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66 women-led cannabis companies to watch in 2023

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Here are Leafly’s 66 women-owned and operated companies to watch this year and beyond.


Do you believe only 20% of cannabis companies are women owned? It’s true. That’s only 1 out of 5. And according to a report by MJBiz, the number of women in cannabis businesses is actually decreasing.

Miss Grass x WEED FROM WOMEN bag special women's month edition.
Shoutout to Buy Weed From Women and Miss Grass for dropping their latest 4(THE)20 WOMEN’S MONTH BAG, which has shined a light on the shocking statistic that only one in five weed businesses is woman-owned. (Miss Grass)

Only 10% or less of businesses in Massachusetts and Ohio qualify as women-owned. So while the cannabis plants that we all love to consume are all female, women are being left out of ownership roles in the industry the at large.

To eliminate any excuse for “not knowing” any women-owned companies to support, we’ve compiled a list of 66 to explore throughout this year. They’re broken up into three categories: Brands, license holders, and non-plant touching companies that specialize in accessories, services, and community-building.


Top women owned cannabis brands in 2023

(AdobeStock)

These 24 women-driven brands are on the rise. Keep an eye out for them to make even more noise on the national stage in 2023.

Dose of Saucy

Dose of Saucy is a Black woman-owned company that specializes in creating delicious THC-infused sauces & condiments. Despite the brand being based in California,Tess Taylor, founder of Saucy, is shamelessly Texan to the core and we love it. It’s hard to miss the cowgirl details all over Saucy’s brand. Their signature Sweet Heat Texas Style BBQ Sauce is a perfect blend of tangy, smoky, and sweet flavors that can enhance your high & the taste of literally any foods you want. If you’re looking for an extra spice, you’ll have to try their Mama T’s Southern Hot Sauce.

Gift of Doja

Gift of Doja is a women of color created cannabis equity brand, specializing in honoring the vibe of all beings and all things. curating cannabis flower and products based on their unique Appellations of Origin, soil care and thoughtful cultivation process by the farmers. Gift of Doja factors in the terpene profiles, which are the essential oils produced by the plant, as well as the cannabinoid content; which are the compounds that make a person feel lit; into the curation process, ensuring that the consumer has a unique experience with every jar. 

xula

Based in Mexico City. Organically grown in the USA. Karina Primelles and Mennlay Golokeh Aggrey are the dynamic duo leading xula, a Latin and Black-owned CBD brand. xula intersects their herbal index featuring ingredients like black cohosh root, motherwort, and kava root with a cannabinoid-based approach to women’s health. Xula has recently collaborated with fellow woman-owned brand, Barbari, to create the Period Daze Spliff to help with mother nature’s monthly gift.

(AdobeStock)

CAM

Anna Willey is the owner of CAM (California Aristinal Medicine), a Sacramento based cannabis cultivator and delivery company. As a Sacramento-based cultivator, CAM has carved their own recognition and affinity among reputable brands like Connected California, Alien Labs, and Doja Pak. From Biscotti Otti Otti to Kush Mints, CAM’s selection, quality, and variety of flavors is a testament to their dedication to cannabis enthusiasts and the culture.

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But A Cake

A pastry chef by trade with over 15 years of experience in food and health regulation and compliance. ButACake, an infused edibles cannabis brand with a strong and established legacy market, hemp and adult use cannabis following With An Associate of Arts and Sciences (A.A.S.) degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from Le Cordon Bleu Institute of Culinary Arts Graduating Class of 2010, ButACake takes the CAKE in 100% handmade from scratch treats.  ButACake is a cannabis brand specializing in educating and feeding consumers on the benefits of alternative cannabis consumption.

Miss Grass

Big bag: Miss Grass prices half-ounces to move. (Courtesy Miss Grass)
Big bag: Miss Grass prices half-ounces to move. (Courtesy Miss Grass)

Miss Grass is a long-time digital community turned full-fledged national brand founded by Kate Miller and Anna Duckworth. Miss Grass was created to ensure women have a community where they can access cannabis safely, thoughtfully, and intentionally. You can get your hands on Miss Grass pre-rolls and flower in states like California, Massachusetts, and now in Kate’s home state of New Jersey.

Pleasure Peaks

Pleasure Peaks is a cannabinoid sexual health company that creates cannabis-infused sexual wellness products like their infused sexual lubricant. The company was founded in 2019 by Antuanette Gomes and is 100% Black, female, and LGBTQ owned and operated. Pleasure Peaks offers a variety of products beyond their signature cannabis-infused lubricants like massage oils, arousal sprays, and bath salts. In Canada, Peak Pharms Labs the sister company that has is launching their THC line of suppositories available in Canada.

dreamt

dreamt founders women in cannabis
Carolina Vazquez Mithcell (left) and Dr. Jannise Babbush (right) lead dreamt. (courtesy of dreamt)

Founded by two science minds, Carolina Vazquez Mithcell and Dr. Jannise Babbush, dreamt is a California-based brand with the mission to tap into cannabis’ potential as a sleep aid. Dreamt offers a variety of products, including cannabis-infused tinctures, capsules, gummies, and vapes that are specifically formulated to help you unwind and drift away. This is the first brand from Ciencia Labs, a female & minority-owned company based in Los Angeles that produces a house of cannabis brands including Luchador gummies.

