As a Gen Z professional beginning my career in the UK medical cannabis sector, I expected a new industry that entered the market in 2018 to naturally reflect the modern workplace values of gender balance and representation that I grew up with.
Yet after attending several industry events, it quickly became clear that this was not the case. The imbalance was striking, and I wanted to understand why so few women were present. One factor, as I soon learned, is that fewer women tend to apply for roles in industries perceived as high risk or uncertain.
This piece is both a call for more women to explore opportunities in this £205 million emerging sector, and a reminder for businesses to act on the insights shared by Lumino’s Managing Director, Ellen Jardim, on how to attract and retain more women in their organisations. It also draws on the experience of Heidi Whitman, founder of EmpowHer Cannabis Society, who demonstrates how building strong networks and visibility can empower women to lead and shape the industry from within.
Why join the Cannabis Industry?
The medical cannabis industry is still young in the UK. It has already proven successful in many countries around the world and is now finding its place here as it continues to evolve. Like any emerging sector, it faces challenges, including:
- Battling stigma
- Driving clinical research
- Encouraging investment
- Ensuring affordability
These challenges are complex and cannot be solved by a single voice.
In the UK, we have the opportunity to shape the development of this industry from the very beginning. For those who want to be part of something meaningful, to help break down stigma and advance patient care, now is the time to get involved.
Speaking to Lumino’s Managing Director, Ellen Jardim
To understand what this means both for women considering a career in cannabis and for businesses aiming to attract and retain diverse talent, I spoke with Lumino’s Managing Director, Ellen Jardim, whose expertise in recruitment sheds light on the challenges and opportunities ahead.
“From your experience, how do you see men and women approaching job applications differently in the cannabis industry? Any patterns that have surprised you?”
In my experience, women tend to apply only if they think they meet all of the requirements and preferences, whereas men are more likely to apply if they like the role and feel confident they could learn on the job.
That’s not to say that women are less ambitious or capable, far from it! It highlights the importance of writing gender neutral job descriptions and being clear about what is essential versus what is simply preferred. When we make that clear, it naturally attracts a wider and more balanced group of applicants.
“What kinds of questions do female candidates tend to ask about workplace culture or career progression? What do those questions tell us about how the industry is evolving?”
I’ve noticed that many women ask more about flexible working patterns, for example, whether hours can accommodate childcare drop offs, or if there’s understanding around working from home when children are unwell. Often, women are the ones working late into the evenings, splitting their days working whilst children are in school and in bed.
The clients who offer flexible or hybrid working tend to attract more interest from candidates of all genders. It’s also often more affordable for employers, since candidates may not require travel expenses or higher salaries to offset commuting costs.
“Thinking back to when you first joined the sector, what advice do you wish someone had given you? What would you say now to women or underrepresented groups looking to build a career here?”
The best advice I could give is to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to speak up or to admit when you don’t know something. This is still a very new and evolving industry so no one is the absolute expert. Every interaction is an opportunity to learn, and the people who stay curious tend to progress the fastest in this industry.
“If you could give companies one simple, actionable step they could take this month to make inclusion real (not just a slogan), what would it be?”
Meaningful progress often comes from small and thoughtful changes, such as reviewing job descriptions for inclusivity, ensuring meeting times accommodate different needs, and offering flexible work arrangements, rather than from broad statements or campaigns.
Learning from Elsewhere
The United States shows what is possible when barriers are challenged early. A decade ago, only 12 percent of cannabis executives were women. Today, women account for almost 40 percent of leadership positions in the US cannabis industry (this includes both the recreational and medical markets).
That shift did not happen by accident. It was the result of networks, visibility, and deliberate effort.
To explore how these lessons can inspire change here, I spoke with Heidi Whitman, founder of EmpowHer Cannabis Society, who has been at the forefront of empowering women in cannabis globally.
Speaking with Heidi Whitman, Founder of EmpowHer Cannabis Society
What was the moment you knew the cannabis industry needed a platform like EmpowHer? What gap or opportunity were you responding to at the time?
Entering the industry in 2015, I watched the US market evolve in real time while the UK remained years behind; medical access didn’t arrive until 2018. At that time, I was working in CBD and attending every event, financial meeting, and board meeting I could. What I saw was striking: a sea of men in suits. Boardrooms full of male executives. And me, the only woman in the room, often dismissed before I had finished my sentence.
I was told my passion for plant medicine, whether over the counter or prescribed, was unprofessional. I was invited to present to boards and then promptly asked to leave. It was, quite simply, a boys’ club.
