March is Women’s History Month, a time to honor the achievements and contributions of women throughout history. As a woman-owned cannabis delivery service, we’re honored to make our mark in the cannabis industry, a field that has historically been male-dominated. Today, we want to say thank you to all of the women who helped shape the industry and talk about our founder and CEO, Claudia Post.
The cannabis industry has traditionally been a male-dominated field, with men holding the majority of leadership positions and making the majority of the profits. However, in recent years, women have been making strides in the industry and helping shape the future.
Fifteen years ago, the cannabis industry was largely underground, and women had limited opportunities to participate. When medical cannabis first became legal in states like California and Colorado, many dispensaries were run by men and catered primarily to male customers. Women who did participate in the industry often found themselves relegated to low-paying positions such as budtenders or trimmers.
However, as the industry has evolved and becomes more mainstream, women have started to make their mark. In 2010, Claudia Post decided to get into the cannabis industry because of her son, Snic Barnes, who is a famous heady glass blower. They recognized it was going to be the next frontier. So, Post founded a marketing, advertising, design, and strategy agency for cannabis businesses–MOST Consulting Group.
According to a survey conducted by Leafly, the number of women in leadership positions in the cannabis industry increased from 36% in 2015 to 42% in 2019. This is significant progress, but there is still much work to be done to ensure gender equity in the industry.
One reason for the lack of women in leadership positions in the cannabis industry is the systemic gender biases that exist in many industries. In addition, the lack of clear regulations and standards for the industry has made it easier for men to dominate and push out women. Women have also faced barriers to entry due to limited access to capital and a lack of mentorship opportunities. Now, Claudia Post prides herself on being a mentor, speaker, and generous introducer to others in the space.
Women in the cannabis industry are now pushing back against these barriers and making their voices heard. Women-led organizations such as Women Grow and the National Cannabis Industry Association’s Women’s Cannabis Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in advocating for women’s rights and advancing gender equity in the industry.
20 years ago Claudia Post founded Diamond Transportation Group, a same-day, time-critical delivery service. “I was a pioneer, a trailblazer. I rode the range in transportation basically alone. Transportation was traditionally a male-dominated industry. I had to work harder, better, faster, and smarter because men thought that a woman with blonde hair would know nothing about transportation” Post shares. “I remember, walking onto loading docks and having men look at me like what the f**k does she know until I opened my mouth and the story changed.” Post opened up several warehouses up and down the east coast and provided trucking, pick-pack-ship, and a variety of other services to her clients. From her humble beginnings, she grew to 12 locations and became a multi-million dollar company. With her expertise in transportation, she recently founded Scarlet Express, a state-approved, closed-loop cannabis delivery service that provides discreet, secure, and expert cannabis supply chain management in every state.
Many women in the industry are also creating their own businesses and making a name for themselves by starting their own businesses, hosting cannabis-themed events and experiences, selling stylish and functional smoking accessories, educating the public about the benefits of cannabis, providing medical cannabis consultations and education to patients, and creating companies that have helped thousands of cannabis businesses navigate the complex regulations surrounding the industry. It doesn’t stop there, there have been many women making strides in the world of activism. There are women who have helped draft recreational cannabis laws and connect people from marginalized communities with jobs in the cannabis industry. Women are also making their mark in the world of cannabis cultivation being recognized for their high-quality cannabis strains.
These are just a few of the many things women are doing to make a difference in the cannabis industry. Women are leading the way in cannabis entrepreneurship, advocacy, cultivation, and more. As the cannabis industry continues to grow and evolve, we can expect to see more women making their mark and paving the way for a more inclusive and equitable industry. As the industry continues to grow and evolve, it is important to ensure that all voices are represented and that gender equity is a top priority. This Women’s History Month, let’s celebrate women’s contributions to the cannabis industry.