You’d think cannabis is hella kumbaya, but nah. The industry is lacks diversity. And we’re still fighting against a persisting gap.
With Maryland as the flagship east coast state to legalize medical cannabis, Baltimore is a very Black, community-driven city that could use a payout from cannabis.
That’s where the organization Madame Green Grow (MGG) comes in. It’s a team of Black women who provide support and education for women of color turning to this industry for “more.”
So you want to start a cannabiz. Or you want to learn how to build community engagement around cannabis in your town. Or, as a patient, you want to feel informed.
Read up on Keisha, one of the founders, to see how you can align your future with weed.
Madame Green Grow’s mission for the culture
Founded by Keisha and Jamea in Baltimore, Maryland in 2016, MGG was established as a network for women of color in cannabis.
Their support isn’t restricted to current and future entrepreneurs. This lovely Black duo are medical patient advocates, encourage knowledge and help start conversations about weed.
When they founded MGG, there were scant groups for women of color in cannabis on the east coast. Naturally, the answer was to start their own entry point for those seeking to cultivate a life in legal cannabis.
Their vision:
- Focus on issues and legislation that affect women and minority communities of color
- Partner with organizations that align with supporting, educating and celebrating women of color
- Provide a hub for ALL interested in education, sustainable communities, financial & intergenerational wealth related to cannabis
The illest female founder in the game
Saturday, January 26, 2019, I got to bask in the dope af presence of Keisha, one of the founders of Madame Green Grow.
By fate perhaps, we came across each other on Instagram. She initiated contact via phone the previous month when I became a medical cannabis patient.
Our connection was pretty instant (that’s the case with DMV Black women and me) and it was further solidified when we met face-to-face at a local Korean cafe and bakery. Learning more about Keisha emphasized why it’s so essential to have an organization like MGG.
Similar to me, she leaned on cannabis during a difficult stint in her life.
Her background in tech and digital marketing aside, her day-to-day collapsed in 2016. Friends dispersed like roaches, and her relationship and job were trash.
She considers that era to be her “Glitter moment,” a phrase inspired by Mariah Carey’s album and film commercial failures of the same name.
Pushing full steam ahead in cannabis, Keisha found it was filled with “mean girls,” Black female businesses lacking diverse branding, and an overall lack of diversity in spaces for patients. MGG is her answer to address those gaps by implementing community-based events.
She adores weed. She’s visited at least 50 of nearly 100 of Maryland’s current dispensaries! Her favorite dispensary is Your Farmacy and her top 3 strains are Lemon Skunk, Cheese strains and Lamb’s Bread.
To those who swear Lamb’s Bread is a Bob Marley strain, she humbly requests that you shut up–unless you have actual facts.
So, what’s on deck for them?
MGG features educational workshops in D.C. and Baltimore, and spotlights women of color who are killing it in cannabis. 2019’s endeavors aren’t listed on the site just yet, but hop onto their mailing list if you’re in the DMV looking for opportunities to network, connect and grow.
Keisha plans to partner with organizations and companies that provide protection for cannabis industry employees. And she may start a podcast (possibly, with me!).
If you have a plan or desire to give, definitely reach out to Madame Green Grow to help one another interdependently. You won’t regret it. Strategic partnerships are essential.
Make your move
Women of color belong in the weed industry, especially Black women.
If you’re considering becoming a medical cannabis patient and/or legal cannabis entrepreneur, make sure to keep up with Madame Green Grow on Instagram and their e-newsletter.
Always know you don’t have to take this journey alone.
Alaina “CannaLaina” Dorsey is a freelance cannabis marketing writer based in Baltimore, MD. For dispensaries and online cannabis/CBD businesses, she writes the chilliest customer-focused content that sells. Quirks available upon request at alainadorsey.com