By Rachael Wilenta Speegle, RN MSN
Personally, I’ve never identified with the feminist movement because I never
felt that I needed to. Born in the early eighties in an affluent town in northern
New Jersey, I grew up to believe I could do or be anything. I was more athletic
than my big brother and loved to get right in the middle of any fight, as long
as I was fighting for what was right. I had heard of the “glass ceiling” but didn’t
spend much of my time thinking about how to break through what I imagined to
be a modern day urban legend. I became a mountaineer and a skydiver, again
never stopping to take notice of any gender inequality. It wasn’t until I stepped
into the male-dominated world of marijuana that I noticed something wrong with
my surroundings. Who knew cannabis would invoke my inner feminist?
On June 24th 2014, I decided to sit in on the
“Women in Cannabis” session at the National
Cannabis Industry Association’s Canna Business
Summit being held in Denver. Entering
the auditorium, already skeptical of the
content, I asked my husband, “Why women
in cannabis? Why are we segregating ourselves?”
He suggested I attend and find out.
As I sat in the audience, I was star struck by
the panel of speakers before me, one of
whom was Jane West, co-founder of Women
Grow. These strong women panelists were
shifting the image of the industry and I found
myself wanting to bring this shift to New Mexico.
For too long, the pot culture [or dominant
popular culture – Ed.] has objectified women
and used their bodies as a landscape for
product placement. With these images all
over head shops, this underground culture
has tarnished the purity of the cannabis plant
and the people it serves. Even opponents of
cannabis legalization exploit women in their
gamut of excuses. One of the most common
claims of New Mexico’s current administration
is that women and families are not
ready for the legalization of this plant. The
truth is, it is time to give women a voice and
establish female leadership within this booming
commerce.
Women Grow empowers women by connecting
them throughout every aspect of
the industry and gives them a strong, uniting
voice. These are some of the strong Women
Grow New Mexico members committed to
the cause.
“Women Grow has given me the opportunity to connect patients, producers, artisans
and other ancillary businesses while providing me with a rewarding career and
blossoming passion.” -Hillary Carroll, M.S. CAM
Hillary is a native New Mexican, born and raised in Albuquerque. Hillary had many exposures
to alternative medicine throughout her life but was most influenced to enter the
field when her brother-in-law was diagnosed with Leukemia. Through this experience
with serious illness and the healthcare system it became very clear that she wanted to
further pursue an education in alternative medicine, to help others with their health and
wellness. Hillary received a Master’s of Science in Complementary Alternative Medicine
in 2013. While working with her clients, she became very interested in medical cannabis
and how it was helping so many patients. In an effort to learn more about women in
cannabis, she attended the first Women Grow New Mexico networking event in November
2014, and this is how we met. Shortly after this meeting, I offered a position as
Assistant Dispensary Manager within The Verdes Foundation.
Women have too often been
used as the excuse to keep
marijuana illegal. As mothers,
grandmothers, wives, educators,
business owners, patients
and community members we
are establishing our own voice.
We are ready!
Women Grow was established
to make sure Medical Marijuana
(MMJ) is an inclusive industry,
from inception. Cannabis
needs the wisdom of female
voices and we can help insure
industry success by fostering
strong female leadership.
On February 11th of this year seventy six
women, including myself, joined forces at
our nation’s capital lobbying nearly one
hundred members of congress to pass bills
supporting State-sponsored cannabis programs.
My first meeting was with Michele
Lujan Grisham’s office where I had over
forty minutes to sit and discuss the issues
our patients and providers face within New
Mexico. She and her staff were receptive
to the concerns I raised regarding
unfair taxation and other burdens faced
by members of the medical cannabis
industry. This was a Women Grow lobbying
event, free for all participants and
organized to the point of perfection. I am
grateful to have had this opportunity to
represent our great state and to give New
Mexico’s cannabis program a voice on a
national stage.
The Women of Sacred Garden
“Sacred Garden Medical Cannabis Dispensary is very appropriately
named. It is a dispensary that holds true to the sacred lineage of the
plant they cultivate. The strong women who own and manage
this cannabis business are greatly credited for its’ success.”
Rachael Speegle, RN
“I began this journey into the world of
cannabis cultivation with literally one
seed. My husband and I wanted to make
a difference in the world. We used our
ranch land in southern New Mexico to
become farmers and we began growing
cannabis. I believe that nature holds the
power to heal and medical marijuana is
one of the best herbal remedies available.
As a mother, I am committed to raising
my child with awareness about the health
benefits of medical marijuana. As a business
owner, I am dedicated to educating
others about safe and responsible use.
At Sacred Garden, we grow and produce
all of our products in house giving us
complete quality control. We stay true to
nature by using natural and organic ingredients,
mixing other medicinal herbs and
roots to create healing products infused
with cannabis extracts.
For me, harvesting medicinal flowers and
producing natural products for health and
healing is a gift that I do not take lightly.
I’m having more fun helping others and
sharing the healing benefits of cannabis
than I have ever had in my life.”
Kelly Kathleen, Director
“Being involved in Medicinal Cannabis
is more than just a job to me. It
gives me such a rush to see people
absorb information or come back with a
story of successful relief. Women Grow is
inspirational because it gives women like
me a stake in the soft soil that the MMJ
industry is sprouting from. We, as women,
are growing with the industry, rather than
trying to find our place in it (which has
been the case with a lot of other parts of
the business world). I feel the core of MMJ
is very maternal. We are here to head this
strong, feminine energy from the process
of growth to the process of healing. This
is so important and I am so proud to be a
blossoming member of it.”
