The International Women’s Cannabis Conference centers the voices of women and non-binary leaders shaping the global cannabis landscape. Through our Speaker Series, we spotlight diverse perspectives across education, business, healing, and lived experience. From grassroots activists to research scientists, our speakers reflect the full spectrum of cannabis engagement. Drawn from around the world, they invite audiences to step into their unique relationships with the plant—and the movements it inspires.
Education. Enlightenment. Empowerment.
March 29, 2026
Dr. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez * Dasheeda Dawson * Shaun Salvaje * Jay Jay O’Brien * Mia Garlock
Dr. Anna Schwabe * Susie Plascencia * Rose Renton * Shanika Roberts-Odle
Julie Chiariello * Dr. Miyabe Shields * Dr. Denise C. Vidot * Sue Ranchera Mami
Queenee Gonzalez * Myrtle Clarke * June Johnson * The Dank Duchess
Dr. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez
Dr. Beast | Entrepreneur | Researcher | Professor | Creative Strategist | Former 2x Combat Vet
@beastrod | LinkedIn | drbeautyandbeast.com/dr-beast
Dr. Alyza Brevard-Rodriguez, also known as Dr. Beast, is a dynamic industry leader, creative strategist, professor, CEO/CMO & multi-hyphenate entrepreneur leading at the intersection of cannabis, wellness, and qualitative research in leadership.
A decade-long U.S. Navy Reservist and two-time combat veteran of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, Dr. Alyza served more than six years on active duty in operational and leadership roles ranging from crewman to watch commander/Antiterrorism Watch Officer (ATTWO). She also served as an instructor, training service members in complex operational and leadership capacities while developing her own approach to resilience, communication, and leadership under pressure. During her years of service she also contributed to public policy development for the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA), expanding her experience in governance and systems-level change.
Following a service-related injury during deployment abroad in 2020 during COVID, Dr. Alyza medically separated from the military in 2022 and returned home to Hudson County, New Jersey, where she began building the next phase of her life rooted in community-centered entrepreneurship and education.
Today she is the founder and CEO behind several ventures including The Other Side Dispensary & Lounge, and Beast Media & Strategic Communications, a platform that host Coffee & Cannabis and Flowers & Tea. As New Jersey’s first Black, Latinx, LGBTQ, disabled female veteran cannabis license holder to operate in the legal market, she has spent the last four years helping shape what community-rooted cannabis entrepreneurship can look like in one of the most complex emerging industries in the United States and in the most oversaturated city in the state.
Her work in cannabis is deeply personal. With a brother formerly incarcerated as a result of the War on Drugs and her own experience navigating opioid dependency after military injury, she entered the industry with a commitment to education, equity, and closing the wealth gap. Through advocacy, public speaking, and media, she continues to challenge inequities within the industry while building pathways for independent operators and communities historically harmed by prohibition.
Dr. Alyza also serves as a Professor of Cannabis Science and Business Studies at Hudson County Community College, where she teaches courses on cannabis science and entrepreneurship. Her academic work bridges industry practice, policy analysis, and lived experience, transforming classrooms into real-world incubators for leadership and economic mobility.
Her entrepreneurial career began earlier with the founding of SW3AT Wellness in 2015, a wellness-focused fitness concept dedicated to building physical and mental resilience. Through partnerships with local government and community organizations, the company expanded to multiple locations and provided free wellness services for veterans through collaborations with Jersey City’s Department of Health and Human Services.
Across her businesses and initiatives, Dr. Alyza has contributed more than $250,000 in direct community giveback through youth initiatives, veterans programs, educational programming, and large-scale community activations designed to bring resources directly to local residents.
Her leadership has been recognized widely. She was named to NJ Biz’s 40 Under 40, received multiple Best in Wellness awards from Hoboken Girl, ClassPass, and Mindbody, and was honored during her military career as Sailor of the Year in 2018. Her work has also been highlighted through collaborations with organizations including the NHL’s New Jersey Devils.
Beyond entrepreneurship and academia, Dr. Alyza is also a storyteller and cultural commentator. Through her podcasts Coffee & Cannabis and Flowers & Tea, she brings together entrepreneurs, policymakers, artists, and community leaders to explore the realities of leadership, equity, mental health, and entrepreneurship in emerging industries.
She also occasionally works as a special abilities actor, appearing in productions such as Manifest, Succession, Cash Cab, and The Equalizer.
Dr. Alyza’s leadership philosophy is rooted in a simple belief – that education, access, and economic opportunity are among the most powerful tools for systemic change. Whether teaching sailors, mentoring students, building businesses, or advocating for smarter policy, she remains committed to creating systems that leave communities stronger than she found them.