Potli

Potli is a woman-owned cannabis company that specializes in creating premium, hemp-derived CBD-infused pantry staples like honey, olive oil, chili oil, and apple cider vinegar. Founded in 2017 by Felicity Chen and Christine Yi, Potli’s mission is to make high-quality CBD products accessible to everyone. Small, family-run farms in Northern California are the source of Potli’s CBD, and the company is dedicated to adopting sustainable and organic methods throughout its entire supply chain.

GUMBO Brands

VP of Natura Josh Schmidt (left), Cookies CEO Berner (middle), and GUMBO co-owner Alexis Majors (right) were part of the VIP grand opening of Cookies Thailand in Bangkok on January 21, 2023. (Mikhail Harrison / Leafly)
Alexis Majors (right) celebrates the Cookies Thailand grand opening with Dee Thai co-founder Josh Schmidt (left), Cookies CEO Berner (middle). (Mikhail Harrison / Leafly)

Alexis Major-Allison is the co-founder and COO of GUMBO Brands, one of the fastest brands that has partnered with Cookies to launch in a wide-range of stores across the country, including Cookies’ newly opened Thailand dispensary. Alexis and her partner Karim Butler (aka Luka Brazi) have been hustling to impact the industry with their strain and roster of celebrity affiliations like Moneybagg Yo, Meek Mill, and their own GUMBO Radio slot on New York City’s Hot 97 FM radio station.

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Renegade Piranha

Renegade Piranha is a self-made weed roller to the stars. Other clients include Kid Cudi, Jadakiss, Drake, Madonna, Rihanna, and JR Smith. Oh, and the infamous Elon Musk smoking meme? She rolled that joint. Piranha got the gig in 2016 through a mutual friend who was growing with Snoop’s cannabis soil company, Snoop’s Premium Nutrients. They wanted to gift Snoop weed grown with his product, rolled and ready to puff. In order to enter Snoop’s inner circle, she had to show her stuff in a roll-off with two other contenders, including a sound engineer who came at Snoop’s recommendation.

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The Congo Club

The Congo Club was founded by Amber Senter, cannabis pioneer, equity advocate, and co-founder of Supernova Women, an organization formed by and for women of color to foster community empowerment in the cannabis economy. The Congo Club is one of the few places that carry the Red Congolese: an heirloom strain, which provides an electrifying, thought provoking and optimistic high. Considered to be one of the most sought-after Bay Area strains, it’s truly one not to be missed.

Barbari

Originally from Oregon, Meryl Montgomery and Valerie Sakota are co-founders of Barbari, an herbal blends brand. Barbari walks a path for both THC and CBD flower options mixed with herbal smoking blends made from a variety of natural ingredients such as marshmallow leaf, mullein, and lavender. Barbari products are made for conscious wellness and do not contain any tobacco or nicotine, making them a healthier alternative to traditional smoking.

Love Herb

Erinique Owens, founder, is bringing adaptogens to CBD with her Love Herb brand based in California. Erinique turned to CBD during her long quest to overcome a range of medical concerns, including insomnia and chronic back pain. Tired of treatments that cost too much and didn’t quite work, she began consuming different doses and formats of CBD, adaptogens, and other herbal remedies. Love Herb aims to provide feel-great solutions through cannabis and medicinal mushrooms, creating a mainstream awareness of the positive impact they can have on mind & body.

Kush Queen

Kush Queen is a California-based cannabis brand founded by Olivia Alexander in 2015. With award-winning products in both their transdermal patches and their bath bomb, Kush Queen knows wellness. Since launch, Kush Queen’s bath bombs have become the number one cannabis bath bomb in the game created with both THC and CBD formulations.

Astral Treats

Elle Rahman is the co-founder of Astral Treats, a uniquely cosmic edibles brand launched in Oregon in 2020.  Working with her partner Kevin Collins, the Astral Treats team has been able to create their one-of-a-kind star shaped gummies with tropical, refreshing flavor profiles like Dragon Fruit, Grapefruit, and Lychee. Next time you’re in Oregon, support a woman-owned brand.

Sheba Baby!

Sheba Baby, a new wellness-centric cannabis brand is being launched by long-time industry leader, Mary Pryor. Debuting in New York & California, Sheba Baby follows the motto “self care is a habit” with a heavy foundation on integrative wellness. Expect pre-rolls, lip care, retail experiences, and more from Sheba Baby that blend holistic ingredients like sandalwood and peppermint to compliment joints infused with THC-A.

Flower By Edie Parker

Brett Heyman, founder of Edie Parker, has built one of the most recognizable cannabis fashion brands in the industry today. With a chic high-end aesthetic, Edie Parker makes their lane for women who want fire weed in a fire handbag.

Pwincess Cutt by Queen Pee

Queen Pee shows off her Pwincess Cutt weed at the Joke's Up Ice Kream Dispensary grand opening in Santa Monica, CA. (Amennu McGruder / Leafly)
Queen Pee shows off her Pwincess Cutt weed at the Joke’s Up Ice Kream Dispensary grand opening in Santa Monica, CA. (Amennu McGruder / Leafly)

The vision for the booming Joke’s Up Ice Kream store in Studio City came from Queen Pee, a marketing maven with a best-selling brand in California’s Cookies stores. She found the Ice Kream location while knocking on doors in search of new stores to carry her Pwincess Cutt strain, which comes in a diamond-shaped bag.

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First toke: Joke’s Up Ice Kream dispensary grand opening taste test

Her Highness NYC

Luxury cannabis meets a female-forward approach. Her Highness NYC co-founders, Allison Krongard and Laura Eisman, have dedicated their career to creating innovative cannabis products that engage “harmoniously with the female body”. From THC to CBD to witty accessories, in Her Highness, you can trust.

