Women-Owned Retailers on the Importance of an Inclusive Cannabis Culture

Jennawae McLean is a long-time cannabis activist who's strived for gender and racial equity since entering the licensed retail space. Having advocated for legalization, she now serves on the board of NORML Canada, an organization that focuses on cannabis policy reform and public outreach.

This store operated in the legacy market for many years and made the tough transition to the regulated side successfully. C+T targets the experienced enthusiast consumer that has formerly or is currently purchasing from unregulated sources.

We feel vindicated. We have climbed a huge mountain and now here we are at the top, especially thrilled to see some of our other friends from pre-legalization meet us there too. It has been a dream come true.

ADCANN This week’s Trailblazer is Jennawae McLean, Co-Founder, and CEO of Calyx + Trichomes, a provincially licensed cannabis store in Kingston, Ontario, and 2020 Canadian Cannabis Storefront Brand OTY finalist. Questions with a Cannabis Industry Trailblazer When did you first become involved in the cannabis industry and why? Back…

"In order for our justice system to be truly effective, we need to have viable options for people to do after while they're in rehabilitation, after they've done their sentence, whatever it may be," she said.

"From our perspective, we're paying a debt owed to the people who fought for legalization," says CEO and co-founder Jennawae McLean.

"I'm sure next January will be better in gross sales and profitability," she said in an interview. "I really think that the lockdown took a big chunk and having to pivot was really what depressed sales."

The small packages have been "desperately lacking on our (wholesalers) buy (sheet) every week," said McLean, founder and CEO of Calyx + Trichomes, a licensed cannabis store in Kingston, Ontario.

Calyx + Trichomes embraces the beauty and complexity of the cannabis plant in their store name and design.

Cannabis delivery and curbside pickup are a labour of love, a public service and quite frankly the only responsible approach to help flatten the curve. Let us do our part.

"Most insurance companies aren't really looking at cannabis stores right now. It's even worse than the way banking is for weed businesses," notes McLean.

"It's still too slow," says Calyx + Trichomes Cannabis co-owner Jennawae McLean. "As an owner, I am holding back opening more locations because I quite frankly do not want to go through another year or two holding a lease with that type of uncertainty."