5 steps to close the marijuana industry’s C-suite gender gap

Published

2 years ago

March 20, 2023

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Sarah Bodnar

This column is part of a series during Women’s History Month that offers practical steps toward elevating women in cannabis. The previous installment is available here.

In an industry that once had an unusually high percentage of female CEOs, the marijuana sector now has fewer women in leadership positions than the U.S. average.

According to MJBizDaily’s 2022 report, “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in the Cannabis Industry,” the percentage of women executives in cannabis fell from 36.8% in 2019 to 23.1% last year.

Meanwhile, the Russell 3000 index of publicly traded companies reports that women now hold 28% of board seats of the 3,000 largest U.S. stocks it tracks.

How did we get here?

Summer Westerbur

In general, power is a self-fulfilling prophecy.

Statistically, white men have disproportionate access to capital and connections. And capital opens doors.

More opportunity equals more power. Having more women in leadership positions will, too.

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MJBizCon offers speakers chance to share cannabis insights, shape industry

Published

6 hours ago

April 4, 2025

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The most fulfilling part of an MJBizCon presentation is right after the Q&A, when the speaker is met by exuberant and inspired audience members.

Questions are asked, cards are exchanged and the excitement is palpable.

Cannabis industry experts interested in inspiring their peers and advancing the industry have until 11:59 p.m. ET on April 11 to apply to speak at MJBizCon 2025. Replies will likely go out in May.

So far, nearly 170 speaker applications have been received.

This year’s MJBizCon – the 13th edition – is scheduled for Dec. 2-5 at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Speaking at the world’s largest marijuana business conference and trade show “offers a chance to share insights and strategies that empower others to elevate their businesses

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As cannabis consumer tastes evolve, industry must look beyond potency

Published

2 days ago

April 2, 2025

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(This is a contributed guest column. To be considered as an MJBizDaily guest columnist, please submit your request here.)

Chris O’Ferrell (Courtesy photo)

For years, the cannabis industry has been shaped by a singular focus: THC potency.

Store menus highlight percentages, consumers chase high numbers, and many strains have been bred to maximize THC content at the expense of other characteristics.

But is that truly what makes marijuana special?

Beyond THC levels, branding, packaging and promotions heavily influence consumer choices.

The classic $200-per-ounce deal has evolved into a $100 mix-and-match special, allowing consumers to explore a variety of terpene profiles and effects.

Just as craft beer enthusiasts appreciate curated tasting flights, cannabis enthusiasts now seek diversity in their experiences.

Keeping up with industry trends while

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How a Colorado operator stumbled onto ‘blueprint for laundering marijuana’

Published

4 days ago

March 31, 2025

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Justin Trouard thought he was doing a favor when he agreed in January to look at the books of a struggling, licensed Colorado marijuana cultivation company to see if he could help turn the business around.

Instead, the CEO of licensed outdoor cultivator Mammoth Farms stumbled onto “the blueprint for how to launder marijuana” in and out of the state’s regulated industry, he told MJBizDaily.

While examining the cultivator’s track-and-trace records in Metrc, a widely used software program that’s Colorado’s mandated seed-to-sale compliance tool, Trouard noticed some suspicious activity.

In one column, the company reported purchasing 25 pounds of cannabis flower from an unidentified cultivator for $16,250. That’s a normal transaction at Colorado’s average market prices in 2025. In another column in

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