Sonder Time

Faun Chapin and M. Paradise are the masterminds behind California-based brand, Sonder. With roots in the industry, Faun is a second generation cannabis entrepreneur who’s mother actually cultivated cannabis in Mendocino County. Initially known for their Sonder Space Crystals (aka pop rock-esque candy), Sonder has since focused on sharing the highest quality sungrown cannabis oils.

Substance

Reparations through cannabis brought to you by Sharoz Makarechi and Substance, a premium pre-roll brand. Sharoz has committed to the social impact as a true core of the brand. Substance is putting their money where their mouth is by donating $8.46 per pack of pre-rolls sold to organizations fighting to end mass incarceration.

Node Labs

Node Labs CEO Lauren Avenius
(Node Labs)

Lauren Avenius is CEO of Node Labs, which works with Compound Genetics and other top breeders to develop and preserve the world’s best strains. “If breeders are the artists, Node is the recording studio,” Avenius told Honeysuckle last year. Node and Compound run a state of the art facility deep in the NorCal mountains that harbors hundreds of prized genetics at any given time. Node is the licensor and plant-touching home of Compound, facilitating game-changing collabs with everyone from Berner to Wiz Khalifa to 2 Chainz, pushing the plant’s creative limits with every node.

grown

grown CBD miami company CEO Shannon Allen
(courtesy of grown)

Shannon Allen founded this Miami-based CBD based business that’s flying off the shelves. Known as CEO and “Grownwoman,” Allen ensures that grown only serves real, slow-cooked food. With locations in South Miami, Miami Gardens, and Flamingo Point, grown’s menu offers organic fast-food focusing on nutrient-dense, farm-to-fork cuisine. Allen oversees grown’s extensive farm network to source organic local and sustainable ingredients without GMOs, preservatives, hormones, or processed sugar.

License Holders

graphic of a hand and checklist
(everything bagel/Adobe Stock)

These women in cannabis secured licenses to grow, sell, or distribute the plant in legal markets. Support these 19 licensed operators and watch out for the next big moves.

Blossom Flower (MA)

Blossom Flower MA founder
(courtesy of Blossom Flower)

Blossom Flower is a cannabis delivery company founded by Damaris Aponte, a Puerto Rican social equity operator who is bringing cannabis to her hometown of Holyoke, MA. After achieving licensing for cultivation, manufacturing, and delivery, Damaris is on her way to get Blossom Flower delivery operational in 2023.

Coast Cannabis Co. / T. Bear Inc. (MA)

T. Bear Inc. more widely known as Coast Cannabis Co. is the first independent product manufacturer in the state of Massachusetts and one of the first women-led manufacturers ever licensed for adult-use on the East Coast. Co-founded by Angela Brown in 2017, Coast Cannabis Co. are crafters of the finest chocolates, gummies, and vapes in the Bay State.

Mary & Main (MD)

Mary & Main is a family-owned & women-owned dispensary by mother-daughter duo Dr. Octavia Wiseman and Hope Wiseman. Based in Prince George’s County, Mary & Main is one of the only Black women-owned dispensaries operating in the state since 2018 and one of the first ever Black women-owned dispensaries to open up on the East Coast.

Holistic Solutions (NJ)

Suzan Nickleson is the founder of Holistic Solutions, cannabis history’s first Black woman owned dispensary in New Jersey. Located 45 minutes from Atlantic City, Holistic Solutions is an adult-use cannabis retail store that is officially open to all adults over the age of 21.

Queen Mary (CA)

Queen Mary is one of California’s most authentic cannabis brands focused on combining daily supplements and vitamins within a fast-acting, rosin infused edible experience. Tiana Woodruff is California native, founder of Queen Mary, and Tier 1 social equity applicant whose working towards launching her own cannabis retail store.

Earth & Ivy (NJ)

Earth & Ivy is a new adult-use cannabis dispensary licensed in Rutgers University’s hometown of New Brunswick, New Jersey. Sasha Stephens, Co-founder of Earth & Ivy, very well might be the youngest Black dispensary owner in the country. As an UPenn graduate, Sasha discovered her passion for the plant going from home grow to cultivation facility before joining her partners to successfully apply for a retail license.

Josephine & Billie’s (CA)

Whitney Beatty is the rockstar mom & entrepreneur who founded Josephine & Billie’s, Los Angeles’ first dispensary dedicated to women of color. As a lifelong cannabis advocate and board member of SuperNova Women, Whitney Beatty started her cannabis career  launching The Apothecarry, a high-end humidor for your cannabis goodies. Josephine & Billie’s is an immersive experience designed as a 1920’s speakeasy giving ode to the Harlem Renaissance.

Khemia (CA)

Rose petal joints, THC infused hot cocoa mix, and the finest flowers are the signature products of Khemia, a California women-owned social equity cannabis manufacturer. Established in 2017, Khemia is led by a trio of cannabis lovers in Manndie Tingler, Mindy Galloway, and Kimberly Cargile with an impressive supporting cast of female advisors.

Tricolla Farms & Bardo Labs (NY & PA)

Tricolla Farms is New York’s very own sun-grown cannabis & hemp farm in partnership with their sister company, Bardo Labs – a boutique extraction lab. Tricolla Farms is family-owned and powered by a strong team of women entrepreneurs led by co-founder Britanny Carbone, Tia Tagliaferro, and Hayli Weintraub.

