MJBizCon Reception Celebrates Women Shaping Cannabis Leadership

The annual Empowering Women in Cannabis reception returned to MJBizCon
December 4 with the kind of energy that felt part celebration, part
reunion, and part reminder of how much collective work remains to ensure
women are equally represented in cannabis-industry executive suites. The
awards ceremony, led by Women Grow Chief Executive Officer Dr. Chanda Macias,
honored four women whose contributions reflect the grit and creativity that
have shaped the modern cannabis landscape.

But the deeper story of the evening was not the awards co-hosted by Women
Grow and MJBizCon. It was the insistence, spoken plainly from the stage,
that women in the cannabis industry “are not labor,” as Macias put it, but
leaders, innovators, and architects of the path forward.
Women supporting women

Macias, a physician who also founded and helms dispensary operator National
Holistic Healthcare, opened the program by tracing the arc of her own entry
into the industry. In 2012, she joined a small cohort of 50 women in
Colorado who believed the industry needed equal representation. That early
group eventually grew into Women Grow, an organization that since has
supported thousands of founders, operators, executives, and advocates
nationwide.

Her passion shone as she spoke about the extraordinary effort and sacrifice
women exerted to gain visibility in an industry that, even today, does not
always treat them as equals. She described the emotional load of building
businesses, running households, and pushing back against “no” at every turn.

What she emphasized most was collective endurance. “We still need women
supporting women,” she said.

By the time she handed the microphone to Emilie Lewis, senior vice
president for MJBizCon, the sense of shared purpose was palpable.
A women-led backbone behind the industry’s largest event

Lewis, who oversees programming for the cannabis industry trade show, spoke
candidly about her early mentors and the women inside her organization who
power the conference. “This conference is run by women,” she said, adding
that detail is a large part of the reason for the event’s inclusivity and
depth.

Lewis then introduced the honorees: Angela Pih, Kristi Palmer, Rachel
Wright, and Mary Jane Oatman.
Honoring cannabis leadership and legacy

Marketing executive Angela Pih, founder of Point Brand, was celebrated for
her ability to scale high-growth brands in cannabis, wellness, and
lifestyle categories. Her work has earned national recognition, but she
used her remarks to credit the women who helped her survive and thrive,
especially as a woman of color and a single mother.

“Ask for help,” she told the audience. “We’re [in this] together.”

As co-founder and president of multistate product brand Kiva Confections, Kristi
Palmer helped shape the national edibles market from her home kitchen. With
Kiva turning 15 this year, she reflected on quality, perseverance, and how
often the industry “will kick you and shove you.” Her message was frank: Be
persistent.

“Regulations will shift and markets will wobble, but a commitment to
excellence is non-negotiable,” she said.

Tax strategist and Verdant Strategies founder Rachel Wright was honored for
her deep technical expertise and the operational steadiness she provides to
cannabis businesses navigating regulatory turbulence. Lewis described
Wright as “the heartbeat of this industry,” a reputation earned through
years of guiding operators through tax burdens, cross-border complexities,
and the emotional weight of entrepreneurship.

Perhaps the afternoon’s most emotional moment came when Mary Jane Oatman,
executive director of the Indigenous Cannabis Industry Association,
magazine publisher, and a driving force behind indigenous cannabis
advocacy, took the stage. Citing the influence of her mother, Oatman
revealed her work is rooted in intergenerational courage and cultural
preservation.

Oatman spoke about attending her first national cannabis trade show in 2019
with a mission to document the real stories and healing power of cannabis
in tribal communities. She grounded her remarks in the experience of
grandmother, whose imprisonment for cannabis later transformed into public
advocacy at age 85.

“She believed in the medicine so much that she said, ‘I’d do it all over
again,’” Oatman recalled.

Her remarks brought the audience to its feet.
A surprise recognition for Dr. Chanda Macias

In an unscripted turn, Lewis and the MJBizCon team presented a final Woman
of the Year recognition to Macias. The announcement brought the room to a
standstill. Women Grow’s founder has spent more than a decade advocating
for equity, representation, and structured pathways for women in the space.

“You are not labor,” she told the audience in closing remarks, echoing
lessons learned while watching her mother carry the weight of both home and
work. The message landed with unmistakable resonance: Women’s contributions
to the cannabis industry are not supplementary; they are foundational.
A collective call to action

As the awards ceremony transitioned into networking, Macias urged attendees
to continue the fight for equity, visibility, and one another.

“You are worth the fight,” she said. “And I’ll keep fighting for you.”

The room dispersed into clusters of founders, operators, advocates, and
emerging leaders — exactly the kind of diverse community Women Grow set out
to build more than a decade ago.

And on this particular December evening, that community felt strong, loud,
and ready for whatever comes next.
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Context and key takeaways on women in cannabis

1. Who was honored at the Empowering Women in Cannabis reception at
MJBizCon?

The 2025 reception recognized Angela Pih, Kristi Palmer, Rachel Wright,
and Mary Jane Oatman for their leadership and impact. Dr. Chanda Macias
also received a surprise Woman of the Year recognition.
2. What is the Empowering Women in Cannabis reception at MJBizCon?

It’s an annual gathering hosted by Women Grow and MJBizCon that
highlights women driving innovation, advocacy, and representation in the
cannabis industry.
3. Why does women’s leadership matter in the cannabis industry?

Women have played foundational roles in cannabis advocacy,
entrepreneurship, and community building. Increasing representation
supports stronger businesses, more inclusive leadership, and a healthier
workforce.
4. What themes were emphasized during the event?

Speakers emphasized resilience, shared responsibility, mentorship,
cultural preservation, and the need for continued collective action to
advance equity in cannabis.