Women in Weed: Nurit Raphael and Shauna Harden
Cannabis culture is often met with stereotypical viewpoints. The criminal drug pusher. The unemployed stoner. The pothead with the munchies. Even gender plays a role. Watch any movie with cannabis rolled up in the storyline, and it generally features a scruffy, long-haired male lead.
But what if the information you've learned about cannabis was mispackaged? What if, instead of seeing it as a criminal substance. you were taught it was a natural form of medicine? Even more, what if you learned cannabis was not a man's industry, but one with many influential and driven female trailblazers.
We caught up with two women cannapreneurs who are making a difference with their own Bay Area cannabis-based business.
Shauna Harden
Executive producer of the documentary film "Lady Buds," Shauna Harden is also co-owner of Sonoma Hills Farm, the first licensed cannabis farm in Sonoma County.
It is also the first to be certified organic by California Certified Organic Farmers.
"My husband and I have spent the better part of 15 years making personal investments in restaurants and cannabis companies," Harden says. "The more I leaned into cannabis over the years through our family office Big Rock, the more aligned and inspired I became."
That alignment hasn't always been echoed in her community, mostly due to the stigma of crime and lazy stoner stereotypes.
"We have definitely faced tremendous strain as a family and as a team for being the first in Wine Country," Harden admits, referencing threats they have received. And while her local community has been largely supportive, Harden has still experienced a few tense conversations about cannabis over the years.
"I like to think I've given those folks some food for thought. Concerned about my cannabis use? What's in your medicine cabinet? How many glasses of wine do you have each day? I haven't had a hangover in 10 years!"
With her kids, conversations about cannabis evolve as they grow. Because her children have grown up around cannabis, it's hardly a foreign topic, though Harden admits she referred to it as lavender when they were younger to avoid awkward conversations if the kids brought it up in public.
"They think of it as medicine for older folks," Harden says. "They have seen their grandmother use tinctures for her colitis and nausea, and they have seen the healing power of non-psychoactive CBD balms and creams that soothe cuts and sunburns better than cortisone and aloe alone."
Now that her kids are a bit older, the family openly discusses cannabis, including legalities and how to continue furthering the reach of this medicine.
"The ultimate goal is to build something that will sustain our family long after we're gone," she says
Nurit Raphael
The need for a job change is what spurred Nurit Raphael to navigate a career path in cannabis, which led to ONA.life, a cannabis delivery program based in San Rafael that she founded with her brother, Aviv.
"I will never forget when I told my family I was going to get into cannabis," Raphael says. Citing the then-recent legalization of cannabis in Colorado, she knew California was going to be next. But her family's reaction wasn't as enthusiastic.
"They said I'd be associated as a drug dealer, and that I don't want to do this to my reputation."
Despite their initial concerns, Raphael's family came to recognize the positive aspects of cannabis and how lucrative the business was for Raphael and her brother.
"Every single one of them orders from us and comes to every event I host. They couldn't be prouder."
Recently married, Raphael describes one unique feature to her reception that she hopes will make a regular appearance in the wedding circuit - a cannabis bar.
"I've seen some cannabis weddings that feature bud in your roses and smoking in every photo. This wasn't any of that," Raphael says.
The venue was a licensed cannabis property, and Raphael made sure to notify all families with children. The cannabis bar was positioned just like any other reception's alcohol bar.
"It was very classy, and hidden for people who knew where it was," she says.
Bluntly: Support Local
These ladies came into cannabis in different ways, but both women are in sync when it comes to the troubles the cannabis industry is facing, and the importance of supporting small, local farms and businesses.
"The California cannabis industry is going through a tremendously difficult time now as the market adjusts," Harden shares. "If we don't support the smaller craft farms of one acre or less, then we risk losing some of the legendary genetics that helped cement our reputation as leaders in cultivation."
"All of the businesses are fighting for survival right now. Everyone thought it was like the green rush, but it's definitely not," Raphael adds, mentioning over-taxation and over-regulation. "I think it's important for people to understand the brands they're buying from and try their best to support small businesses and legacy farmers - the real heart and soul of the industry."
This article originally appeared in North Bay Woman and was written by Crissi Langwell