Etain (NJ & NY)

Etain is a family-owned, vertically–integrated cannabis operator based in New Jersey and New York since 2015. Founded by a C-suite of women leaders, the Peckham sisters (Amy, Keeley, and Hilary) began their journey creating plant medicine after seeking cannabis’ medicinal properties for their grandmother’s ALS. 

True Labs (NJ)

A majority of cannabis licenses are for growing or selling, but who’s actually testing the product we consume to create a safe, transparent experience? Meet Sarah Ahrens, owner of True Labs, the first certified woman-owned cannabis testing laboratory on the East Coast.

Simply Pure (CO)

Wanda James & Simply Pure in Denver, Colorado is forever in the cannabis history books as the first Black (legal) dispensary owner. Shoutout to all the legacy trappers that paved the way. Since 2010, Simply Pure has been a staple in the Denver community and an icon of excellence for women and minority business owners across the nation. Stay tuned for the continued legacy of Simply Pure with new partnerships expansions to New Jersey.

Sixty Four & Hope (CA)

Sixty Four & Hope is a Black woman-owned social equity dispensary located in the heart of Los Angeles. Aja Allen is rooted in her work as a community advocate, and has been running her own social impact organization called ProjectC3 that supports homeless persons. Stop in and you’ll see Sixty Four & Hope has a curated collection of the best BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ brands California has to offer.

Soulstar & Nightjar (CT & NJ)

Amanda Rositano is the CEO of Soulstar, a female-led cannabis company led by an all-star lineup including Kim Napoli, Fran DeRogatis, and Katie Covett. Soulstar is the parent company and name of their Connecticut social equity cultivation license while Nightjar is the name of Soulstar’s upcoming New Jersey dispensary.

WYLLOW (CA)

WYLLOW is a new Los Angeles-based bi-cultural, woman-owned dispensary founded by Camille Roistacher. Debuted in 2022, WYLLOW began as a cannabis brand and has extended into a full-fledged retail store. WYLLOW’s storefront  is highlighted as one of the most unique, immersive dispensary experiences through vibrant LED lighting, ASMR ambiance of your favorite cannabis sounds, and even a terpene smelling station. 

Posh Green (CA)

Posh Green is San Francisco’s first social equity, independently owned dispensary by a woman of color. Inspired by owner & SF native Reese Benton’s in-depth fashion experience, Posh Green has dubbed itself as a “cannabis boutique” for top-shelf premium products. 

Ganja Girls (MI)

Have you ever heard of a “Licensed Marijuana Event Organizer”? Yes, in many states you need a cannabis event license in order to (legally) allow consumption. Meet Morgan Underwood, Founder of Ganja Girl, the first woman of color to hold a state-issued cannabis license in Lansing, MI. Morgan started her career as cultivator supporting local medical patients, and now is providing safe and accessible consumption experiences to the Great Lake State.

Seventh Wave (CA)

Seventh Wave is the first licensed, dual-social equity cannabis company based in Humboldt County, CA. Co-founded by Eliza Espinoza and her husband Timo Espinoza, Seventh Wave is family-owned and licensed for bulk wholesale, manufacturing, distribution, and delivery retail. This family has a long storied heritage in cannabis as Timo’s father was set up by the FBI for cannabis in the 1970’s. Today, Seventh Wave is creating their own transformative legacy. 

Four Twenty distribution and Mother Exotic Flower (CA)

Sakara Barnes runs two California businesses that combine to form a powerful operation. The New York native specializes in premium flower that is white-labeled and delivered with partners like Australian brand Stoned Apes, and delivery service See Canna. Looking forward, Barnes plans to work with Cookies, Seed Junky genetics, and Backpack Boyz soon.

Accessory, Community, & Service-based Companies

On Nov. 8, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirmed Aug. 30 Leafly findings of a new, toxic cutting agent in the illicit THC vape cart supply chain—vitamin E acetate. Above, a woman using a vaping device in Mayfield Heights, Ohio (Tony Dejak/AP)
(Tony Dejak/AP)

Businesses that don’t touch the plant directly are still essential to the industry’s growth. These 23 women-led businesses give life to the ancillary fields of the plant.

Black Girls Smoke

Black Girls Smoke (BGS) is a community dedicated to women of color in cannabis. Led by the initial vision of Vic Styles, the BGS team is driven by teammates Ashley Cadogan (Social and Community Manager), Kyla Mayo (Director of Innovation), Crystal Castillo (Partnerships Manager), and Jayson Paulino (Creative Director). BGS hosts in-person initiatives like their annual Puff in the Park in New York City and online spaces that invite women of color to find a community that centers their impact on cannabis culture.

Our Academy

The brainchild of Hilary Yu, Our Academy is a 501(c)(3) that empowers social equity applicants and independent BIPOC cannabis entrepreneurs across the country with the resources they need to thrive. Our Academy’s mentorship program opens once a year for applicants to join the next cohort. This program is one of the most effective in the industry with weekly workshops & mentees learning directly from the cannabis industry’s top professionals.

PussyWeed

After hosting their own 420-friendly parties in college, PussyWeed co-founders, Natasha Pzedborski and Ava Kingsley quickly realized they could serve the underserved womxn in their community with intention. PussyWeed’s mission is to normalize cannabis through art, content, and locally-made products. When NYC’s finest stoners come together to create a trusted community for womxn in weed, you get PussyWeed. The rest is history.

