From building successful brands and advocating for social equity to shaping policy and advancing cultivation science, women are breaking barriers and championing equity in the cannabis industry. At MJBizCon, the stories of Tiana Woodruff, Eden Williams, Asya Hill, and Angelica Sanchez highlight resilience, creativity, and a commitment to creating opportunities in a growing and diversifying sector.
Tiana Woodruff: Empowering wellness through Queen Mary
Starting as a cannabis delivery driver in Los Angeles in 2016, Tiana Woodruff quickly realized that building her own business required more than a license—it required a cannabis license and creative funding solutions. After joining a 20-week accelerator cohort and navigating social equity programs, she launched Queen Mary, a premium, wellness-focused cannabis brand. Queen Mary offers a daily wellness system with fast-acting, vegan rosin gummies and is competing in MJBowl, a bicoastal cannabis competition highlighting the Most Valuable Products.
Beyond entrepreneurship, Woodruff advocates for women of color in cannabis and serves on the board of the Minority Cannabis Business Association, emphasizing innovative solutions and investment in underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Eden Williams: Growing opportunity and equity
Eden Williams moved from Tampa, Florida, to Oregon in 2018, starting as a trimmer before insisting on entering cultivation. She gained expertise in propagation, plant science, and lean manufacturing, skills she brought back to Cairo, Illinois, where she manages Vertical People Dispensary. Williams’ goal is to open a vertically integrated cannabis business, creating jobs and opportunities in a community historically impacted by the war on drugs. She encourages mentorship and education to help women of color break into the industry.
Asya Hill: Advocating equity and authenticity
A medical marijuana patient in Illinois, Asya Hill started as an operations manager for a Canadian cannabis company and, after pandemic layoffs, pivoted to budtending and corporate social responsibility. Now executive director of Illinois Women in Cannabis, Hill promotes equity and inclusion, encouraging authentic branding that represents diverse voices. She notes that women are the largest cannabis-consuming demographic but remain underrepresented in product development and brand presence.
Angelica Sanchez: Fostering collaboration
Angelica Sanchez began as a budtender at Perfect Union in 2016 and is now VP of government affairs and compliance at MWG Holdings Group, overseeing 10 retail locations and cultivation licenses. Sanchez emphasizes collaboration, citing a successful collective effort to prevent a cannabis excise tax increase. She highlights the unique challenges women face in a male-dominated industry and the importance of asserting leadership in high-stakes environments.
MJBizCon continues to provide a platform for women like Woodruff, Williams, Hill, and Sanchez to share their expertise and shape the cannabis industry. The 2026 conference, scheduled for December 1–4 in Las Vegas, will include sessions on cultivation, retail marketing, finance, cannabis science, policy, DEI initiatives, innovation, and leadership—ensuring attendees learn from diverse leaders while discovering opportunities to grow their businesses and influence the sector.
By highlighting women and other underrepresented voices, MJBizCon reinforces that diversity is a driver of innovation, equity, and long-term growth in cannabis.
Learn more about attending MJBizCon 2026, including registration, sessions, and featured speakers, here.