Although we’re winding down to the last few days of Women’s History Month, it doesn’t mean you should stop supporting women. Want to hear from great female minds in the cannabis and music industries? Tune into our Higher Women Podcast live every Wednesday or catch the rewinds below and on YouTube.
At Respect My Region, we aim to elevate women’s voices during Women’s History Month and beyond. Since the Higher Women podcast began at the start of 2022, the purpose of interviewing guests on the show has been to highlight the industry’s integral women and their lives, brands, and feelings about the cannabis industry. We have since expanded to interviewing women in the music industry as well because of the undeniable crossover and influence between the two industries.
You can tune in each week on Respect My Region’s LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitch, Twitter, and Facebook, live every Wednesday from 6:30 PM to 7:30 PM EST. To view past episodes, go to our YouTube playlist.
Influential Women in the Cannabis & Music Industries
Both the cannabis and music industry may seem male-dominated, but the women I’ve talked to on our Higher Women Podcast, amongst many others, are intelligent, driven, and committed to doing right by the plant and the people that consume it; and likewise, committed to uplifting artists, fans, and professionals in the music industry. Continue reading to learn more about some of our past guests.
Kristen Yoder
The Cynical Stoner
Kristen Yoder coins herself as a “cynical stoner”, which is fitting considering her merch company’s logo depicts a flying pig with a joint in its mouth (when pigs fly). While being in the cannabis industry for over 16 years, she gained her perspective by seeing how budtenders were being underpaid and under-utilized, among other problems.
Furthermore, Kristen brings attention to the need for a more conscious cannabis community. She does this by creating conversation-starting merch and talking on her CannaBS Detector podcast. Check out our virtual interview below.
Marianne Cursetjee
Alibi Cannabis
Getting breast cancer was how Marianne Cursetjee first ran into cannabis; this interaction also changed the trajectory of her career from digital marketing to cannabis business owner and consumer. In 2016, she started her business, purchased a farm, and today, she continues to create new products and garner success for Alibi Cannabis.
Additionally, she will be teaching a class on cannabis compliance at the Bachelor’s and Master’s levels. In short, her class teaches people the importance of keeping up with the laws and regulations that exist in the cannabis industry. If you are interested in learning more about her, you can watch our episode below.
Maha Haq
Green Thumb Industries
When caught with cannabis by her mother, instead of reprimanding Maha, she gave her daughter the opportunity to explain why she felt the need to use it. This research lead Maha to convince her mother that cannabis was viable for her and inspired Maha to further pursue a career in the industry.
In short, Maha Haq is a rockstar in the cannabis industry and is currently working with Green Thumb Industries. Above all, her work entails business strategy for their new cannabis retail & consumption lounges. Watch our interview below.
Amy Dalluge
The Green Seed
When Amy Dalluge first opened her doors, she became one of the first 25 cannabis retail stores in Washington State. In short, Amy is the independent owner and CEO of The Green Seed, operating out of Moses Lake, WA. She believes cannabis is a medicine, interacting with it that way ever since she was a kid.
Above all, Amy makes it her business to set a high standard on cannabis quality for her customers and to inform people about those who want to jeopardize patient health. I had a great time picking her brain on what determines top-shelf weed, her thoughts on THC percentages, founding her recreational cannabis dispensary, and more.
Rachelle Gordon
Cannabis & Psychedelics Reporter
Rachelle Gordon is an experienced reporter in the cannabis and psychedelic industries. She writes to help get information to those who look to cannabis for medicine, and hopes to make a positive impact on her readers.
On the podcast, we talk about the censorship of cannabis, the Women in Cannabis Study, the psychedelic market, growing weed at home, and more.
Briahna Gatlin
Swank Public Relations
Briahna Gatlin is a publicist from Swank PR who has been in the industry for over 15 years doing public relations for artists, athletes, actors, and more. She’s worked with renowned artists, including Mos Def, Ghostface Killah, Chance the Rapper, Vic Mensa, Kanye West, and more.
On the podcast, we talk about what makes a great artist, glamping, being a female in the music industry, the SXSW festival, and more.
Wendy Baker
Space Gems
Wendy Baker is a single mom, candy lover, and the founder of Space Gems. She is also a leader in the vegan THC edibles market operating out of Humbolt county, where more than 20% of the county’s population has a livelihood that involves cannabis cultivation. Additionally, her company sells vegan solventless edibles using the ice water hash technique that her customers love.
On the podcast, we talk about dealing with stress, her interest in writing a book to inspire women, and where her candy-making skills came from.
Lindsey Bartlett
Cannabis Writer
Lindsey Bartlett is an avid cannabis consumer, freelance writer, and contributor at Forbes. She has been posted by Cookies several times, written for several cannabis-centric publications, and interviewed cannabis icons like Wiz Khalifa.
On the podcast, we talk about how to secure interviews with big artists, the differences between working at a large and small publication, her cannabis poetry, how writers can improve their resumes for a place like Forbes, and more.
Timeka Drew
Biko Flower
Long-time medical marijuana patient Timeka Drew says cannabis saved her life. She suffers from Crohn’s disease, and her experience with the plant lead her to eventually join Biko flower, a women-led and Black-owned cannabis brand based in Los Angeles.
While originally connecting with her at Hall of Flowers, we also conducted a virtual interview to talk about THCA pre-rolls, social equity in cannabis, her non-profit, and more.
Adrienne Kern
ASHE Society
Adrienne Kern was born into cannabis. Her parents connected because of their shared love of cannabis and inspired her to get into the industry. At the ASHE Society, the company participates in supporting non-profits that their staff are interested in, among other charitable promotions. They are currently looking for OC or Santa Ana-based non-profits to work with.
On the podcast, we talk about weed anxiety, social equity opportunities in cannabis, the changes in her parent’s relationship with weed, and more.
Luna Stower
Ispire
Luna Stower is the VP of Business Development at Ispire and a judge for the Emerald Cup. After attending the esteemed convention for over 10 years, she now gets to judge for the concentrates portion of the competition.
On the podcast, we talk about judging the Emerald Cup, free weed, the risks of being in the cannabis industry, Spannabis, and more.
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