She lives in New Jersey with her wife, a research center director at Rutgers University, and their two children, where their shared household mission centers on scholarship, service, and community progress. And, as many who know her say – she’s a whole vibe.
You Don’t Need Ads, You Need Allies: How Independent Cannabis Brands Win on Trust, Not Ad Spend
Dasheeda Dawson
Industry Architect | Executive | Author
@theweedheadco | @sheblaze | LinkedIn
Dasheeda Dawson — known globally as The WeedHead™ — is an award-winning business and political strategist, educator, and one of the most influential voices in cannabis today. A Princeton-trained molecular biologist turned Fortune 100 brand executive, she spent over 15 years leading marketing, innovation, and digital transformation for companies including United Way, Target and Victoria’s Secret before becoming a national trailblazer for equitable cannabis policy and business development.
As Founding Executive Director of Cannabis NYC, she built the city’s legal cannabis ecosystem from the ground up—launching the Lift Off! campaign that reached millions, establishing the first municipal cannabis loan fund, and positioning New York as a model for equity-centered industry growth. Previously, she led Portland’s Cannabis Program, where she created the nation’s first cannabis emergency relief fund and redefined government-led equity in practice.
Today, Dasheeda serves as Board Chair of the Cannabis Regulators of Color Coalition (CRCC) and Founder of The WeedHead™ & Company, a global education and strategy platform advancing cannabis literacy and leadership. Her bestselling book, “How to Succeed in the Cannabis Industry”, and her commentary on SiriusXM Urban View’s “Flower to the People” have cemented her as a trusted guide for c-suite executives, policymakers, entrepreneurs, and consumers alike.
Featured in The New York Times, Forbes, Essence, and Entrepreneur, Dasheeda’s mission is simple but seismic: to normalize cannabis through science, storytelling, and social impact. She’s the strategist who brings culture to policy, data to advocacy, and heart to every boardroom she enters.
Brooklyn-born, Jersey-educated, and globally recognized—she’s proof that when purpose meets strategy, culture sparks change.
From Molecules to Markets: The Science of Building Billion-Dollar Cannabis Ecosystem
Shaun Salvaje
Mediator | Arbitrator | Paralegal
@shaunsalvaje | @highlyenformed | LinkedIn
Shaun Salvaje works where most people hesitate: in the midst of conflict, complexity, and change.
As a former communication strategist and operator with deep roots in cannabis and psychedelics, Shaun has designed, led, and executed communication and operational campaigns for some of the industry’s most recognized names — Cookies, Alien Labs, PuffCo, NABIS, Doobie, American Weed Co., Royal Queen Seeds, Embarc, Housing Works, MycoMeditations, Kuya, Beard Bros Media, Grasslands PR, and more.
The founder of The Puebla Group, a lobbying firm and consultancy that brings lawmakers, businesses, and communities together around smart, durable policy, Shaun is trusted to be a straight shooter by both Democrats and Republicans. Shaping Texas legislation across multiple sessions, Shaun works to align stakeholders in some of the nation’s most ambitious and polarizing arenas — from cannabis and psychedelics to healthcare, public education, immigration, and civil rights.
In 2024, she launched Parley — a mediation and high-conflict management legal practice — where she now works directly with leaders, founders, and institutions navigating high-stakes negotiations and internal fractures. Through structured mediation, arbitration, and strategic communication and leadership coaching, Shaun creates clarity, accountability, durable agreement, and peace of mind.
Resolution with Shaun is not reactive — it is intentional, disciplined, and built to last.
Across every arena, Shaun operates at the intersection of governance, incentives, and human behavior. She steadies rooms when stakes are high, translates complexity into clarity, and converts friction into forward motion. Clients (and their attorneys) value her ability to read the room, understand leverage, and build frameworks that protect both relationships and outcomes.
Before her ventures in policy and mediation, Shaun cut her teeth in the highest-pressure environments. As a U.S. Air Force combat correspondent and documentary photojournalist, she deployed to Afghanistan and other austere regions in support of NATO priorities and U.S. diplomatic objectives. Later, in D.C and New York, she advised Pentagon leadership as a communications strategist, managing global defense accounts and forging relationships with major national outlets — reshaping how the Department of Defense engaged the public.
This history of discipline and innovation under pressure forged the systems thinking, precision, and calm authority that define Shaun’s work today. Whether navigating bipartisan negotiations, guiding institutional leadership through transition, or mediating private disputes, Shaun delivers solutions that last.