Ashleigh Rhinehart, Dispensary Manager
“I am a lawyer and have been active
advocating for medical cannabis in New
Mexico for the past twelve years. My passion
is now also my profession. I am both
a medical cannabis patient and a lawyer
focusing my practice on medical cannabis
business law. In 2003, I joined other advocates
and started persistently fighting for
a medical cannabis law in New Mexico,
including testifying in front of legislative
committees many times. These efforts
culminated in passage of the Lynn and
Erin Compassionate Use Act (“the Act”)
in 2007. However, the Act did not include
the debilitating medical condition that I
experience chronically, intractable nausea
and cachexia (wasting syndrome). Given
that the Act p rovides for the approval of
addition benefit from the medical use of
cannabis, I started researching for scientific
support of my petition to add these as
qualifying conditions. Yet there was not a
hearing for new conditions until January
2009 (after President George W. Bush was
out of office). The more I researched, the
bigger advocate I became. The two years
of rigorous and exhaustive medical cannabis
research absolutely enriched and
confirmed my ardent support for medical
cannabis. My petition to add nausea and
cachexia as qualifying conditions for the
use of medical cannabis was approved
by the Medical Advisory Board and the
Secretary of the New Mexico Department
of Health in February 2009.
A little later in 2009, I started representing
clients who were applying for medical
cannabis producer licenses. These clients
were one of the first five medical cannabis
producer applicants to ever be licensed in
New Mexico. Since then I have continued
to advise and represent clients interested
in applying for New Mexico Medical Cannabis
Producer licenses, licensed producers,
and related medical cannabis businesses.
I also represented the New Mexico
Medical Cannabis Producers’ Guild
(name since changed to Cannabis Producers
of New Mexico) in 2010 and 2014,
researching, drafting revised regulations,
and testifying at public hearings regarding
the revision of New Mexico’s medical cannabis
regulations.”
Patricia Monaghan, Attorney at Law
I was pleased to meet Shiloh at my very
first local Women Grow event in November,
2014. With her drive and commitment
to acquire one of the new producer licenses
being issued this year, Shiloh is the living
embodiment of the entrepreneurial spirit.
Shiloh has since attended every Women
Grow ABQ event. To her credit, she has
used these meetings to connect herself
with the right attendees and speakers to
facilitate her dream. Through these connections
she has taken tours of commercial
grows, met with cannabis manufacturers,
bankers, investors, consultants and so
many more. She will bring this dedication
and work ethic to The Kind Apothecary,
her future LNPP enterprise.
“Cannabis is an ancient and versatile
medicine and has always interested me
for healing purposes. I’ve seen the healing
benefits of cannabis first hand with friends
and family members who use it for relief
of various symptoms and ailments. I have
always believed cannabis would find its
way into mainstream medicine and I hope
to provide patients with symptom relief by
providing high quality medications.”
Shiloh Taylor, Entrepreneur
“Becoming a patient of the State of New
Mexico Medical Cannabis Program has
fueled my dedication to the medical
cannabis industry. This involvement has
provided opportunity for knowledge and
fueled my passion for innovations within
cannabis medicine. Making a footprint
in this industry, by taking away the stereotypical
judgment of the past, is important
to me. I will continue to be an advocate
within the patient population, as well as
help direct non-patients into the medical
cannabis world.”
Nicole Morales,
Business Owner and Patient Advocate
“After a long struggle to stay in a job that
I loved, my health forced me into early
retirement. In and out of the hospital for
several years and bored to tears, I thought
early retirement would be filled with pharmaceutical
drug induced hazy days and
boredom. Thankfully, I couldn’t have been
more wrong…
I moved back to New Mexico in July of
2011 as I had always dreamed of doing for
retirement. Once back here, I became a
patient and advocate for the New Mexico
Medical Cannabis Program.
After a transformation from an opiateinduced
miasma to treating my condition
with nothing but cannabis, the haze
lifted. My son and I attended Oaksterdam
University in 2011 and graduated with
honors, in preparation for the rapidly growing
medical cannabis industry that surely
saved my life.
My company, Herbal Edibles has been a
brick and mortar business in Albuquerque
since July of 2012, providing the New Mexico
medical cannabis producers with a
wide variety of post-harvest services. Consistent
quality paired with superior taste is
our mission at Herbal Edibles and we are
proud to be one of the premier concentrate
and edible manufacturers in New
Mexico.”
Joanne Farrell,
Edible Manufacturer and Patient
“A native of Albuquerque, I received my
Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Northern
Arizona University and returned to UNM
to earn my MBA from the Anderson School
of Management. In graduate school I
became interested in small business development
and the benefits these organizations
can have on our community and
economy.
I was excited to get involved with Women
Grow when I learned they were connecting
entrepreneurs in the business of cannabis.
The strong presence of women in this
budding industry inspires me and I hope to
one day start my own cannabusiness. In
the mean time, I plan to use my education,
professional experience and passion
to help this organization and its members
affect positive change for patients,
businesses, and the greater Albuquerque
community.” Casey Stephens, MBA
One of the ways I feel New Mexico is most
supported by Women Grow is through the
vast resources it provides. In just the first
five months I have been a member, I have
become more connected to the cannabis
industry than during the previous four
years combined. A multitude of resources
are now just a phone call, text message,
or email away. Need seeds? HR consultations?
Lab testing? Growing advice?
Employee training? I got a guy for that, or
better yet, a gal. With resources all over
the world, Women Grow has made this industry
more accessible and female-friendly
than ever before
