In The Community
Image shared by perfectunion on Instagram
Image shared by perfectunion on Instagram
With the industry being legalized in so many states, we are left to wonder where the Latine community stands. We know brown and Black individuals were, and continue to be, disproportionately criminalized for being consumers of cannabis, and as legalization becomes a reality in many states, we are fortunately starting to see less impact on these communities.
As states also attempt to address disproportionate access to wealth-building opportunities in the industry for those who were unfairly targeted and convicted of marijuana crimes, we are also seeing some semblance of hope as more people of color entrepreneurs enter the industry. Whether people of color are taking advantage of these new opportunities as entrepreneurs or as professionals in the space, the increase in diversity numbers is a win for everyone.
These five Latinas are making strides in the cannabis industry, and we hope that after them, come many more.
Roshelly & Shanelly Peña
Photo by latinas_cann on Instagram
Photo by latinas_cann on Instagram
Sisters Roshelly and Shanelly Pena, founders of Higher Dining Experience, have transformed their unexpected journey into cannabis-infused chefs. Their lifestyle cannabis brand combines Latin flavors with a touch of high times, offering savory power dishes, desserts, and mocktails. Higher Dining has become a sought-after destination for both cannabis enthusiasts and newcomers seeking flavorful experimentation. From THC-infused chimichurri with carne asada to guava chicken wings made with canna oil, their menu tantalizes the taste buds. The culinary series also provides a social and interactive experience, allowing guests to explore different strains, enjoy handmade pre-rolled joints, and indulge in microdosed creations.
Priscilla Vilchis
Photo by hollyweedqueen on Instagram
Photo by hollyweedqueen on Instagram
Priscilla Vilchis, a native Californian, recognized the potential of cannabis as an alternative to highly addictive prescription medications during her time in a physician's office. Becoming the first Latina in the US to obtain a license for cannabis production, she established Premium Produce, a Las Vegas-based cannabis facility where she serves as CEO. Vilchis has further expanded her entrepreneurial ventures by founding her own cannabis business, Reina.
Ruth Jazmin Aguiar
Photo by zamoravisuals on Instagram
Photo by zamoravisuals on Instagram
Ruth Jazmin Aguiar, a cannabis industry veteran, brings nearly a decade of experience in regulation, advocacy, licensing, strategy, and social equity. With expertise in business development within Spanish-speaking markets, she bridges the communication gap between entrepreneurs and government officials in California and beyond. In 2021, Aguiar joined Locatora Productions as the cannabis business manager for their podcast, Marijuanera: a Podcast for Potheads, expanding her career into mainstream media.
Frances González
Growing up in Puerto Rico, Frances González was told a lot of things about weed. Mainly, that it was a harmful drug not to be abused. After trying it at 22, González realized the misinformation around cannabis, and she went on to start Latina Cannapreneurs to combat the misinformation about the industry. Latina Cannapreneurs is a nonprofit organization that works to educate and empower Latinas about the cannabis industry and works to promote Latina entrepreneurship within the industry.
Susie Plascencia
Photo by Susie Plascencia on Facebook
Photo by Susie Plascencia on Facebook
Susie Plascencia is a multifaceted Latina journalist, entrepreneur, and cannabis advocate. As the founder and CEO of NightShift Digital and NightShift Cannabis, she utilizes her expertise in PR, social media marketing, and the cannabis industry. Plascencia's dedication to Latina representation led to the creation of Latinas in Cannabis, an influential online community that empowers and connects Latina entrepreneurs, content creators, educators, and advocates. Furthermore, she holds significant positions as the co-founder and CMO of MOTA Glass.
Michelle Phan (@michellephan)
They’re still underrepresented in comparison to their male colleagues but progress is progress. Latinas in technology face several hurdles and barriers, including discrimination and prejudices based on gender, race, and ethnicity.
Despite these obstacles, many Latinas have achieved success and made substantial contributions. Check out these 5 inspiring Latina tech entrepreneurs who are making the world a better place
Ariel Lopez
Urban Geekz
Ariel Lopez is an Afro-Latina entrepreneur, career coach, and speaker in tech. She is the founder and CEO of Knac, formerly 2020Shift, a talent management platform that promises to transform the job application process for professionals and businesses by reducing bias and improving the candidate experience while also making the hiring process much more efficient.
Passionate about the future of work, diversity, and inclusion, Ariel aims to create impactful solutions through technology and by coaching marketing, advertising, and tech professionals on ways to grow their businesses and careers.
Marcela Torres
Marcela Print
Marcela Torres, a researcher in social sciences, founded Hola Code in 2017 after identifying an urgent need for qualified personnel in the software development sector within her home country of Mexico, and tying that in with a growing migration crisis. Wanting to enact social change, she created a company that transforms forced migrants (returnees, deportees, and refugees) into skilled software developers, tapping into Mexico’s growing tech sector as well as the global demand for bilingual and bicultural developers, and helping them gain access to more, better jobs and opportunities.
Currently, Hola Code receives more than 400 applications each month from Mexicans and Central Americans seeking asylum. While they celebrate the accomplishments of their alumni, who quickly ascend into well-paid tech jobs across Mexico, the coding bootcamp is never short of work.
Dr. Maria Artunduaga
The Business Journals
Dr. Maria Artunduaga, a Colombian-born physician-scientist turned entrepreneur, graduated first in her class from Colombia's prestigious Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, which is ranked sixth among Latin American medical institutions. She moved to the United States for her postdoctoral studies, first at Harvard's Department of Genetics and subsequently at the universities of Washington and California in Berkeley-San Francisco, where she earned master's degrees in Public Health and Translational Medicine.
Inspired by her abuela Sylvia after years of witnessing her struggle with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, Maria went on to found Samay, formerly known as Respira Labs, a startup focused on enhancing the quality of life for people living with COPD through connected health and machine learning.
Laura I. Gomez
Techies
Laura I. Gomez is a Latina entrepreneur and technology executive. She is the co-founder and CEO of Atipica, a company that provides technology solutions for businesses to help improve diversity and inclusion in the workplace. She received her degree in computer science from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and has worked in diverse leadership roles in the tech industry, including Google, YouTube, Jawbone, and Twitter, where she led the company’s product expansion into 50 languages and dozens of countries.
Laura has been recognized for her work as an entrepreneur and tech executive, having been named to Forbes' list of "Latin America's Most Powerful Women" in 2017. In addition to her work at Atipica, Gomez is also a member of the Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE) board of directors. She is currently working on Proyecto Solace, described as “a community focused on building safe spaces for Latinx peoples focused on collective healing and mental wellness.”
Dr. Graciela Chichilnisky
Dr. Graciela is an Argentine-American economist and environmental scientist known for her work on climate change and creating innovative technologies for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. She is the co-founder and former CEO of Global Thermostat, a company that developed a technology that captures and sequesters carbon dioxide emissions from power plants and industrial facilities. The technology is designed to help reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
Dr. Chichilnisky has received numerous awards and honors for her work, including the Presidential Faculty Fellow Award from the National Science Foundation, the Chaire d'Excellence from the French Government, and the United Nations Global 500 Roll of Honor for Environmental Achievement. She is also a professor at Columbia University, where she teaches courses on environmental economics and the management of global environmental risks.
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