With a value that is simple but rare, Shaun bridges divides, converts conflict into collaboration, and builds durable frameworks that strengthen industries, communities, and public trust.
High Stakes, Hard Conversations: A CRASH Course in Conflict and Chaos Management
Jay Jay O’Brien CH, CCHC
Executive Director, EduCanNation | Chartered Herbalist | Author
@educannation | @highhopesforhealing | LinkedIn | www.jayjayobrien.com
Jay Jay O’Brien is a beacon of hope and healing whose remarkable journey from a Stage 4 lung cancer diagnosis to vibrant health has inspired countless others to believe in the body’s innate ability to heal.
When faced with a terminal prognosis in 2019, Jay Jay turned to Cannabis, a plant she had known all her life, and discovered its profound potential to restore balance and vitality.
Now a Certified Cannabis Health Coach & Educator, Chartered Herbalist, Author, and Co-Executive Director of EduCanNation, she empowers individuals to reclaim their health through evidence-based education and holistic practices. Her work focuses on helping cancer patients and caregivers navigate their healing journeys with confidence, compassion, and clarity.
In her book, High Hopes for Healing: Stigma-Free Education on Thriving Through Cancer With Cannabis, Jay Jay shares the wisdom, research, and real-life experiences that transformed her life, blending science with spirituality to illuminate Cannabis’s role in healing the mind, body, and spirit. Readers are invited to see beyond stigma, awaken to their own inner healer, and reconnect with the natural world’s medicine.
Jay Jay lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and son, continuing to write, teach and advocate for stigma-free Cannabis education.
High Hopes: How Cannabis Turned a Death Sentence Into a Life’s Work
Mia Garlock
Cannabis Advocate | Researcher | Educator
@cannasciencemia | LinkedIn
Mia Garlock is a neurobiology and cannabis researcher, advocate, and the founder of CannaScienceMia, a space dedicated to the intersection of human experience and the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Through her research-driven IG, Substack, and her podcast Synapse & Sativa: Her Lab, Mia translates complex neurobiological data into actionable protocols for daily life with cannabis. Her work focuses on building the bridge between neurobiology and our cannabis experiences—connecting the dots for everyday recreational and therapeutic cannabis users.
Grounded in both scientific inquiry and lived experience, Mia explores how cannabinoids interact with mood, memory, stress response, and overall cognitive function. She is particularly interested in how intentional cannabis use can support nervous system regulation and enhance quality of life when approached with awareness and precision. By demystifying the ECS and making neuroscience accessible, Mia empowers individuals to develop a more informed, personalized relationship with cannabis—one rooted in both data and self-understanding.
Elevated Education: Where Neuroscience Meets Cannabis — Why Nerding Out Changes the Game
Dr. Anna Schwabe
Cannabis Scientist | Educator
@anna.the.cannabis.geneticist | LinkedIn | annaschwabe.com
Dr. Anna L. Schwabe is a plant population geneticist and cannabis researcher specializing in the genetic diversity, classification, and verification of Cannabis sativa. Her work focuses on understanding how genetic variation, environmental conditions, and cultivation practices influence the physical characteristics of cannabis.
Dr. Schwabe earned her Ph.D. studying the genetic structure of cannabis groups and has published multiple peer-reviewed papers on cannabis genetics, cultivar identity, and chemical variation. Her research has helped highlight widespread issues of cultivar misidentification within the cannabis supply chain and the need for better genetic verification frameworks in the industry.
In addition to her research, Dr. Schwabe has taught university-level cannabis science courses through the University of Colorado’s Continuing Education program. Her teaching focuses on plant biology, cannabis genetics, and improving scientific literacy within the cannabis industry. Her work frequently examines the disconnect between scientific terminology and the language used by cultivators, retailers, and consumers. She advocates for approaches that combine genetic data, chemical profiling, and real-world consumer language to create clearer and more practical ways of communicating about cannabis.
Through research, education, and public speaking, Dr. Schwabe works to bridge gaps between scientific research, cannabis cultivation, and consumer understanding. Her goal is to bring greater transparency, scientific rigor, and clearer communication to a rapidly evolving global cannabis industry.
Cannabis Classification, Consistency, and Consumer Confusion
Susie Plascencia
Co-Founder, MOTA Glass | Founder, Latinas in Cannabis | Founder, Latinas in Psychedelics | Entrepreneur | Speaker
@susieplascencia | @susiegreens | LinkedIn | susieplascencia.com
Susie Plascencia is a Latina entrepreneur, speaker, and cannabis advocate working at the intersection of culture, media, and industry. She is the founder and CEO of NightShift Digital, a boutique brand development agency serving clients across tech, nonprofit, wellness, cannabis, and cannabis-adjacent industries.
