What happens when a woman decides cannabis belongs in ordinary life  not hidden away as something shameful?

This week, I’m joined by cannabis entrepreneur and pioneer Jane West, alongside Irena Katz from We Are Lux, for a conversation about cannabis, women, design, stigma and what happens when we start imagining cannabis culture differently.

Jane takes us back to the early days of legalisation in Colorado, when she began creating cannabis-friendly events that looked nothing like the stereotypical 420 experience. Think art galleries, chefs, live music and beautiful surroundings — with cannabis simply part of the evening.

Then came the SWAT team.

Jane shares the story of having one of her events shut down, unexpectedly becoming a national face of social cannabis consumption, and eventually founding Women Grow after women from around the world began asking her how they could enter the emerging cannabis industry.

We also talk about something much quieter: the shame many women still carry around cannabis.

Irena and I reflect on how deeply that stigma still sits in Australia — even for women who work in cannabis, educate about it and openly advocate for it. And we talk about the role beautiful, intentional design can play in changing the way we see cannabis and the rituals around consuming it.

In this episode

We talk about:

●      Jane’s early relationship with cannabis and why it never felt particularly hidden to her

●      Creating sophisticated social cannabis events in Colorado

●      The event that was shut down by a SWAT team

●      How that experience eventually helped lead to Women Grow

●      Jane’s advice to Australian women entering the industry

●      The huge unmet need for products designed around women’s lives and experiences

●      Why changing the objects and rituals around cannabis can help change the culture around it

●      Irena’s journey bringing Jane West pieces to Australia

●      And, naturally, we finish with dating — including Jane revealing that her first date with her now-husband was supposed to be a one-night stand. ❤️

Jane’s message to women is a simple one: if you don’t see what you want in this industry, find your people and make it yourself.

Keep getting Canna Curious

If conversations like this make you think differently about cannabis, come join me off the podcast too. The Canna Curious newsletter is where I go a little on deeper cannabis literacy, women’s health, research, culture and the things I think we need to be talking about more.

Join the newsletter:www.cannacurious.com.au

Find our guests

Jane West
@betterwithjane

Irena 

@ladylux420

And if you enjoyed this episode, send it to a woman who might enjoy getting a little more Canna Curious with us.

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