High Times Announces Winners, Speakers at ‘High Times Female 50’

Awards Will Honor Influential Women Across the Cannabis Landscape

LOS ANGELES, CA, Nov. 06, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- High Times, the most well-known, globally recognized brand in cannabis, today announced the brand’s selected Female 50 honorees, as well as the speakers who will present at the inaugural awards. The awards honor the most influential women across the cannabis landscape, from activists, executives, and scientists, to patients, and politicians. The honorees have been selected by the brand’s editorial leadership from a pool of over 7,500 public nominations.

Taking place at the Beverly Wilshire Hotel on November 13, the event will feature special presentations from High Times’ CEO and President, Kraig Fox, as well as several notable female CEOs, entrepreneurs, and activists. A full list of the winners and presenters includes:

2019 Winners
Vivien Azer, Managing Director, Cowen & Co
Carol Bartz, Chairman at Caliva, Former CEO of Yahoo
Jessica Billingsley, Founder and CEO, Akerna
Elizabeth Caffrey, Founder, Greenwolf
Ophelia Chong, Founder, Asian Cannabis Alliance
Hannah Davis, CMO, Mammoth Distro/Heavy Hitters
Dr. Uma Dhanabalan, MD. MPH. FAAFP. MRO.
Jennifer Dooley, CSO, GTI
Charlotte Figi, Namesake, Charlotte's Web
Renee Gagnon, CEO, HollyWeed North Cannabis
Alison Gordon, CEO, 48north
Anjela Gotsulyak, Influencer, Koala Puffs
Yvonne DeLaRosa Green, CEO, 99 High Tide
Alix Hadley, CEO, C.R.A.F.T. Cannabis
Elizabeth Hogan, VP, Brands GCH Inc
Lynn Honderd, CEO, Mary's Medicinals
Karson Humistin, CEO, Vangst
Wanda James, Owner, Simply Pure
Dr. Jessica Knox, Founder, American Cannabinoid Clinics
Carmen Lam, SVP Business Development, KushCo Holdings
Danna Lee, Founder, Green Angels
Chanda Macias, CEO, Women Grow
Rylie Maedler, CEO, Rylie's Sunshine
Cassandra Maffey, Master Grower, Verde Naturals
Mary Lynne Mathre, Nurse, Patients Out of Time
Rosie Mattio, Founder, Mattio
Elvy Musikka, Activist
Sally Nichols, President, Distribution Bloom Farms
Linda Noel, Founder, Boston Freedom Rally and Mass Cann
Cyo Nystrom, Co-Founder and CEO, Quim Rock
Amanda Ostrowitz, Founder and CEO, CannaRegs
Cat Packer, Executive Director, City of Los Angeles Department of Cannabis Regulation
Jann Parish, CMO, Green Growth Brands
Emily Paxhia, Managing Partner, Poseidon
Jamie Pearson, President, Bhang
April Pride, Co-Founder, Like Minds
Mary Pryor, Founder, Cannaclusive
Amanda Reiman, VP of Community Development, Flow Kana Flow Kana
Kim Rivers, CEO, Trulieve
Tracy Ryan, Founder, CannaKids
Cynthia Salarizadeh, Founder, House of Saka; Green Market Media
Tyla Salley, Founder, Deuces 22
Dr Cristina Sanchez, Doctor Cannabinoid Research
Lihi Bar-Lev Schleider, Head of Research, Tikun Olam
Viviane Sedola, CEO and Founder, Dr. Cannabis
Emily Skrobecki, Co-Founder, CannSTEM
Beth Stavola, CSO, iAnthus
Corey Thomas, Founder, Honeypot
Valentina Varisco, Influencer, Valeficent
Nancy Whiteman, CEO, Wana Brands

The day will feature:

• High Times leadership presenting congratulatory remarks, as well as presenting a Lifetime Achievement award to the legendary Mila Jansen
• Bhang President Jamie Pearson presenting a talk titled ‘Breaking the Glass Ceiling in Cannabis’
• Paige Figi, mother of Charlotte Figi, talking about her struggle to heal her child, and how this mother’s fight changed the way the world looked at this healing plant.
• Alison Gordon, CEO of 48 North, sitting down with Chelsea Leyland, an activist who along with her twin sister suffers from epilepsy, to discuss the differences in available treatments in the United States and the UK
• A closing intimate musical performance from R&B legend Macy Gray

“The talent, accomplishments, and influence of the women who are being honored and who will be presenting at High Times Female 50 is a testament to the integral role that women have and will continue to have in the growth of the cannabis industry,” said Kraig Fox, CEO of High Times. “These women are true changemakers and exemplify why female leaders in cannabis need to be recognized and celebrated for their work across the industry.”

High Times Female 50 winners participate in an afternoon of community, collaboration and celebration. High Times’ mission is to ensure that the cannabis community's most important and pressing matters are thoughtfully discussed, and that these women are recognized for their achievements in the cannabis industry.

More Info on Presenters:

Jamie Pearson – Pearson, President of Bhang Corporation (CSE:BHNG OTCQX: BHNG), is responsible for global growth, international distribution and capital markets. Prior to Bhang, Pearson founded a global real estate investment firm and a celebrity cannabis agency with clients such as Cypress Hill and Die Antwoord. She has owned cultivation operations and is a published author and bilingual speaker. She serves on the advisory board of Liberty Leaf Holdings (CSE:LIB) and The Original Jack Herer Group.

Paige Figi – Figi is the mother of Charlotte Figi, the namesake of cannabis strain Charlotte's Web, and is the Founder of Coalition for Access Now, a 501c4 nonprofit organization led by families committed to educating the public and lawmakers on the health benefits of natural cannabis therapies for chronic health conditions. After exhausting traditional medical options to treat her daughter’s traumatic seizures related to Dravet Syndrome, Figi turned to cannabis as an alternative therapy. Conducting her own research, Figi found a strain of cannabis (now known as Charlotte’s web), that was able to dramatically reduce Charlotte’s seizures. Her story has now become one of the most well-known examples of how cannabis can have a life-changing, positive effect as a medical treatment.

Alison Gordon – Gordon is a veteran of the Canadian cannabis industry, bringing unique experience and relationships to her role as CEO at 48North. A skilled marketer, she is celebrated for her ability to shift public opinion and consumer behavior within the cannabis industry. In 2018 she was appointed to the Board of Directors for the Cannabis Canada Council. She is also a co-founder of Rethink Breast Cancer Today.

Chelsea Leyland – Leyland is a British DJ and medical cannabis patient and activist. Suffering from a type of epilepsy called ‘Juvenile Myoclonic Epilepsy’ (JME), Leyland made the brave and life-changing decision to wean herself off her strong pharmaceutical anti-seizure medications and treat her epilepsy solely with medical cannabis. She has used her experiences and her platform to become a leading advocate for the destigmatization of both epilepsy and medical cannabis. She recently moved behind the lens to produce a deeply personal story about what it is to be epileptic and seeking cannabis treatment in her soon-to-be-released documentary, Separating The Strains.

About High Times

For more than 44 years, High Times has been the world’s most well-known cannabis brand - championing the lifestyle and educating the masses on the benefits of this natural flower. From humble beginnings as a counterculture lifestyle publication, High Times has evolved into hosting industry-leading events like the Cannabis Cup and the High Times Business Summit, while providing digital TV and social networks, globally distributed merchandise, international licensing deals, and millions of fans and supporters across the globe. In the world of Cannabis, High Times is the arbiter of quality.

For more information on High Times visit http://www.hightimes.com.

Media Contact: mediateam@hightimes.com

Released November 6, 2019