In 2020, she co-founded MOTA Glass, a leading brand of American-made functional glass. Handmade in Los Angeles using lab-grade materials, MOTA Glass products are sold online and through retail partners worldwide. That same year, Merry Jane Media named Susie a top “cannabis power player.”
Deeply committed to Latina representation in emerging industries, Susie founded Latinas in Cannabis, which began as a viral online community empowering, celebrating, and connecting Latina cannabis professionals and enthusiasts. Under her leadership, the organization evolved into an internationally recognized events production company, producing and hosting sold-out events, networking experiences, and an acclaimed annual conference. She later expanded this work by launching Latinas in Psychedelics, bringing the same mission of empowerment and opportunity to the growing psychedelics sector.
In 2022, Marijuana Venture named Susie to its 40 Under 40, highlighting rising leaders shaping the future of cannabis. In 2023, Cannabis Now featured her in its Women of Influence issue. In 2024, she launched Altura Brands, the nation’s premier Latino-owned cannabis-focused house of brands, as well as The Greens Podcast, an interview and news commentary show spotlighting voices across the cannabis ecosystem.
In 2026, Susie was appointed Co-Executive Director of the National Hispanic Cannabis Council (NHCC), a national nonprofit dedicated to advancing Hispanic participation in the legal cannabis industry through education, economic empowerment, and policy advocacy. She also serves as Executive Director of the National Latina Cannabis Leadership Council, an NHCC initiative focused on advancing Latina leadership, representation, and influence across the cannabis ecosystem.
Susie is a proud Trojan and alumna of the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism at the University of Southern California, where she earned a Master of Arts in Specialized Journalism and a Bachelor of Arts in Public Relations.
Movements Over Marketing: Building Communities That Fuel Brand Growth
Rose Renton
Green Fairy | Educator
@roserenton | LinkedIn | byrose.co.nz
Rose Renton is a New Zealand cannabis advocate whose work is rooted in both personal loss and unwavering commitment to patient rights. In April 2015, her late son Alex Renton—an otherwise healthy and active 18-year-old—was suddenly struck by severe seizures. Just months earlier, Alex had shared his belief in cannabis as medicine, telling her, “If anything ever happens to me, Mum, I want cannabis as my medicine.” Those words would go on to shape the course of her life.
After a determined fight with government officials, Alex became the first person in New Zealand to receive cannabis as medicine in a hospital setting in June 2015. Despite this, he tragically passed away after 88 days in intensive care, during which he was administered dozens of pharmaceutical drugs. The experience left Rose deeply affected by the limitations and rigidity of conventional medical responses.
In 2016, she launched a national petition advocating for legal access to medicinal cannabis—part of a movement that has since contributed to policy change in New Zealand. Today, legal access to cannabis medicines exists, but Rose continues her work on the ground as a “green fairy,” supporting patients who cannot afford the legal system and ensuring access remains a lived reality, not just legislation.
Driven by the belief that individuals have the right to choose their medicine, Rose’s advocacy is both personal and collective. A mother of seven, she carries Alex’s legacy forward through her work, standing for compassionate access, informed choice, and the fundamental human right to natural medicine.
A Decade of Cannabis Reform in New Zealand: My Perspective
Shanika Roberts-Odle
Chief Executive Officer, Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA)
@thebmcla | @iamshanikarobertsodle | LinkedIn | bmcla.bb
Shanika Roberts-Odle is always striving to tackle new challenges which has landed her in the role of Chief Executive Officer (Ag.) of the Barbados Medicinal Cannabis Licensing Authority (BMCLA), where she plays a central role in shaping, regulating, and advancing Barbados’ medicinal cannabis industry.
As the former Programme Administrator for the BMCLA, Mrs. Roberts-Odle oversaw the planning, implementation, and optimization of the establishment of the BMCLA. She specializes in the areas of trade policy, public policy, leadership, capacity building, advocacy, policy research, and business process creation and management. This has led to her strong background in representing the country of Barbados, which has led to her being named one of the Most Influential People of African Decent (MIPAD) in the world under the age of 40 in the area of politics and policy by MIPAD.
She also served as Barbados Alternative Representative to the OAS Inter-Commission on Women.
