points. I agree with you. However, we are a bootstrapped startup with limited staff. We are getting stronger every month though and by this time next year, we will have a much more robust list with outside input. Thanks for your support. We do appreciate the feedback.

      Reply

      • Sandra Castaneda

        January 1, 2020 at 1:30 am

        Nice to see woman growers n others be recognized. I am California’s First caregiver to be raided n prosecuted in Sep of 1997 .. I won my case in jury trial at the supreme Court.

        Reply

  • Jared Cox

    March 11, 2019 at 11:41 am

    Kandice Hawes-Lopez should have been on the list. She has worked tirelessly advocating for and educating about cannabis. Even with two children to care for, she is always there where you need her to lend a hand. Kandice is the Executive Director and Founder of OCNORML and also heads up a creative community outreach approach for multiple dispensaries.

    Reply

  • Jessica

    March 11, 2019 at 3:33 pm

    Agree with some of the comments above, lots of powerhouses left off this list. Kudos to those women who continue to make great strides for the industry without the recognition. #QuietGiants

    Reply

  • Kim Stiens

    March 12, 2019 at 12:41 pm

    You have Karen Paull on there twice, but don’t have either Karen O’Keefe or Betty Aldworth on there at all. Big oversights!

    Reply

  • EVE LENTZ

    March 12, 2019 at 1:09 pm

    Thanks for adding my name to your list! I’m quite honored!🍄🍄🍄

    Reply

  • SCANNY

    March 14, 2019 at 2:02 pm

    WHAT ABOUT ALISON GORDON AND JEANETTE VANDERMAREL !!!!!!
    W.T.F.

    Reply

  • Cathy Jordan

    March 14, 2019 at 9:20 pm

    Cathy Jordan should be on this list . Founding member of flan.org and the leading voice in Florida’s cannabis law suit for the right to smoke . she’s also the longest living a.l.s. patient. Cathy as of Feb. 22 has 22 years in the fight to bring medical cannabis to do.

    Reply

  • Daisy

    March 17, 2019 at 7:02 pm

    What about the Knox doctors?????????

    Reply

    • Debra Borchardt

      March 18, 2019 at 7:54 am

      We will do another list next year and ask for nominations. You can provide us more information then.

      Reply

  • david johnston

    August 30, 2019 at 1:04 pm

    Don’t understand the hostility and demands about who was left off the list. My only suggestion is to leave off the PR and branding people, that’s sort of mundane, nothing really special about those contributions, “branding” is cliché . I’d like to see more of a medical focused list. Still, I applaud the women who are fighting against the male dominated industry.

    Reply

  • Karen Paull

    September 19, 2019 at 5:23 pm

    Thank you Cynthia and Debra for including Wendy and myself in this report! It’s a delight and we are proud to be included along with all these amazing women trailblazers!
    We are in pre-production on Season #4 of The Marijuana Show and appreciate all the support of our Cannabis Community!

    Reply

  • Allie Butler (Hepburns)

    November 30, 2019 at 4:37 am

    Y’all forgot a bunch of gamechangers and put on some people that are not so great IMHO. Nina Parks, Luna Stower, Sunshine, Raea Campbell, Reyann Reyes, Kristen Lovell, Angelina Penuela-Ruiz, Angela Becca, Ellen Holland, etc etc etc… also we are probably all tired of the exclusion of transpeople from these listicles 🙂

    Reply

  • Steven Pivec

    December 11, 2019 at 5:15 am

    Just one Name missing. Sally Nichols.. that Woman has done so much and achieved the first Distribution License in the County of LA. One of the best women leaders in this industry that I had the pleasure to work for.

    Reply

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