Rudick Law Group

Lauren Rudick is the founder and managing principal of Rudick Law Group, a new boutique, women-led law firm. Rudick began practicing cannabis law when New York legalized medical cannabis in 2014. She was a patient advocate before getting into cannabis law, where she specializes in helping investors and businesses navigate complex transactions and regulatory matters. Rudick Law Group also includes associates Fatima Afia and Jessica F. Gonzalez, and currently represents some of New York and New Jersey’s top cannabis operators.

Buy Weed From Women (BWFW)

A simple motto with a major message: Buy Weed From Women. Today in cannabis only 20% of women are cannabis owned businesses. Jasmine Mans, a ​​Black American poet, artist from Newark, New Jersey, has made it one of her contributions to cannabis culture to change this narrative. Collaborating with Miss Grass and Etain, fellow women-owned cannabis companies, Buy Weed From Women has taken their renowned tote bags and merchandise as a vehicle to give back to local organizations like the New York City Food Bank. 

Green Goddess Glow

When you are ready to tap into the sacred wisdom and ritualistic practices of cannabis, DeJanae Evins , cannabis educator and Founder of Green Goddess Glow, is just a guided meditation away. Green Goddess Glow  is a cannabis wellness brand that invigorates their community with their resources including a catalog of ancient plant medicines, sound baths, and lifestyle guides. 

MOTA Glass

MOTA Glass launched in November 2020 We’re a Los Angeles-based glass company that not only produces high-quality, locally-made functional borosilicate glass, but also provides stable jobs with livable wages and career pathways. Susie Plascencia is a Mexican American entrepreneur. As minorities ourselves, we proudly celebrate and uplift the work of BIPOC and other minority artists through special projects and collaborations.

Grass Is Greener NY

Sarah ElSayed is the epitome of a hustler with a swiss army knife’s worth of skills in public relations, social media, and copywriting. Grass Is Greener NY is her birth child of a full-service creative marketing agency based in NYC. The Brooklyn native is working with brands like Sunsoil, Tempo Crackers, and Squier’s Specialty Edibles” alongside her creative partner, MA’s own, Megan Cunningham.

JTT Accessories

Mary Latreece is an Atlanta native and innovator behind JTT (Just The Tip) Accessories. Just The Tip is a play-on-words for the beautified joint holders JTT has deemed as “chill stones”. These are luxury hand blown glass pieces that help accentuate the joint smoking experience by providing a smoother finish and to avoid passing the joint, not germs.

Stoney Mama

Known as the Bronx’s #1 Weed-Smoking Grandma, Stoney Mama (@stoneymama75 on Instagram) brings joy to social media and cannabis spaces by simply being herself. She known to dangle seven-gram bags of flower from her earrings and curses like a sailor (check out her antics in this hilarious video). She even claims to be able to out-smoke Snoop Dogg. With well over 100,000 followers on Instagram, Stoney Mama is one of the most influential women in weed.

Best Friend’s House

Whether it’s hand-selected vintage from flea markets or new quirky smoking goods, Best Friend’s House is all you need. Launched in 2023, Best Friend’s House is founded by best friends Dani Gildemontes-Davila and Abby Dergazarian. Welcome home to that bestie you can always count on for their smoking goodies. Don’t sleep on Dani’s TikTok, it’s quite hilarious. 

National Cannabis Festival (NFC)

Did you know one of the USA’s largest 420 celebrations is women-led? Happening every April since 2015, the National Cannabis Festival has been a cornerstone for the East Coast cannabis community featuring performances from icons like Wiz Khalifa, Method Man, and 2Chainz.  Major shoutout to the founder, Caroline Phillips and the team of star-studded organizers such as Queen Adesuyi, Morgan Fox, Laila Makled, and Michelle Rutter.

Session Goods

Esther LeNoir Ramirez is the co-founder and CEO of Session Goods, a lifestyle brand founded in San Francisco and based in Los Angeles. Crafted with high-level function and design in mind, Session Goods is known for their signature Session Bong and modern smoking accessories with a discreet aesthetic for everyday use.

Sephida Artis-Mills

Sephida Artis-Mills is the leader of the United Empowerment Party (Formerly Known As National Cannabis Party), which was established in January of 2021 to ensure “equity empowerment” in the industry.”The party was started because of seeing the way that cannabis was mishandled, and the lack of real representation when it comes to understanding the plant.” Mills told Leafly’s Antonio Miller.

“I feel people must be mindful and aware of their ‘why,’ because that is what’s going to drive you. That’s what’s going to impact the other people that you encounter in this space. It’s not just simply about profit. And when you understand your ‘why’ and how you want to come into this space to serve others or to make a difference.”

Sephida Artis-Mills, co-founder of the United Empowerment Party

Elevate Jane

Modern smokeware with an artistic, vintage twist is Angela Mou’s calling card. As Founder of Elevate Jane, a contemporary smoke shop led by a team of women, Angela has created a truly differentiated home in the cannabis accessories game. Elevate Jane is your home to find vintage glass pieces, hand-blown ceramics, and hand-crafted goods made in curated drops.

Another Room

If you like the idea of a floating ashtray in the tub or a hamburger grinder, Another Room is the creative smokeshop of your dreams. Co-founded by Chloe Popove, Another Room is a Canadian team full of playful designs including their signature Jointlockers and 3D printed plant-based plastics. Don’t believe us? Check out The Prototype Shop.

Cannaclusive

Cannaclusive has fought for equitable representation of BIPOC communities since it was founded in 2017 by Mary Pryor, Tonya Rapley, and Charlese Antoinette with support from industry leaders Kassia Graham and Arlene Pitterson. Through content, experiences, and advocacy, Cannaclusive has created an ecosystem for inclusion with resources like InclusiveBase and The Accountability List. 

