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What’s the biggest challenge facing the cannabis industry right now, and how are you and/or your company addressing it?
The biggest challenge is uncertainty. Between rescheduling’s impact conversations, shifting state regulations, and persistent stigma, many operators are stuck waiting to see what happens next. I don’t believe in waiting.
At Premium Produce, we’re preparing for what comes next by staying fully compliant at the state level and building relationships with healthcare and institutional partners who are thinking long-term. Rescheduling isn’t about abandoning the cannabis industry. It’s about expanding its credibility and access. We’re positioning ourselves to be part of those conversations early, particularly as a minority- and woman-led operator with experience navigating both healthcare systems and cannabis from the ground up.
Where do you see the most exciting opportunity for growth and innovation in cannabis?
The most exciting opportunity for growth is expanded access. As cannabis moves closer to broader healthcare acceptance, rescheduling creates pathways for more people to engage with regulated cannabis in legitimate, transparent ways. This is not about replacing state-licensed operators, but about strengthening their role and reach.
I see real innovation happening when operators who understand compliance, patient needs, and community can work alongside larger institutions without losing their identity. There is also a significant opportunity to show that cannabis businesses can operate with the same level of professionalism as any other regulated industry while continuing to serve communities that have historically been excluded.
What’s one piece of advice you would give to someone looking to break into the cannabis industry?
Don’t wait for permission. This industry rewards people who are prepared, informed, and willing to stand their ground. Learn the regulations, understand the business, and be clear about your values before you enter.
Cannabis is not a shortcut; it’s one of the most regulated, capital-intensive industries out there. If you’re serious, treat it like healthcare, real estate, and manufacturing all at once. And if you come from a community that hasn’t traditionally been welcomed into these spaces, know that your perspective is not a disadvantage – it’s an asset.
What is the most important thing you have learned from your experiences in the cannabis industry?
The most important thing I’ve learned is that resilience matters more than recognition. Licenses, partnerships, and headlines come and go, but longevity comes from staying compliant and continuing to show up as the industry evolves. Working with Ice Cube on Fryday Kush reinforced that lesson. He is a fearless entrepreneur who leads with conviction, and that kind of energy matters in an industry this complex.
I’ve also learned that fearlessness does not mean taking reckless risks. It means doing the work and moving forward with confidence, even when the path is unclear or the odds are stacked against you. That mindset has guided every phase of my journey and continues to shape the partners I choose to work with.
What do you want your legacy to be as it relates to the cannabis industry?
I want my legacy to be proof that women, Latinas, and minority operators don’t just belong in cannabis – we can lead it into its next era.
If someone looks at my journey and realizes that cannabis can be run with integrity, compliance, cultural respect, and ambition all at once, that matters to me. I want to be remembered as someone who helped move the industry forward – out of the shadows, into legitimacy – without leaving the communities that built it behind.