The Activist: Jodie Giesz-Ramsay
Jodie is a passionate cannabis advocate who has played a pivotal role in shaping the culture of the cannabis industry over the past 20 years. After arriving in Vancouver in 2004, Jodie became deeply involved in cannabis activism, driven by the realization of how cannabis prohibition negatively impacts civil liberties and human rights. She explained “It seemed irrational and cruel to use the criminal law to harm harmless people for something that wasn’t simply benign”.
Her activism took a significant leap in 2005 when she was given the opportunity to serve as editor for Cannabis Culture Headquarters, a magazine dedicated to global marijuana and hemp culture. Since then, Jodie's commitment to cannabis advocacy has only increased, paralleling the growth of the cannabis industry itself. Jodie now owns and operates a wide range of culturally significant cannabis media, including CC Magazine, Pot TV Network, CC Headquarters store and lounges, and even her own hemp-themed coffeeshop model called Jodie’s Joints.
With an unwavering dedication to continuing her advocacy, Jodie remains active in political campaigns, media interviews, and public speaking. Her Instagram page, which has amassed over 25k followers, serves as a platform for her ongoing support of cannabis-related issues and for promoting the Cannabis Culture brand.
Can you share both a positive and a negative experience in your journey within the cannabis space?
The positives are endless! One of the best highlights in cannabis is meeting so many unique and inspirational people who sacrifice so much in order to help others. I have witnessed almost-miraculous results from people being able to access cannabis for medicine, and have shared countless wonderful memories with my friends and fellow activists as we’ve enjoyed the joys of events like 4/20 Vancouver and so much more. The negatives are definitely related to law enforcement, as I was arrested (on International Women’s Day in 2017!) and convicted for my bold civil disobedience efforts opening adult-use cannabis Cannabis Culture retail stores across Canada as a model for what legalization should look like. The ordeal of being arrested, jailed, and taken through the judicial system is certainly not for the faint of heart. But I’ve been inspired and motivated by experiencing first-hand what so many thousands of others have been forced to go through because of unjust laws.
Do you feel that the cannabis industry is more open to women and diverse voices than other industries, or do you think there are still significant barriers within the space?
Cannabis as an industry has been around for many decades, but most of that time it has been illegal, and that meant a lot of women were not as involved due to the high risks associated with doing something “criminal”. Men are generally usually less risk-adverse, and are willing to engage in activities that women often avoid – but it must be said that there are a lot of brave female advocates, growers, store operators and access providers too! Now that cannabis is legal, more people are able to get involved without fear of repercussions, and that means more opportunity for women who traditionally wouldn’t take any chances with law enforcement interactions. And as legalization continues to evolve, women are primed to find success running businesses offering services and products associated with cannabis, especially those that cater to a clientele desiring a feminine touch. Women are also often over-represented in the areas of marketing and creative media, meaning they have a lot of potential for involvement in new offerings of customer service, branding, and related work.
What do you think needs to change to better represent and empower women in the cannabis space?
I’m actually impressed with the current status of women in the weed scene! It’s never been hard for me to find females involved in activism and business, and there are countless women-focused groups, events, conferences, chats, and organizations that cater to the ladies in our industry and community. There was a brief period right around legalization in 2018 when we saw a lot of “tech bros” and “stock bros” coming into the cannabis area, so there was an imbalance in terms of who got attention and coverage during that time, but it seems the opportunists have mostly moved on and have left us with the best of the women and men who truly care about cannabis.
What excites you the most about the future of cannabis?
The era of prohibition and stigma against cannabis is coming to an end, though there will certainly be battles ahead to preserve and expand freedoms and fairness. I’m encouraged by both the emergence of medical cannabis use by people who would have never broken the law before, as well as the social shift towards more acceptance of cannabis use for pleasure and therapeutic purposes. Individually personalized medicine and healthcare approaches are becoming more popular than ever, and cannabis as a wellness product clearly has enormous potential. I’m also encouraged by the constantly-improving regulations and rules around legal cannabis, which inspires me to continue advocacy and outreach to make our industry stronger!
Are there any other women in the cannabis industry you admire?
There are many legends in cannabis who are women, and I hesitate to start listing off every one of them! We have legacy leaders like Mila Jansen, Mikki Norris, Michelle Rainey, and Brownie Mary Rathbun. I have longtime friends and boss babes such as Britney Guerra, Erin Goodwin, Dori Dempster, Carol Gwilt, Katy Perry, and Sarah Sunday. Recent inspirations are newer advocates and business owners including Terra Maibach (Violet Wild), Shannon Ross (Antidote), Cyril One (MaryJane and Paint), Caitlin Donaldson (TobaGrown), Britney Guthrie and Julie Stevens (How Bout This Events). I could go on and on, but there are so many to list – but what a great problem to have! There are so many passionate and compassionate women involved in weed, and it’s an honour to work alongside them all as we continue pushing for more inclusivity, fairness, and access!