Humble Bloom

Humble Bloom is an education & advocacy centric platform that hosts immersive experiences in order to bring diverse communities holistic support. Co-founders Solonje Burnett and Danniel Swatosh have stayed true to their roots and continuously advocate in their home-base of New York City and across the country.

Blaze Responsibly & Blaze Law Firm

If you know someone looking to get their cannabis record expunged, make sure they tune into Chirali Patel’s Blaze Responsibly & Blaze Law Firm. Chirali Patel is a change-maker that has taken the lead on expungement clinics with the cannabis industry’s largest operators like AYR Wellness and Ascend Wellness Holdings. In addition, Chirali Patel is a lawyer by trade that has supported the application process for some of the first licensed operators in New Jersey’s newly forming adult-use market.

Sackville & Co.

Sackville & Co founders Hayley Dineen and Lana Van Brunt have found their home making cannabis lifestyle products that fuse luxury with the mainstream. Whether its their in-house designs or exclusive collaborations with figures like Flatbush Zombies, the Sackville & Co team has the background to innovate for years on their culturally-relevant accessories.

House of Puff

House of Puff is a New York certified-minority and women-owned business launched by proud Latine entrepreneur, Kristina Lopez Adduci. With accessories like their nebulous rolling trays and ceramic wick holders, you’ll feel super luxe for your wake and bake.

Zero Two Four (024™) 

024™ is a home fragrance brand founded by Gena Surphlin, New York native, whose mission is to relieve the burden of the cannabis’ aromatic stigma with their luxury candles.024™ candles are infused with essential oils and their patented NeuAir technology will keep your humble abode smelling just as humble.

Yew Yew Shop

Designer by trade, founder by choice, Jenny Winchman is the founder of Yew Yew Shop, a smokeware design company. As a Long Island native that made the transition to the cannabis industry, Jenny is the soul of Yew Yew Shop, sharing much of her wellness journey online in order to connect with her tightly-knit community since 2017. Yew Yew’s best sellers like their sunset bongs & cloud grinders combine cuteness, sleekness, and function all-in-one. 


Meg Schmidt, Mikhail Harrison, Antonio Miller, and Calvin Stovall contributed to this article.





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New weed shops of America: Miami’s first MMJ shop opens

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Who needs new weed shops? We do. Miami gets its first medical dispensary, New Mexico welcomes a massive cannabis superstore, and a Detroit rapper brings legal weed to 8 Mile. Here are the new dispensary openings across America this month.

Got a new shop? Put it on the map. Visit Leafly Success to advertise. 

New weed shops and returning stores on Leafly

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Arizona

new weed shops near me
(Courtesy Ponderosa)

Ponderosa Dispensary— Tucson, AZ. Opened Jan. 18. Firstly, let’s start with the desert. Tuscon just got a little greener thanks to the arrival of Ponderosa Dispensary. Stocking over 20 premiere cannabis brands, Ponderosa aka the Pondy also scores bragging rights for having the largest selection of in-house brands Canamo Concentrates and Sonoran Roots available anywhere in Tucson. Other highlights include friendly, informed budtenders and a “full-sensory” shopping experience. 3008 N. Stone Ave, Tucson. 

California

Urbana Oakland— Oakland, CA. Opened Jan. 17. You’ll have to get your order of fries somewhere else as former burger joint Luke’s Taproom has now officially reopened as the latest outpost of Urbana’s chain of NorCal dispensaries. Specifically, the updated digs “preserve the industrial charm of the property while adding modern, welcoming touches” that include consumption lounges and a “vibrant calendar of events that celebrates local art, culture, and education.” 415 W Grand, Oakland.

Florida

Ayr Wellness—Miami, FL. Opened Jan. 10. It took long enough, but Miami’s first medical cannabis dispensary is now finally open. In the works with the City of Miami since 2016, Ayr Wellness has at last opened the chain’s 67th location in the state. Offering a full menu of flower, vape carts, edibles, and more, representatives for Ayr shared their hope to cater to “underserved medical marijuana patients” at their Midtown store, which is located within a shopping district that draws heavy foot traffic. 3160 N. Miami Ave, Miami.

Maryland

The Forest—Baltimore, MD. Opened Jan. 18. Don’t mistake the trees for The Forest because both are welcome additions to the scene in Baltimore. Marking Maryland’s first vertically integrated social equity license to open shop, The Forest is African American and Latina majority-owned and plans to situate their business as a “holistic wellness experience with access to high-quality cannabis products” including concentrates, pre-rolls, and topicals. 3301 Boston St, Baltimore. 

Michigan

Fly Shifter Cannabis—Detroit, MI. Opened Jan. 11. Don’t tell Poppa Doc but Detroit’s 8 Mile has a new heavyweight in the form of Fly Shifter Cannabis from homegrown rapper and entrepreneur Lou “Big Shifter” Gram. Perks include a plethora of premium cannabis products, a Shifter’s Only Club providing loyalty rewards, and an ongoing commitment to supporting Detroit’s “local economy and cultural landscape.” 6220 8 Mile Rd, Detroit. 

Missouri

CODES—Kansas City, MO. Opened Jan. 18. Comedian and cannabis enthusiast/entrepreneur Jim Belushi was on hand to welcome Kansas City’s newest dispensary to the party. Billed as “one of the fastest-growing brands in Missouri’s cannabis industry,” CODES prides itself on offering premium cannabis products, including exclusive cultivars, edibles, and concentrates, designed to cater to a “broad spectrum of Kansas City’s diverse clientele.” 668 E Red Bridge Rd, Kansas City. 

