Did you know that March is officially Women’s Month? At Collective, we are proud to be a women-owned dispensary, but, even more importantly, we’re proud to do our part to make sure women in cannabis in Massachusetts are supported and appreciated on every level. In celebration of Women’s Month, we’d like to take a few moments to highlight our position as a women-owned dispensary, female Collective employees who have worked with us from day one, and our favorite women-owned brands.
Why Support Women in Cannabis
By all rights, cannabis is a new business, but those deeply rooted biases associated with women in business industries run deep. While the number of women in cannabis has grown over the years, the number is still very low compared to male business owners and male-led brands.
At Collective, we see the stats—men dominate ownership and funding, often leaving women to fight harder for a seat at the table. Women have historically faced hurdles when it comes to getting into the cannabis business, even in Massachusetts where the industry is relatively mature. Access to capital, outdated networks, and skepticism still block paths, yet female growers and innovators persist, bringing unmatched creativity and resilience. Supporting them means stronger products and a richer community for everyone, but also supporting women empowerment in a rapidly growing sector.
Women in Cannabis: Collective Employees
While we are a women owned dispensary in Massachusetts, we wouldn’t be where we are without some of the Collective employees who have braved this new path with us from the very beginning. These women help make Collective Premium Cannabis who it is because they bring their heart and soul to the dispensary and our customers every day.
In a male-dominated industry, we knew that we needed to balance the scales a bit when it came to staffing. Thankfully, we were lucky enough to pull in women with the same passion for connecting people to cannabis as us.
Women-Owned and Led Brands in MA Blazing New Trails
We do all we can to support other women in cannabis. Therefore, when you stop in at a Collective dispensary, you will always find a fine selection of women-owned brands on the menu. Check out a few of our personal favorites below.
Wana Edibles
From Massachusetts to other states in New England, and on the opposite side of the country, Wana Edibles is a powerhouse brand with one of the best reputations in the country. Wana offers one of the most robust collections of cannabis gummies today, but it all started with the “Queen of Legal Weed,” Nancy Whiteman. Nancy started out in Colorado in 2010 with a mission to deliver fully customized edible experiences with unique cannabinoid extracts. Today, the brand retains that core mission and Nancy has set the stage for many other women to follow in her footsteps.
Kiva Confections
Kiva has made a reputable name for itself by producing some of the highest-quality chocolate edibles in the state. While the brand has grown by leaps and bounds to include many products, many people do not know that this powerhouse company was brought to life by a woman, Kristi Palmer, and her husband, Scott. Kiva has had a strong foothold in cannabis for over a decade, and its large collection of brands now includes names like Camino, Lost Farm, and more.
Northeast Alternatives
While Northeast Alternatives is not female-founded, the brand has consistently made an effort to empower women throughout its history in the cannabis business. In all the primary departments this massive brand now has, NEA keeps women leaders in place to bring unique perspectives to the table. For that reason, you will always see NEA’s premium products on our menu at Collective.
Celebrating Women in Cannabis Daily at Collective
At Collective, we do all we can to support the MA cannabis community as a whole, but we also recognize the brands led by women who faced a few more challenges to be where they are. Therefore, we will always show our support, which means you will always find female-founded cannabis brands on our menu in Billerica and Littleton.
