AGRICULTURE
Women Entrepreneurs En
By Diane C . Walsh Contributing Editor
Jill Cohen knew she wanted in from the first puff .
In her youth , Cohen , whose taken on the moniker , “ The Canna Boss Lady ,” suffered from anxiety , panic-attacks and debilitating stomach aches . At a party when she was 18 , all her maladies faded away , however , after she took her first drag on a joint . “ They were just gone ,” she remembered .
The “ magical benefits ” of marijuana , or cannabis as it is referred in the industry , cured her , she said . And Cohen was convinced the medicinal qualities of the drug , which is derived from the hemp plant , could help others too . Her innate business instincts also told her there would be opportunities as it was legalized across the nation .
“ I knew I wanted to get into this industry in some shape or form ,” she said . When she moved to the South Orange-Maplewood area , she found a welcoming community .
Like many others , Cohen is fascinated by the burgeoning cannabis business in New Jersey . Early studies predicted it could generate $ 300 million in annual sales tax revenues for the state . Last April on the first day recreational use cannabis went on sale , there were 12,438 customers resulting in a total gross sale of nearly $ 2 million .
Women entrepreneurs are very attracted to the possibilities . Brooke M . Westlake , founder and owner of Women in Cannabis Expo , picked New Jersey as the venue for her first event once the Covid pandemic restrictions on conferences were lifted . “ We knew it would be a good benefit for people there to see how it ’ s going and getting started .”
The one-day event in Atlantic City drew huge crowds to see the more than 30 exhibitors and hear a long list of speakers . Attendees learned about everything from banking and branding to telehealth .
“ People were saying how energized they felt ,” Westlake said . Before the end of the year , she plans to have expos in Denver , Las Vegas and San Francisco .
Westlake said women face many challenges in the industry , however . The primary issue is capital . But even if they can amass enough funds , she said the layers of bureaucracy and red tape that mire the approval process is an “ utter nightmare .”
She estimated 12 to 15 percent of women entrepreneurs have already abandoned dreams of succeeding in the new sector . “ Unless we get an organized strategy the numbers of women will stay low ,” Westlake said , adding “ We have a lot of work to do to make sure everyone feels included .”
The New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission ( CRC ) established a Minority , Disabled Veteran and Women Cannabis Development Business Office to make certain there is diversity and inclusion in the nascent industry . License applications submitted by women entrepreneurs are given priority review .
Cohen is waiting for news on the application she filed in March . Without a retail license she is limited to selling CBD products , not cannabis . Her shop ’ s website shows she has an extensive line of luxury CBD products for beauty , health and wellness . “ I love working directly with consumers ,” Cohen said . Her customers tell her their stories and together they determine what products and dosages are best .
CBD and cannabis are both derived from the hemp plant . But CBD is an oil used for medicinal or therapeutic purposes . It does not have the psychoactive qualities of cannabis that produce the “ high ” feeling .
By the fall Cohen hopes to secure a state license . Her next hurdle will be obtaining local approval to build out her property . The CRC will then conduct an audit to make certain there are sufficient supplies to serve the medical dispensaries and retail outlets .
Regulatory concerns
Cannabis is a very complex and highly regulated industry . It began in 2010 when former Gov . Jon Corzine signed legislation allowing the sale of marijuana for medical reasons to treat a limited list of ailments . But Corzine ’ s action was taken as he was leaving office , and his successor , Chris Christie derided the medical program as a “ front for legalization ” of marijuana .
New Jersey was slow to implement the law and gained a reputation for the strictest regulations in the nation . Advocates were energized by Phil Murphy , however , because his gubernatorial campaign carried the promise to legalize marijuana . In 2019 Gov . Murphy signed a bill expanding the state ’ s medical marijuana program and created the CRC . Voters got a chance to voice their opinion too . They overwhelmingly approved a special referendum on the November 2020 ballots legalizing marijuana . Lawmakers followed their lead by passing legislation to establish the recreational marketplace later that same year .
Controversy over social justice issues stemming from the legalization of marijuana continued to create roadblocks for the new industry , however . It was not until this year that most of the issues were resolved . This month the New
Cultivating quality cannabis is both an art and a scien
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