When Dr. Chanda Macias was studying breast and prostate cancer, she already knew cannabis could slow the progression of the disease. What she didn’t understand was why a life-saving medication could land patients in prison. This revelation altered the course of her career, taking her across the globe to study natural medicines and advocate for patient access.
In 2015, Macias became the first African American woman in the United States to receive a medical marijuana dispensary license. She founded the National Holistic Healing Center in Washington, D.C., before taking over leadership of Ilera Holistic Healthcare (IHH) in Louisiana as its CEO.
IHH is a medical cannabis cultivation and processing company working in partnership with Southern University (SU). It is one of only two licensed medical cannabis providers in the state. The partnership made history when they created two separate cannabinoid-based product lines, ALAFIA and AYO, establishing SU as the first Historically Black College/ University (HBCU) in the nation to launch both a hemp and cannabis product, respectively.
Macias is also CEO and Chairwoman of the Board of Managers for Women Grow, an organization dedicated to educating women entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry. In this exclusive interview, Macias shares what she’s learned during her journey