New Jersey

new weed shops near me
(Courtesy Budzooka)

Budzooka—Elizabeth, NJ. Opened Jan. 29. The proudly Hispanic-owned Budzooka Dispensary has officially opened in the home of a former bank in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Featuring a clean interior flecked with splashes of bright color, Budzooka also offers a “bud bar” where customers can see and smell the various types of cannabis flower available for sale. The shop’s menu also includes an extensive list of vapes, concentrates, edibles, and even a few MSO (multi-state operator) brands like Loud Labs and Nova Farms. 142 Broad St, Elizabeth.

New Mexico

Mango Cannabis—Sunland Park, NM. Opened Jan. 22. If there’s one thing New Mexico was missing, it’s a 9,000-square-foot cannabis superstore. Thankfully, Mango Cannabis has fixed the issue by opening the state’s largest dispensary (to date) last month. Capable of processing 2,000 to 3,0000 order per day, the Sunland Park location is set to carry over 3,000 SKUS (products) that include “the top [hundred] most popular brands in the state.” 1051 McNutt Road, Sunland Park. 

New York

Kaya Bliss— Brooklyn, NY. Opened Jan. 9. The new weed shops of New York keep coming. Once a hair salon, the confines of Brooklyn’s Kaya Bliss have a decidedly different vibe these days. Customers visiting Bay Ridge’s first licensed adult-use cannabis dispensary can look forward to walls decorated with murals, comprehensively trained budtenders, and over 400 products from more than 30 brands to choose from. Purchases can be made either at the registers or at conveniently located in-store kiosks. 8412 3rd Avenue, Brooklyn. 

The Herb Cave—Plattsburgh, NY. Opened Dec. 27. Northern New York scored a big win with the opening of the first woman-owned, licensed cannabis dispensary in the Plattsburgh region last month. With a menu featuring “a variety of craft cannabis products sourced from smaller farms and micro-businesses throughout New York State,” The Herb Cave prides itself as a “experienced, reliable, established” legacy business here to solve your cannabis needs. 19 State Rte 3, Plattsburgh. 

Pennsylvania

Terrapin Care Station—Bellefonte, PA. Opened Jan. 9. One year after Gov. Josh Shapiro signed the bill ushering in a new era of legal medical cannabis in Pennsylvania, independent medical cannabis grower and processor Terrapin has launched a store in Bellefonte. The site marks the first of three planned locations for Terrapin, including forthcoming stores in Lewisburg (Kelly Township) and Lock Haven (Woodward Township). Dates for the latter two stores remain yet to be announced but are expected soon. 205 Park Place, Bellefonte. 

In conclusion—it’s a tremendous time for medical and adult-use cannabis access. Just look at all these new weed shops near you. Did we miss any? Leave a comment with a new one.

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Alto Dispensary is a family affair in Tribeca

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Smoking a joint with your siblings is a sacred teenage tradition, something that bonds you across clouds of smoke—a furtive secret you all keep from your parents. For the five Savocchi siblings, it seemed an innocent enough past time during their childhood in Queens. But it was also prequel to their eventual entry into New York’ adult-use cannabis industry. 

Now, on the streets of Tribeca, locals, tourists, and medical patients alike can stop and smell both the literal and cannabis flowers of Alto dispensary. It’s quite literally a family affair—siblings André, Stephanie, Nicole, Daniela, and Sarah, and parents Guido and Sandra man the ship and tend the bar, even as most of them juggle day jobs (for now).

“It’s been a wild ride to get here.”

Nicole Savocchi

The five siblings smoked together, but their parents were hip too—it was Guido’s cannabis arrest in the ‘90s that qualified them for the license, though the interest had been there for years. Sandra was the first to alert the family after hearing about the passing of the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act in 2021. 

“I heard it on the radio going to work,” she says. “When I heard that this program was available, I’m like, ‘this is for us.’ Right away, I phoned André, and I said, ‘I just heard this, this and this. It’s going to be a difficult process I hear, but we have to do it.’ And he ran with it.”

André is the baby of the family, but he’s the driving force behind Alto. He’d delved the deepest into the cannabis world, including research in other states, and is the only sibling full-time at the store. During its intense renovation, he donned a white hazmat suit and got his hands dirty.

“At times, it definitely kind of feels like we’re building a plane as we’re flying it, just trying to navigate this new landscape. To now be open, we’re all just definitely happy to be here and be a part of the Tribeca community. There’s definitely a unique synergy and chemistry in our work.”

André Savocchi

He also curates the store’s menu, which includes multi-state brands like Wyld Gummies, Kiva Confections, and Select vapes as well as local hits like MFNY concentrates and Umami flower. The menu has to reflect all the multitudes of New York, just like the shop’s environment.

Customers waltzing through Tribeca’s artsy alleys won’t find anyone not named Savocchi on the floor by design. It should feel like coming to your cool family friend’s house, whether you want something to liven up your evening or have a need for something medicinal.

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If you don’t partake, you can still buy the other kind of flowers in the front of the store. Alto’s Tribeca shop also has a second-floor space that will one day (Office of Cannabis Management permitting) become an events and consumption lounge.

Until then, if you’re in Tribeca, why not stop in and smell the flowers?

