The rich tapestry of cannabis history is woven with threads of rebellion, healing, and societal evolution. While the spotlight often shines on iconic male figures, it's time to turn our gaze to the historical women in cannabis who played pivotal roles in shaping its narrative. Here are just a handful of extraordinary women and their contributions to the world of cannabis.

Margaret Mead, a celebrated cultural anthropologist, was known for—and hired for—her views on American culture, including family, education, women’s rights, sexuality, race, poverty, and more. Her list of accomplishments are too long to list here and still do her justice, but she was a New York Times best-selling author and had been hired by the American Museum of Natural History in New York City to help the public understand anthropology. In 1969, Mead addressed the U.S. Senate, advocating for cannabis legalization, stating that the plant’s prohibition did a disservice to American law and created a divide between older and younger generations. Her opinion that the damage done by legalizing marijuana was far less than the damage done by keeping it illegal.

Unfortunately, her speech fell on deaf ears, and she was ridiculed in the media for her stance on cannabis. Shortly after, stricter legal measures and Nixon’s War on Drugs began, ensuring it would be years before we saw any state legalize marijuana.

The 1980s brought forth a different kind of cannabis trailblazer—Mary Jane Rathbun, affectionately known as Brownie Mary. As a side hustle, Rathbun infused her brownies with cannabis and sold them to her customers, earning her two run-ins with the law before going underground with her work. 

As the AIDS epidemic spread in California, Mary volunteered at a ward, and she baked her marijuana brownies for those who needed the cannabis, finding that it helped increase the appetite of patients suffering from wasting syndrome. She quickly became one of the largest proponents for medical marijuana in the state, testifying with the San Francisco Board of Supervisors about the benefits of cannabis. That first step caused the Board to label cannabis possession the lowest priority in arrests and prosecutions. Less than 10 years later, Prop 215 passed, allowing patients to legally obtain and use marijuana for medical purposes.

Venturing into the realm of science, Dr. Allyn Howlett, a biochemical neuropharmacologist, made a groundbreaking contribution to our understanding of the endocannabinoid system—she discovered the cannabinoid type 2 (CB2) receptor. Howlett's work became a cornerstone in cannabis science, allowing scientists and researchers to gain a better understanding of how our bodies are affected by cannabinoids.

Dr. Howlett’s work continues today through the Howlett Lab to boost the “understanding of cannabinoid receptor regulation of neuronal properties.” This work will further research being done on medicines rooted in cannabinoids.

From entrepreneurs and activists to researchers and patients, women have played and continue to play diverse and crucial roles in the cannabis landscape. The stories of these historical women in cannabis serve as an inspiration for the ongoing journey toward cannabis acceptance and understanding. In honoring the past, we pave the way for a future where the cannabis industry is inclusive, diverse, and driven by the passion and dedication of all its participants.