“Weediquette”, Gender Parity, and the Puffragette Movement
Recently, Weediquette ran it’s “Mary Janes” episode, which featured the women who are building the foundation of the cannabis industry–like our amazing Puffragettes Jane West, Jazmin Hupp, Julianna Carella and Sabrina Fendrick–and gave them a national spotlight.
Its host Krishna Andavolu highlighted the fact that 36% of senior leadership in the cannabis industry is women, compared to the national average of 22%. When you consider Fortune 500 companies, the stats are even lower.
Additionally, Krishna spoke to some of Humboldt County’s “old guard” female cultivators about the divine feminine and how cannabis is here to help re-balance the masculine and feminine aspects in society. This enabled him to also bring up the sexual harassment, intimidation and coercion some women have experienced in cannabis’s black and grey markets.
However, Weediquette also included a photo shoot with Madzilla, who changed her shirt in front of Krishna and taught him how to pose in a thong and high heels, as if to prove that the objectification of women in cannabis isn’t that big of a deal because some women are creating a career out of it.
We appreciate that Weediquette dedicated one of their first 8 episodes (12.5%) to “Mary Janes” and opened the door for conversations about gender parity in a budding industry.
And yet, we also feel the time has come for a cannabis film by women, about women, and for women (and men)… without the “male gaze”.
It’s time for a film that gives voice to real women who are instilling gender parity, as well as social justice and environmental sustainability, into the industry’s foundation.
Time for the cultivators, processors, and marijuana infused product-makers (MIPs) who are paving the way toward a safe and regulated cannabis market.
Time for the doctors, nurses and scientists, who wade through changing policies everyday to ensure patients receive safe access to medicine.
Time for the “techies” and data lovers who build the software infrastructure to track all the cannabis data for state compliance, medical and scientific analysis, and business tax revenue.
Time for the advocates, politicians and lawyers who (re)write regulations and fight for better drug policies that focus on decriminalization, harm reduction, and social and economic justice.
In short, it’s time for “Mary Janes: The Women of Weed”. Join us. Join the #Puffragette Movement.