Quiet Plant, Loud Truths: How Women Have Redefined the Cannabis Industry in Barbados
Julie Chiariello
Owner and Editor-In-Chief, SKUNK Magazine
@juliechiariello | @skunkmagazine | LinkedIn | skunkmagazine.com
As a woman in business for the last 30 years, Julie Chiariello has enjoyed bringing green, cutting edge products successfully to market and empowering others to succeed. She is a medical cannabis user, a certified herbalist of 28 years and believes in the use and protection of herbal medicines in all their forms. She is a champion of new style business that upholds the tenets of sustainability, empowered consumerism, philanthropy and a more intelligent use of our collective resources. She has successfully built and led the sales teams of various companies within the yoga, health and wellness industries and entered the global cannabis market in the vaporizer manufacturing segment 20 years ago, where she was blessed to cultivate a global network of friends and activists.
In her travels, she has heard stories that have touched and enraged her and have moved her to action in her work as Owner and Editor-in-chief at SKUNK Magazine for the past 14 years in empowering small businesses to succeed and giving a voice to the unseen and unheard that continue to suffer and be torn apart by this heinous public crime. She is devoted to a green renaissance, not a green/greed rush and she is just one in the midst of millions who are banding together globally to tear the ugly plague of cannabis prohibition down, creating healing and empowerment for the people and the planet.
SKUNK Magazine is a 20 year old global cannabis publication that has been devoted to teaching organic, sustainable cultivation practices and featuring the highest quality genetics in the world. We have taught millions of people to grow organically at home and are a rich resource of information where all of the best minds and companies in the cannabis industry come together and speak. Our educators are the finest growers, breeders, scientists, craft makers, business owners and activists in the global movement.
Here is a link to our last 4 issues:
https://skunkglobalmarijuanaculture.com/shop-products/magazine-sample/
SKUNK Magazine Stats:
We have 40,000 magazines going out globally annually. We currently have 4,000 retail doors across North America, both US and Canada as well as all the Barnes & Nobles in the U.S. that carry Skunk. Our subscriptions ship to 1000+ subscribers globally and we have 25 – 50k visits per month on our website, with our largest audience being the US, 2nd Canada, 3rd UK and 4th Spain. Our Instagram just hit 83k followers, Facebook is at 599k followers and our X has over 100k followers. We are a 19 year old legacy publication and we have taught millions of people to grow organically all around the world.
The Home Medicine Movement: Reclaiming Cannabis, Herbs & Mushrooms Through Cultivation and Community
Dr. Miyabe Shields
Scientist | Advocate
@miyabephd | LinkedIn | appliedpharmacognosy.org
Dr. Miyabe Shields is a pharmaceutical scientist, educator, and advocate whose work bridges rigorous molecular research, lived experience, and an inclusive vision for the future of cannabis and natural medicines. With over 16 years of expertise in the structural and functional biochemistry of the endocannabinoid system, Miyabe has built a multidisciplinary career spanning academic drug discovery, industry innovation, and community-centered education.
After completing a BS in Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Miyabe earned their PhD in Pharmaceutical Sciences with a focus on the endocannabinoid system and drug discovery, receiving multiple national and international awards for their pre-doctoral research. Following their doctorate, they co-founded a cannabis research startup dedicated to exploring heat-transformed cannabinoids and developing novel extraction methods—translating deep scientific inquiry into practical applications for the evolving cannabis industry.
In 2023, Miyabe co-founded the Network of Applied Pharmacognosy (NAP), a research nonprofit focused on studying natural product synergies, including cannabinoids and terpenes, while prioritizing lived experience as a critical form of data. Their work centers on bridging the gap between laboratory science and real-world use, expanding how we understand efficacy, safety, and therapeutic potential.
A widely recognized science communicator, Miyabe has reached millions through social media, podcasts, and live presentations, translating complex pharmacology into accessible, actionable knowledge. Openly neurodivergent, they bring both scientific rigor and personal insight to their work, particularly through their course and community, The Neurodivergent Brain on Drugs, which explores how cannabinoids and psychedelics can support diverse cognitive experiences.
At the intersection of research, advocacy, and creativity, Miyabe also expresses their perspective through art—authoring the science fiction novel High Hopes (2024) and performing as a musician blending alternative and folk-punk with theatrical vocal influence.