“I think when we’re all together, we’re not workers. We all have that level of dedication. People walk in, they’re like, ‘Oh, this feels so nice here. This definitely feels like a family vibe,’ even before they even know we’re family. They can actually feel that energy.”

Stephanie Savocchi

Savocchi family stands proudly in front of their dispensary.
(Courtesy Andre Savocchi)



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These states sold more than $1 billion in weed in 2024

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What exactly is a billion dollars? Well, it’s the amount of money you’d make on a North American tour…if you were Taylor Swift. Or the stack of cash that Deadpool & Wolverine brought in at the box office. Or the estimated GDP of the South Pacific Ocean nation of Vanuatu.

When it comes to cannabis, the figure offers a snapshot of a state industry’s strength. But it doesn’t necessarily reflect population data. Nor is it limited to states that have boasted legal weed for a long time, or even states that have rec programs at all.

As we dive headfirst into 2025, we’ve put together a list of the states that crossed the $1 billion threshold last year, as well as some of the market trends those states illuminated. Buckle up, and prepare to be surprised.

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Arizona

In 2024, Arizona fell hundreds of millions of dollars short of maintaining the epic sales run it had in 2023—that year, retailers sold $1.4 billion of cannabis. Nevertheless, Arizona held on to its status as a member of the “Billion Dollar” club in 2024. Last year, Arizona also continued to see its share of medical marijuana revenue shrink; it was down to about 17% of total sales, from 21% the year prior.

California

A row of buds in a contest case under white light. little placards behind each bud give descriptors like dessert. photo by David Downs for Leafly at the emerald cup 2023.
May the best bud win. The Emerald Cup contestant case in Richmond, CA. (David Downs/Leafly)

Despite its huge illicit market, California remains The Big Kahuna of cannabis. In 2024, the Golden State sold an estimated $4.27 billion of legal weed. According to state data, flower comprised nearly 40% of all sales, vapes counted for about a quarter of sales, and edibles made up roughly 10%. California was the first state to legalize medical marijuana in 1996, but medical marijuana only comprised 8% of total cannabis sales in 2024.

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Colorado

The Colorado cannabis industry, alas, did not have a great 2024. Wholesale prices fell, and the state reported $1.28 billion sales, its lowest numbers since 2015. As our friend Mona Zhang at Politico reported last year, the trend has other states worried. Here’s to hoping Colorado has a big 2025!

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Florida

Even though Florida failed to pass adult-use legalization last November (thanks to the state’s 60% vote threshold), the Sunshine State’s medical program still outpaces many of its fully legal peers. According to data from the Brightfield Group, Florida dispensaries sold $2.1 billion of medical marijuana in 2024. 

Illinois

Unlike some of the original rec states, Illinois saw its cannabis market continue to grow in 2024: The state sold nearly $1.8 billion of marijuana, a high point since sales began in 2020. In more good news, Illinois has officially expunged over 20,000 cannabis-related convictions since 2020. A big bravo to the Land of Lincoln!

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Maryland

a dozen-odd people outside a dispensary with a blue grand opening banner in front of them and a Black man holding a gigantic pair of blue scissors
Far & Dotter cut the ribbon on legal cannabis in Maryland. (Leafly)

Even though Maryland only launched its rec program in July 2023, the state industry has blossomed rapidly. In the 2024 calendar year, Maryland generated $1.14 billion in adult-use and medical marijuana sales. We suspect that’s resulted in a significant bump to the state’s Old Bay-dusted crab leg market as well.

Massachusetts

It ain’t just Illinois. Massachusetts also had its biggest sales year ever in 2024: A grand total of $1.64 billion of cannabis. Shout-out to the state’s Cannabis Control Commission for highlighting Worcester County as the “cannabis capital of Massachusetts”—$1.4 billion of sales have occurred there since 2018!

Michigan

Even though it now faces competition from neighboring Ohio, Michigan still pulled off a record year in 2024. The Great Lake State sold $3.29 billion of cannabis last year, a 7% increase from 2023. And for context, Michigan has only one-quarter the population of California, but three-quarters the amount of cannabis sales. Wolverines love their weed! 

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Missouri

Missouri dispensary Greenlight hosts Underground—legal cannabis farmers markets. (Courtesy Greenlight)
Missouri dispensary Greenlight hosts Underground—legal cannabis farmers markets. (Courtesy Greenlight)

Missouri’s adult-use program only launched two years ago, but business is booming in the Show-Me State. In 2024, retailers there sold $1.4 billion of cannabis. According to LKP Impact Consulting, men purchased nearly two-thirds of all that pot, and Millennials made up 40% of all shoppers. 

Pennsylvania

While the eternal legal pot booster Senator John Fetterman has yet to seal the deal in his home state, Pennsylvania’s medical market is still doing big business. Dispensaries sold over $1.6 billion of medical marijuana in 2024 to over 440,000 patients. Unlike in Colorado, rapidly sinking wholesale prices in Pennsylvania led to more purchases, not less.

Washington

Cannabis sales in Washington State have been on a minor but consistent decline for the past few years, but the state is nonetheless expected to have generated $1.2 billion in 2024, when all the numbers get crunched. That’s roughly the same sales total as Colorado, even though Washington is home to nearly two million more people.

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See, we told you there would be some surprises!

At least 11 states racked up medical and adult-use cannabis sales over $1 billion in 2024. Don’t forget—you can double those totals when you count illicit cannabis, too. Nearly 88% of US voters now support medical or adult-use. It’s clear that cannabis is huge, and states can choose to either reasonably regulate and tax it, or hand over those dollars to the streets or competing states.



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