Making room for women in the marijuana world

Women want to learn about health benefits as well as the recreational aspects

Marijuana has been a man’s world but that’s changing according to Canndora, a company billed as a Cannabis Brand for Women, by Women.

They recently held an event in Oakville called Cannabis and Women. What’s Out There for Me?

About 50 women and a few men turned out for the casual marijuana meet and greet.

Bridget Hoffer is one of the four women who started Canndora (www.canndora.com). The cannabis space, a term used often at the event is dominated by men. But that’s going to change Hoffer says.

“With legalization it’s a whole new world. Women want to learn about wellness, and health benefits as well as the adult recreation space.”

And judging by the women attending this event, they don’t want to learn in illegal store front pot shops where duck blind decor and sometimes sketchy clientele is a buzz kill.

Hoffer sees a great void in the marketing of cannabis to women. The former director of communications and marketing for the CBC says women are more discrete than men about cannabis use.

There are but three men in the wave of women at the Canndora event, one is Bubba Nicholson, owner of Hello Cannabis of Dundas (hellocannabis.ca).

“I’m like a cannabis concierge,” he says. “I match patients to the right strain of medical marijuana.”

Then follows a high-energy conversation about oils and tinctures, CBD and THC, Sativa and Indica. It’s the lingo of pot, bewildering to many, but moving quickly into the mainstream as we head to the October 17 date when marijuana will be legal in Canada.

Before long the marijuana minglers move from the nibbles, drinks and displays of cannabis accessories to a room for higher learning. Four experts answer questions, including the founders of EKS, Earth Kisses Sky of Stoney Creek.

Tijen Yalchin and partner Ashley Short offer acupuncture, massage, herbal medicine and holistic nutrition in their practice. Their discussion of medicinal cannabis salves for pain and inflammation and skin treatments intrigues the crowd here as it has at other events.

“There used to be such a stigma about cannabis use,” Yalchin says, “but we did a panel discussion about it at the Hamilton Club a couple of weeks ago. That’s how things are changing.”

The wellness benefits of cannabis occupy much of the discussion. In the experience of Katharine Thomas, a medical educator, and Ashley Athill, a self-described ganja grower, cannabis has wide-reaching benefits.

Pain, inflammation, anxiety, PMS, appetite suppression, insomnia, all have the potential to be treated by the use of cannabis in some form according to the two panellists.

“The doctors are starting to accept it, we’re changing the stigma,” Thompson says.

With legalization coming in less than three months, Athill is already booking workshops in growing your own. The cannabis cultivation expert and owner of Sensii (www.sensii.com) tells one young woman, who claims she can’t even grow a tomato, it will be a learning curve.

“You will be allowed to grow four plants per dwelling. You won’t get it right the first time, but the second time you will.”

It’s all about choosing the right strain. Indica strains are reportedly for relaxing, Sativa for more of a “high.”

In the future she suggests cannabis will be grown in community gardens.

Next, weed accessories get passed around, a compact on-the-go vape pen, and a custom wood rolling tray. Canndora sells accessories for “elevated women” on its online store, including Quartz puff pipes, artisan rolling picks for packing joints and a herb grinder called Green Goddess. They also offer subscription gift boxes to those who join the Canndora Club.

No recipes are circulated, but cannabis edibles are discussed, mostly with the advice to keep them out of the reach of children.

It was an intriguing night and a look into the future as Canada marches toward legalization. But It was just a glimpse into the world of recreational versus medicinal marijuana and where women fit in.

“It’s a historic time in cannabis medicine,” Dr. Jagmeet Sethi says from the Burlington office of the Sethi Cannabis Clinic where she sees a growing patient load. In her practice more women are seeking medical cannabis than men, some for women specific issues, including endometriosis, PMS and pelvic pain.

“I’ve seen more than 4,000 visits now, created six clinics and I’ve done 32 talks to physician groups in the last six months.”

Overtime she says she has seen profound benefits in prescribing medicinal cannabis oils particularly for chronic pain, sleep disorders and anxiety.