Cannabis, Gender & Sexual Minorities: A Trauma-Informed Perspective on the Queer Endocannabinoid System
Dr. Denise C. Vidot
The CannabisDoc | Global Epidemiologist | Associate Professor
@dr.vidot | LinkedIn | vidotlab.com
Dr. Denise C. Vidot is an award-winning epidemiologist certified in cannabis patient care with over 3 million USD in National Institutes of Health funding focused on advancing global understanding of how cannabis and psychedelics influence human health and consciousness. She is the Founding Director of the Global Cannabis and Psychedelics Research Collaboratory, which has a core leadership team of diverse women across various life stages (Dr. Renessa Williams, Dr. Charms Webbe, Bria-Necole Diggs, Ciné Brown, and Kyle Krivijanski). Her team is helping to expand the scientific foundation for understanding how cannabis and psychedelics influence the brain-heart-gut axis through interdisciplinary collaborations spanning epidemiology, clinical science, nursing, law, engineering, and behavioral health.
Dr. Vidot is a tenured associate professor at the University of Miami (UM) School of Nursing and Health Studies, with appointments as an associate professor at the UM School of Medicine and affiliate member of the NCI-designated Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center. She currently serves as the Director of Community and Stakeholder Engagement at Miami’s Clinical Translational Science Institute. Her community-centered program of research sits at the intersection of population science, cardiovascular health, and plant/fungi-based therapeutics as she examines interactions with the brain–heart–gut axis. She focuses on translational biological, psychosocial, and societal implications of cannabinoid and/or psychedelic use across the lifespan.
By applying rigorous epidemiologic methods alongside clinical biomarkers and community-engaged research, Dr. Vidot’s work across 6 countries helps move conversations from anecdote to evidence. She has authored over 100 peer-reviewed publications and collaborates with global scientists, clinicians, and public health leaders to advance evidence-based understanding of plant/fungi-derived therapeutics. Her work reflects a growing effort within global health research to apply rigorous scientific methods to the rapidly evolving landscape of cannabis and psychedelic medicine.
Dr. Vidot is the Principal Investigator (PI) and/or Co-I on six NIH-funded cannabis and chronic disease-related studies, in which her team seeks to characterize selected health outcomes using biologically quantified cannabinoids and route of use. For example, the Herbal Heart Study (R01HL153467) is an ongoing cohort study of 400 healthy cannabis consumers and non-consumers aimed at examining the impact of biologically quantified cannabinoids on subclinical cardiovascular disease. The CannHeart Study (DP2DA056065) is an ongoing NIDA Avenir Award cohort study (N=300) that examines the impact of biologically quantified cannabinoids on HIV disease severity and vascular function (PI: Claudia Martinez).
She also received a UM Provost award to support the COVID-19 Cannabis Health Study, an international multisite study on physical and mental health behaviors among cannabis users with chronic disease before, during, and after the pandemic. By integrating traditional epidemiology with emerging digital health tools and participatory research models, Dr. Vidot is also exploring how citizen science can expand the evidence base around cannabis and psychedelic health by enabling communities to contribute
As a global speaker, educator, and trailblazer, Dr. Vidot is passionate about building bridges between science and society. She believes that the future of cannabis research will be shaped not only by laboratories and clinical trials, but also by informed communities that participate in and co-lead the scientific process. Through her research and public engagement, she is committed to ensuring that the growing global interest in plant- and fungi-based therapeutics is guided by the community, robust data, responsible science, and a shared commitment to improving human health while respecting indigenous practices.
From Consumers to Contributors: Citizen Science and the Future of Cannabis Research
Sue Ranchera Mami
Cultivator | Breeder | Public Speaker
@rancheramami | LinkedIn
Ranchera Mami is a third-generation farmer, leading hemp cultivator, and breeder recognized for her work bridging traditional agriculture with the modern cannabis and hemp industries. As the founder behind the Ranchera Familia platform, she advocates for farmer representation, consumer education, and transparency across the supply chain.
She has become a recognized voice in the industry for translating cultivation and genetics knowledge into practical insights for retailers, brands, and consumers. Ranchera Mami regularly moderates and speaks on topics including genetics selection, retail product consistency, cultivation practices, and the future of hemp markets.
In 2024 she served as the California State Takeover Host at MJBizCon, and in 2026 she will host the Hemp Industry Takeover at the same event. She is also speaking on retail-facing genetics at Hall of Flowers and participating in programming with Ignite It.
Through panels, workshops, and media, Ranchera Mami continues to highlight the importance of genetics, cultivation knowledge, and farmer-led storytelling in shaping the future of cannabis and hemp.
Cultivating Authenticity Through Farming
Queenee Gonzalez
Endometriosis Advocate | Dab Educator
@queeneedakritic | LinkedIn | houseofqueenee.com
Melodie “Queenee” Gonzalez is a cannabis educator, patient advocate, and content creator dedicated to reshaping how cannabis—particularly concentrates—is understood and utilized for healing. As the CEO and Lead Educator of House of Queenee, she specializes in dabbing education, terpene science, and mindful consumption, working to break stigma and empower consumers within New York’s evolving legal cannabis landscape.