I later learned the term “women washing,” referring to women placed in companies merely as tokens and temporarily for business gains. I knew that wasn’t who I was, and I refused to be reduced to that. After exiting a CBD company I co founded in 2019, I started searching for women who would lift me up, and in turn, I began lifting others.
Two incredible women, Hannah Deacon and Carly Mayer, stood beside me early on and helped me find my footing. That solidarity inspired what became EmpowHer Cannabis Society, a global platform designed for connection, credibility, and collaboration, co founded by myself and another woman professional, Rebecca Allen Tapp.
Our purpose has always been to lift women meaningfully, because when women are supported, their businesses grow, and the entire industry begins to reflect the diversity it desperately needs. Today, EmpowHer is headquartered in Germany with a WhatsApp community of over 870 women across 34 countries. I am no longer alone; I am surrounded by a sea of strong, inclusive women who work confidently alongside men who share our vision of equality.
Since you launched EmpowHer, how have you seen the conversation around women in cannabis change? Are there any turning points that stand out to you?
We are no longer on the sidelines; we’re at the forefront. The conversation has shifted from “Can women lead here?” to “Look what women are achieving.”
EmpowHer has given women a global home, a network that feels both personal and powerful. One defining moment came in Berlin, 2024, during the ICBC event. I called for a “Women’s Photo” in the Estrel lobby, and women poured in from every corner of the conference. We stood shoulder to shoulder; entrepreneurs, scientists, lawyers, advocates and something clicked. The energy was electric. That moment became a symbol of recognition, respect, and unity.
Since then, we have witnessed lasting partnerships, friendships, and business ventures born from that same spirit. When a member posts a question in our community, women from every region respond with advice, resources, and encouragement. It has become a living ecosystem of expertise; a force of women guiding each other through this industry together.
EmpowHer connects women from different countries and backgrounds. Can you share an example of when that diversity sparked a collaboration or insight that might not have happened otherwise?
One of the most powerful aspects of EmpowHer is how diversity drives opportunity. Our community includes women from South Africa, Ghana, Macedonia, and New Caledonia, regions often overlooked but full of potential. Through these connections, we have helped women in new and developing markets build credibility, access resources, and form partnerships that transcend borders.
We have also helped change the face of industry events. The days of all male panels are fading. Women are now moderating, presenting, and shaping the conversations that matter. By bringing authentic, regionally grounded perspectives to global stages, we have proven that women’s voices are not supplementary; they are essential.
This diversity has not only broadened business opportunities but also reshaped how the industry understands leadership, innovation, and equity. The cannabis sector can no longer be one dimensional. We are making sure of that.
Looking ahead, what role do you think networks like EmpowHer can play in shaping not just inclusion, but the future direction of the cannabis industry itself?
I recently attended Hemp for the Future in Iceland, and for the first time, I witnessed true equality; balanced representation on stage and in the audience. That moment reaffirmed that our work has real impact.
EmpowHer has become more than a network; it is a movement shaping the values and direction of the global cannabis industry. The future we have envisioned, where women are visible, respected, and leading, is already taking shape.
We are building an industry that values credibility, inclusivity, and compassion, and one where collaboration between women and men creates lasting change. There is no going backward now. The global community we have built ensures that no woman entering this space has to stand alone again.
The future is bright, connected, and deeply human, exactly as we intended from the start.
Spotlighting the Women Leading
While the number of women in visible leadership roles in the UK medical cannabis sector remains small, those who are here are paving important paths forward.
- Victoria Lawrence, Managing Director of Bridge Farms, is leading one of the country’s most advanced horticultural projects.
- Morag Thomas, COO of Waterside Pharmaceuticals, is helping bridge the UK’s medicinal cannabis supply gap.
- Heidi Whitman, founder of EmpowHer, has built a global network where women in cannabis can connect, mentor and collaborate.
- Ellen Jardim, Managing Director of Lumino, is shaping the industry through recruitment and talent development.
These women prove there is a path forward. But the industry needs more voices walking it.
The cannabis ecosystem spans research, cultivation, supply chains, recruitment, advocacy and patient engagement. Each area offers opportunities for new leaders to emerge and for diverse perspectives to influence the future of medical cannabis in the UK.
With domestic cultivation increasing and new stakeholders entering the space, the UK stands at an important crossroads, not only in terms of regulation and investment but in the kind of culture it chooses to build.
We have a chance to create an industry that future generations will be proud of, one that is credible, compassionate and inclusive. But that will only happen if we start now by breaking down the grass ceiling together.
Written by: Anastacia Peters
With thanks to Heidi Whitman & Ellen Jardim
