Page 1 - Cannabis News Florida August 2022

CANNABIS Legislative Update:
Cannabis Administration
BUSINESS and Opportunity
Act (CAOA) Introduced
DIRECTORY in Congress

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August 2022

2019 Cannabis Business Award’s Publication of the Year

Women in Cannabis and Self-

Sufficiency Through The Women’s

Cannabis Chamber of Commerce

According to MJBizDaily’s most recent Women &
Minorities Industry report, female executive represen-
tation in the cannabis industry is 22 percent, down
from 36.8 percent in 2019. This places female repre-
sentation in our industry lower than the national aver-
age of roughly 30 percent. The decrease in representa-
Claucous Alfaro tion from 2019 to today isn't limited to the c-suite, we Kevin Morley
see lower percentages of women across our sector.
Cannabis From budtenders to community outreach to medical Advising the
markets, women's representation appears to be declin-
Spotlight: ing while the industry itself is ascending. Cannabis Advisors
keeps acquiring more money, more relationships, and
more power. My concern is that what has happened in
CLAUCOUS ALFARO other once-niche industries will happen to us; women BY KEVIN MORLEY, DAT, ATC
Physician and Community create space and innovate within it and then are Brianna Bowes
Engagement Manager, Florida pushed to the fringes when traditional well established While adult-use cannabis remains pro-
(read mostly male) funding sources arrive. So what are we doing about it? hibited in Florida, similar regulations are
Trulieve In my role, I meet female leaders every day. In that sense, I occupy a very privileged changing throughout the country on a
position because I'm surrounded by the best and brightest women working in the regular basis. Although the Florida
What benefits do you see for cannabis industry. Many have worked in cannabis for decades, navigating landscapes far Marijuana Use and Growth Legalization
patients throughout Florida with- more complicated than today's. Others have joined more recently, often compelled by a Initiative continues to be left off of the
in this space? desire to do good and right old wrongs while still making a healthy profit. The Women’s ballot as an initiated constitutional
Access to clean, safe, and lab tested Cannabis Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) appeals to legacy and new leaders. As its amendment this coming November, the
medical cannabis products is a great Executive Director, my responsibility is to help ensure our industry is one where women push by Florida residents for legalization
advantage and positively impacting the thrive. As a woman and a person of color, it's a responsibility I don't take lightly. The persists. Until adult-use legalization,
way these patients live. Trulieve grows Continued on page 26 Floridians who meet medical criteria for
safe, high-quality medical cannabis and use will continue to rely on access to
continually innovates to provide a wide cannabis by use of a Medical Marijuana
variety of products to medical patients in Trulieve’s Cultivar Collection: Card allowing purchase at an approved
Florida. This assortment of available prod- dispensary. Apart from the medical
ucts allows us to meet patients where they Representing the Elevation provider who approves the Card, who is
are. For instance, a preference in how to guiding these purchases? In truth, many
receive the benefits of cannabis – drops, customers don’t need much guidance.
capsules, edibles, flower, cremes – and in of Craft Cannabis They have personal, first-hand knowl-
different levels of strength. This allows edge about what works for them, so once
patients to replace narcotics and other pre- BY DANIEL CASCIATO they have their Card in hand, their treat-
scription medications that may have harsh ment can begin. But what about first-time
side effects versus the natural alternative of The Cultivar Collection is an artisan brand of small Cardholders? Or those who qualify for a
medical cannabis. batch, top-shelf cannabis featuring unique genetics Card, but don’t know that cannabis could
that are rich in potency and flavor. Grown and over- benefit them? Other than word-of-
What motivates you to be a part seen by Trulieve’s Master Growers and its most Senior mouth, anecdotal evidence, where are
of the cannabis industry? Cultivators, Cultivar Collection represents the eleva- potential customers getting their
Multiple factors drive and motivate me tion of craft cannabis. cannabis-related advice? The need for
to be a part of this industry, but first and According to Tyler Soreng, Cultivar Collection education in the physician and non-
foremost, witnessing first-hand the posi- Brand Manager at Trulieve, the Cultivar family has physician medical provider communities
tive impact medical cannabis has on decades of combined growing experience, much of is gargantuan. Let’s take a look at a few
patients. Whatever ailment that is impact- which comes from before cannabis was mainstream. areas where medical providers can elevate
ing their way of life, it’s an incredible feel- “We care about our customers, the plants and the their knowledge surrounding cannabis,
ing to help others and watch their people who grow them,” explains Soreng. “We’re cannabinoids, and the endocannabinoid
progress. growing craft cannabis in a way that puts the needs of system. Keep in mind they don’t need to
customers and their communities first.” be cannabis experts, but some basic
What field are you in within the The genetics are sourced directly from legendary breeders. Trulieve’s dedicated team insight into the endocannabinoid system,
cannabis space? spends quality time with every plant. All flower in the Cultivar Collection is trimmed its effects on homeostasis and basic phys-
Medical Education and Marketing and jarred gently by expert hands--never a machine. iological functions will help elevate their
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