With over 25 years of clinical experience as a registered medical assistant, Melodie has worked across trauma, cardiovascular, orthopedic, neurosurgery, and pulmonary care. Holding a bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration, she brings a rare integration of traditional medical knowledge and plant-based wellness, offering grounded, evidence-informed perspectives on cannabis as medicine.
Her work is deeply personal. After being diagnosed with stage four endometriosis and fibromyalgia, Queenee turned to cannabis concentrates as part of her own pain management journey. Today, she translates that lived experience into accessible education, helping patients—especially women navigating chronic pain—make informed, intentional decisions about their care.
Through her podcast and video series, Sesh with Queenee, she amplifies the voices of women and chronic pain warriors, creating space for honest conversations around healing, cannabis, and self-advocacy. Across all platforms, her mission remains clear: to reduce stigma, expand understanding, and ensure that more people—particularly women—feel seen, supported, and empowered in their relationship with cannabis.
Endometriosis 101: Women’s Health & Conscious Consumption
Myrtle Clarke
Activist
@flori_bundance | LinkedIn | fieldsofgreenforall.org.za
Myrtle Clarke is a pioneering cannabis activist and policy reform advocate from South Africa, internationally recognized for her role in one of the most significant constitutional challenges to cannabis prohibition in modern history. In 2010, following the arrest of herself and her late partner Jules Stobbs, Myrtle co-initiated a landmark legal case against the South African government, challenging the constitutionality of cannabis prohibition. This years-long effort led to a historic victory in 2018, when the South African Constitutional Court legalized the private possession and cultivation of cannabis for personal use.
As co-founder of Fields of Green for ALL, Myrtle continues to lead advocacy efforts focused on human rights, harm reduction, and equitable cannabis policy. Her work spans grassroots community engagement, public education, and high-level policy discussions, including participation in international forums such as the United Nations.
Myrtle’s advocacy is grounded in a deep commitment to ensuring that the legalization of cannabis in Africa does not exclude the very communities who have cultivated and preserved its traditions for generations. She continues to challenge systems that limit access and opportunity, emphasizing that true reform must include social justice, economic inclusion, and respect for cultural legacy.
For Myrtle, cannabis is more than a plant—it is a catalyst for broader conversations around justice, dignity, and collective responsibility. Her work remains rooted in a simple but powerful ethos: for the love of cannabis—our craft, our culture, and our people.
Southern African Rainbow Promises: A Journey Through Cannabis Contrasts
June Johnson
Founder, Collective High | Founder, The Weed Doula | Entrepreneur | Cannabis Educator
@collectivehigh | @the.weed.doula | LinkedIn | collective-high.com | theweeddoula.com
June Johnson is a cannabis educator, cultural strategist, and founder of Collective High, a platform dedicated to reshaping the conversation around cannabis through education, advocacy, and cultural storytelling. Through her work, Johnson is helping build a more equitable and informed cannabis ecosystem—one that centers wellness, justice, and community empowerment.
Her work sits at the intersection of plant medicine, social justice, and cultural intelligence, grounded in the belief that cannabis can serve as both a healing tool and a catalyst for systemic change when approached with intention and integrity.
Johnson created Collective High to address a critical gap in cannabis culture: the need for accessible education that honors both the science and the human experience of the plant. Through programming, media, and public speaking, Collective High translates complex cannabis information into practical guidance that helps people make informed decisions about their health and well-being.
Her work is particularly focused on communities historically harmed by prohibition, ensuring that those most impacted by the war on drugs have access to education, resources, and economic opportunity within the legal cannabis industry.
Alongside Collective High, Johnson founded The Weed Doula, a personalized cannabis guidance practice designed to help individuals navigate cannabis intentionally and safely. Inspired by the role of traditional birth doulas—who guide and support people through transformative experiences—The Weed Doula supports clients in developing thoughtful relationships with cannabis that align with their wellness goals.
Through consultations, education, and community workshops, The Weed Doula helps people understand how to choose the right products, dosages, and consumption methods for their bodies and lifestyles. Johnson’s approach emphasizes harm reduction, mindfulness, and empowerment—ensuring clients feel informed and confident rather than overwhelmed by the rapidly evolving cannabis marketplace.
