Across the dynamic and ever-changing U.S. cannabis industry, women are increasingly asserting their influence—not only in business and policy, but in the science and cultivation of the plant itself. Though women occupy only about 22 percent of leadership positions in cannabis-related companies, those who have risen to the top are driving innovation and redefining the industry’s culture.

From Gene Labs to Grow Facilities

At the forefront of cannabis genetics and cultivation is the Cannabis Science & Technology “Women in Grow” series. Featured leaders such as Dr. Anna Schwabe and Dr. Daniela Vergara are spearheading advances in genome analysis and hemp farming practices, bringing scientific rigor to breeding and cultivation systems. These deep technical contributions are creating strains with more predictable traits and greater therapeutic value.

Microbial Safety and Post‑Harvest Quality

Safety in cultivation and processing is critical. Jill Ellsworth, founder and CEO of Willow Industries, created the first cannabis-specific decontamination company in 2015. Ellsworth launched the firm to address yeast and mold issues during kill‑step and post‑harvest processes—a crucial innovation as many states began requiring microbial testing. Her science‑based approach ensures cleaner, more consistent consumer products.

Advocacy, Networking, and Brand Building

Jane West, though not a cultivator herself, has played a pivotal role in lifting women growers’ profiles through her founding of Women Grow, a networking organization launched in 2014. Under her leadership, Women Grow expanded to dozens of cities and tens of thousands of members, offering women cultivators the mentorship and capital access they often lacked in a male‑dominant field. West also built a luxury cannabis lifestyle brand, signaling a shift toward style, service, and sophistication in the market.

Equity and Community in Cultivation

Several women cultivators intertwine advocacy and entrepreneurship. Solonje Burnett, known as Brooklyn’s “Weed Auntie,” co‑founded Erven, a cannabis transparency platform, and runs community‑focused cannabis wellness events. She promotes data sharing, representation, and social equity in layered ways that span wellness, cultivation, and business support.

In New York, Maria Perry leads Miss Perry Farms and the Northeastern Reserve, operating large-scale weed cultivation on family land passed down over generations. Her hash‑infused pre-rolls are sold statewide, and she highlights how New York’s regulations carve space for women‑ and minority‑owned cultivators—a blueprint for inclusive agricultural entrepreneurship in cannabis.

Equity and Policy Applied to Cultivation

Though not growers per se, legal advocates such as Allison Margolin and Wanda James shaped landscapes that indirectly impact cultivation. Margolin’s pioneering cannabis‑specific legal practice helped dispensaries and cultivators navigate early regulatory waters, while James, who co‑owns a cultivation and edibles company in Denver, was the first Black woman to own a legal cannabis farm and dispensary—driving ownership equity and business inclusion in cultivation.

Market Context and Industry Trends

Despite still making up a minority of leaders, women now occupy an estimated 40 percent of executive roles in cannabis—and their influence is particularly strong in wellness, sustainability, and plant science. Their focus on purposeful use—stress relief, sleep improvement and holistic health—has reshaped product development strategies and consumer engagement across the industry.

Challenges and the Road Ahead

Gender bias and capital access remain ongoing barriers. Funding disparities and industry consolidation have slowed women’s equity in ownership and farm control, even as women dominate home growing (61 percent of respondents in one survey). Organizations like Women Grow and Cannaclusive—co‑founded by Mary Pryor—provide tools to address exclusion, connecting under‑represented growers to education, advocacy and funding networks.

As cultivation science, legal frameworks, and consumer expectations continue to mature, female leaders are prepared to scale. From laboratory science to farm-to-market logistics, they offer a diversified vision of cannabis cultivation—where safety, equity, wellness, and innovation converge.

In Summary

These women reflect the breadth of leadership shaping U.S. cannabis cultivation today:

• Dr. Anna Schwabe and Dr. Daniela Vergara in genetics and hemp farming
• Jill Ellsworth in microbial safety and decontamination
• Jane West in branding, networking, and visibility
• Solonje Burnett and Maria Perry integrating advocacy with cultivation
• Allison Margolin and Wanda James securing legal pathways and business equity

Their collective impact stands as a testament to how inclusive leadership can define the future of cannabis cultivation.