An Industry That Could Not Exist Without Women

As we approach International Women's Day (March 8), it is essential to acknowledge that the global cannabis industry owes much of its success to the tireless work of thousands of women. Women have played a crucial role in establishing this industry, often overcoming complex challenges to ensure that a wide range of non-psychoactive cannabis-derived products are available to improve people's lives today.

Beyond recognizing women's primary role in the development of agriculture during the prehistoric era and their ability to identify cannabis plants' benefits for health, even further recognizing women as those spinners who discovered the advantages of hemp to create highly resistant fibers and textiles, the women we really must recognize are those women in the modern history of cannabis. Thanks to their struggle, their love for their families, and their hard work, they were the ones who made it possible for everyone to access cannabis as a therapeutic solution for several health conditions. 

It is necessary to recognize Paige, Charlotte Figi's mother, who in 2012 sought a solution to improve the health of her daughter, who suffered from Dravet Syndrome, a strange form of drug-resistant epilepsy characterized by prolonged seizures. The impact Figi's family had on the global cannabis industry is so significant that every year, the state of Colorado celebrates Charlotte Figi Day on April 7 because she was the first patient to use cannabis-derived products in the  fight against this medical condition.

Mexico is not far behind, including the work of women like Mayela Benavides, who was one of the first women to fight to get CBD legally recognized in Mexico for its therapeutic potential. As a mother, she was the first, along with her family and some legal professionals, the firsts to win an appeal on the grounds of unconstitutionality so that her daughter, Grace, became the first child and patient in Mexico to legally use a non-psychoactive cannabis-derived product to improve her health. In addition, Mayela started the nonprofit organization Por Grace, the first organization that sought to help thousands of people legally access this type of product derived from hemp. Thanks to her work, thousands of families have avoided the extensive legal process to receive their importation permits. Mayela and her work were crucial for other women following in her footsteps. In this way, they could help other families and patients. Another example is Margarita Garfias – who started together with Mayela and other mothers who suffered the anxiety of not finding an answer to their loved one's medical conditions in traditional medicines. Margarita now runs a civil organization in Mexico City that promotes access to cannabis products as therapeutic solutions.

Nevertheless, it is not only a matter of mothers who were looking to improve the health of their loved ones; there are other women who, taking advantage of their experience as activists and their expertise on various topics, pressured the authorities to ensure legal access to cannabis-derived products. As an example among these women, we can mention names like Zara Snapp and Genlizzie Garibay, also known as Polita Pepper, two young female activists in favor of free choice who have accompanied patients, families, and other social organizations to advance legislative debates in favor of the legalization of cannabis in Mexico.

In addition to families, civil organizations, and activists, it is also important to recognize other women; for example, those women who have legally made it possible to have a Mexican cannabis industry, such as Paulina Ramírez, a lawyer who has collaborated with various companies and patient organizations by offering them legal guidance about the processes and legal resources that exist to ensure that companies and people related to cannabis industry comply with all regulations in Mexico today.

Furthermore, we cannot overlook the role of women in generating scientific evidence regarding the therapeutic potential of cannabis for medical purposes. For example, Dr. Luisa Rocha, a researcher at CINVESTAV, has carried out various pre-clinical and clinical protocols to demonstrate the benefits that CBD offers as a neuroprotector.

At HempMeds, we know that it is impossible to list all the women who have contributed to the establishment of the cannabis industry; however, their bravery and determination have been invaluable in ensuring that access to cannabis-derived products for medical purposes is guaranteed. This industry would not exist today without the work of others: daughters, sisters, female patients, activists, health professionals, and science professionals. We call on the entire cannabis industry to recognize and appreciate the contributions of all these relentless and courageous women.