The idea for The Weed Doula emerged from a deeply personal chapter in Johnson’s life. When her mother was diagnosed with cancer, Johnson became her sole caregiver through two diagnoses. During that time, she witnessed firsthand how cannabis could support quality of life for patients navigating serious illness. She also saw the devastating impact of systemic inequities within the healthcare system, including the medical racism her family experienced during treatment.
That experience fundamentally shaped Johnson’s mission. It reinforced her belief that access to plant medicine, compassionate education, and informed healthcare choices should not be privileges reserved for the few.
Today, Johnson continues to advocate for a more humane and responsible cannabis industry—one that prioritizes patient care, ethical business practices, and restorative justice for those harmed by prohibition.
In addition to her work in cannabis education, Johnson is also a fashion model and creative director. She approaches both industries through the lens of storytelling, culture, and social impact, using media and public platforms to amplify voices and ideas that challenge outdated narratives.
Her broader vision for Collective High includes building a national platform for cannabis education, expanding public conversations around intentional consumption, and advocating for policies that support expungement, early release, and economic inclusion for communities disproportionately impacted by cannabis criminalization.
At its core, Johnson’s work is about restoring wisdom around plant medicine while building a future rooted in dignity, knowledge, and collective liberation.
Rethinking Cannabis Education: Transparency, Science, and Lived Experience
The Dank Duchess
Founder, International Women’s Cannabis Conference | Hash Educator | Writer
@thedankduchess | LinkedIn | thedankduchess.com
Drawing on 22 years of indoor and outdoor cultivation and more than a decade devoted to the art and science of hashish, The Dank Duchess stands among the most respected and recognizable figures in global cannabis culture. Her work bridges worlds—science and spirit, cultivation and craft, tradition and transformation.
A true student of the resin, Duchess spent over 11 years refining her technique alongside some of the world’s foremost hashmakers, merging ancestral methodology with modern precision. Her hands-on mastery and warm, unpretentious teaching style have earned her international acclaim.
Through YouTube, social media, and digital education, Duchess has reached millions of viewers, translating the complexity of solventless hash into lessons that empower both the layperson and the laboratory. She has become a cultural translator, distilling decades of experience into relatable, captivating storytelling that connects seasoned professionals, home growers, and curious newcomers alike.
Her in-person workshops and immersive hands-on trainings, hosted in cities from California to Barcelona to Mexico City, have taught hundreds the tactile, meditative craft of hashmaking. Each event blends technical precision with human connection, revealing hash not merely as product, but as practice — a ritual of patience, pressure, and devotion.
Her consulting work spans continents, guiding cultivators and brands to refine strains, streamline operations, and elevate quality through deep respect for process. As a judge for elite competitions such as The Emerald Cup and Masters of Rosin, Duchess upholds the heritage and integrity of solventless hashish, ensuring that excellence remains rooted in authenticity.
Beyond her craft, Duchess has become a cultural connector and advocate for representation. She founded the International Women’s Cannabis Conference, celebrating women innovators and healers across the global plant medicine ecosystem, and created Mocha Mary Jane, a digital sisterhood that uplifts Black and Brown women in cultivation and hashmaking.
Her voice and vision have resonated across mainstream and academic platforms alike—appearing on VICELAND’s Bong Appétit (Seasons 1 & 3), and speaking on stages at the University of British Columbia, the University of Barcelona, and Medgar Evers College. Her writing has been featured in Weed World UK, Cannabis Now, Skunk Magazine, and Ed Rosenthal’s publications, as well as in How Psychedelics Can Help Save the World by Stephen Gray and This Bud’s for You by Ed Rosenthal.
Today, Duchess continues to collaborate with brands that share her values, blending education, culture, and aesthetics into limited-edition creations. Her partnership with Method Seven brings precision-tuned eyewear to cultivators worldwide because, as she says, “protection and vision go hand in hand.”
At her core, The Dank Duchess is a teacher, artist, musician, and advocate who believes that mastery is an act of love. Whether reaching millions online, shaping global conversations on solventless craft, or mentoring a new generation of makers in person, she moves with joy and purpose — living by her guiding mottos:
“Cannabis flower fuels my power.”
“My niche is hashish.”
Host
DIVERSE PERSPECTIVES
Our speakers represent a wide range of backgrounds, experiences, and expertise in cannabis. This conference amplifies voices often left out of mainstream industry events, ensuring a richer and more inclusive conversation.
COMPREHENSIVE EDUCATION
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COMMUNITY-CENTERED
Beyond industry trends, we focus on the people behind the plant—patients, advocates, and culture-makers. Our discussions highlight the role of cannabis in healing, justice, and collective empowerment.
COMPENSATED SPEAKERS
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