Weed Queen: Laura Watson
Position: Creator and Founder of Queen Canna
Company: Queen Canna
Check out our interview below, where Laura Watson talks about how she started her business, her entrepreneurial journey in an industry dominated by men and shares some really helpful advice on how to jump into the cannabis industry.
How would you describe yourself and what you do?
I sell women’s clothing on IG with our Queen Canna Logo on them. But what I really do, is support and encourage women to feel good about themselves and provide a safe space online to discuss parenting and a love or curiosity for cannabis.
What is Queen Canna about? What do you guys do?
We began making cannabis health and beauty products and then began putting our logo on T-shirts and the clothing line took off. We are a body positive clothing line company made for all women and all body types focusing on canna moms.
What makes Queen Canna unique?
Queen Canna is a community of like minded women online who share who we are through fashion and Queen Canna clothing is a way we can express that and feel connected to others.
What’s your favorite part about your job? Least favorite?
I love connecting with women and getting to know them and helping them find pieces from out line that they’ll love. I have a hard time selling to women that feel like friends. I wish I could just give it all away for free.
What inspired you to start Queen Canna and how did you get started?
We began with the health and beauty products like face toner, face serum, suppositories, and lube, when I was growing more cannabis than I could smoke. The clothing line came from the logo for those products which I don’t sell anymore as I don’t have the licensing and our products would require a constant supply of clean organic cannabis.
What is your vision and mission for Queen Canna?
To continue providing comfortable clothing that make women feel connected to other women and feel good in their bodies. I want them to feel comfy, not frumpy.
What were you doing before you started Queen Canna?
I am still a stay at home canna mom, although I’m about to have my CA real estate license. I practiced real estate in Texas about 8 years ago.
How did that influence what you do?
I understand the stigma against moms that smoke and I know the only way to change that is with education and familiarity so I work to change minds and encourage other women to believe in their truth and know they’re still good moms and maybe even better with cannabis.
How did you learn the skills to start and run a successful business?
On the job learning as I go.
What factors have contributed towards your path of success?
Having a husband that supports me in all ways possible.
Did you ever expect a career in the cannabis space?
I’m from Northern California so cannabis has always been in my life and my community to it was inevitable
What has your personal experience with cannabis been?
It’s been a journey that’s always changing. Currently I smoke only a few times per week to relax and enjoy myself as well as for sleep. I use THC cannabis suppositories that I make for restless leg syndrome and for sleep as well as use cannabis lube that I make for vaginal dryness and to enhance intercourse.
Did you ever feel like you weren’t taken seriously because you are a woman?
No. I work with women and for women. It’s all about women from where I sit.
How/do you think your involvement in this industry is going to positively impact your community?
My community is the whole world of women and cannabis moms and it already has.
What’s the biggest change you want to see in the cannabis industry?
I’d love to see everyone is jail for cannabis possession or sales be freed now that we’re selling it and possessing it so freely
Now that cannabis is legal, what excites you most and what worries you the most?
I’m excited by the change in common beliefs in regards to medicinal cannabis and it’s benefits and uses. I don’t worry. What’s the point?
As a woman, what challenges did you encounter (if any) building your business in a male-dominated industry and how do you plan to create change and inclusiveness for future WOC joining the industry?
I wouldn’t really consider myself in the cannabis industry with our Queen canna clothing line. I’m in the community but not the industry which has been a choice.
What would be your best piece of advice for fellow women looking to pursue the cannabis industry?
Know your strengths and your community and if you see a need try to fill it
What would you consider to be the most effective way or initial steps of breaking down barriers and ceilings to pave this path for women in the industry?
Women working together.
There’s still a perception or stigma attached to the people involved in the cannabis industry or just consumers that partake in recreational or medical use, as being stoners- if you have encountered this kind of close minded perspective, what would your argument be to shift the conversation to one of the importance of the weed market and why it should be celebrated/normalized?
You can only educate. Can’t make people see things your way. Focus on what you can control and show up and speak your own truth and the people open to it will listen. If they don’t there’s nothing we can do about that
Do you have any suggestions on how we can help normalize cannabis?
Education and sharing our stories
Where can we reach you? (IG/ Twitter handle and or email)
Name 4 of your favorite women in weed that you’d like to give a shout out too. What do they do and where can we reach them?
Key Takeaways from Laura Watson:
- Can’t make people see things your way.
- Show up and speak your own truth.
- Know your strengths.
- Don’t worry. What’s the point?
- It’s all about women.
Huge shout out and big thank you to Laura Watson of Queen Canna for taking the time to chat about her experiences as a female entrepreneur and executive in a male dominated industry, for giving us great advice and tips on how to be successful in the weed world and for shouting out other dope Weed Queens!
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