Legends of Cannabis: Wanda James

If you don’t know her already I’m excited to introduce you to Wanda James, the first black woman in the country to own a dispensary, cultivation facility, and an edibles company in the United States, and a newly elected member of the University of Colorado Board of Regents. She's the CEO of Simply Pure, a Colorado-based dispensary and edibles company, and co-founder of the Cannabis Global Initiative, a non-profit that promotes social justice and equity in the cannabis biz. As a woman of color in a mostly white and male industry, James has had to deal with a lot of challenges. But she's persevered and become a powerful voice, advocating for diversity and inclusivity.

In addition to her work with Simply Pure and the Cannabis Global Initiative, James is also a board member of the National Cannabis Industry Association and a member of the Colorado Medical Marijuana Scientific Advisory Council. She's highly respected in the industry and known for her strong leadership skills and business savvy. Wanda started her career as a Naval Officer and remains a strong advocate for Vets and the use of cannabis for PTSD. James's journey hasn't been easy, but she's overcome a lot of challenges to become a leader in the field. She's a trailblazer and an inspiration to other women and people of color in the industry.

As the cannabis industry keeps growing and changing, it's important for leaders like James to be at the forefront and make their voices heard. We must support women like Wanda because she’s a true champion of social justice, not just in it for the bag. Diversity and inclusivity are key, and James promotes those values daily with style and grace, and reminds us that 97% of the cannabis industry is still owned by white men.

I haven’t been to Simply Pure in Denver yet but it’s at the top of my list for my next trip out west, and I hope to get some time with Wanda on the podcast very soon! Stay tuned.