How Green Lady Became Massachusetts’ First Minority and Woman-Owned Dispensary [Video]

The Business of Joy: Insights from Green Lady Dispensary’s Mother-Daughter Duo

In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nicole Campbell, the CEO, and her daughter Clea Campbell, the general manager of Green Lady Dispensary in Massachusetts. Celebrating their five-year anniversary, Green Lady Dispensary stands out as the 23rd retail cannabis store in Massachusetts and the first minority and woman-owned cannabis business in the state.

Nicole and Clea shared their journey of breaking barriers in the cannabis industry, dealing with societal prejudices, and the challenges of introducing a cannabis business in a conservative area. They highlighted their unique business model, which includes a vertically integrated operation on Nantucket Island, allowing them to cultivate, manufacture, and retail cannabis products directly to consumers. This setup enables them to offer fresh baked cannabis goods, a rarity in the industry due to typical supply chain constraints.

Clea, bringing a youthful perspective, discussed the dynamics of being young and female in a predominantly male industry. She emphasized her rapid growth within the company and her proactive approach to overcoming stereotypes and challenges.

Nicole reflected on her transition from a 30-year career in marketing to pioneering in the cannabis industry, driven by a desire for change and to create a legacy for her daughters. She shared insights on the importance of planning and having contingency plans when making significant career changes.

Both expressed the joy and satisfaction derived from serving their community, providing high-quality, innovative products, and seeing the positive impact on their customers’ lives.

The episode was not only enlightening in terms of understanding the intricacies of the cannabis business but also inspiring, showcasing the power of innovation, resilience, and community focus in entrepreneurship. https://www.thegreenladydispensary.com/

Clea Bio:

Clea Campbell is the owner and director of communications at The Green Lady Dispensary, located on both Nantucket Island and Newton Centre. Campbell has led communications for the company since 2018, developing innovative advertising and marketing campaigns for the brand. She was the entrepreneurial force in forming the company’s Newton location, where she will act as general manager, leading wholesale logistics, operating procedures, and brand development in preparation for its opening. Campbell has designed a corporate diversity plan and positive impact plan focusing on inclusive hiring goals and giving back to the community through charitable donations.

Nicole Bio:

Nicole serves as Chief Operating Officer at the Green Lady Dispensary. A cannabis industry pioneer, Nicole has a hands-on approach that sets her apart from other industry leaders. As a result, she created the first vertically integrated cannabis company that utilizes its own modified on-premises testing laboratory in the United States. Through technological innovation and intensive research, her operating procedures for the Green Lady’s testing laboratory were officially approved by the Cannabis Control Commission in 2019. Her specialties include performing microbial testing and liquid chromatography for cannabinoids on cannabis products at the Green Lady’s state-of-the-art laboratory.  

Timestamped 

00:00:00 – Introduction and Guest Introduction
Susan Burns introduces herself and her guests, Nicole and Clea Campbell from Green Lady Dispensary.

00:01:08 – Celebrating Business Milestones
Nicole discusses the five-year anniversary of Green Lady Dispensary and its significance in Massachusetts.

00:01:42 – Product Offerings and Operations
Discussion about the types of products offered at Green Lady Dispensary, including their focus on marijuana and the unique setup on Nantucket Island.

00:03:06 – Overcoming Industry Barriers
Nicole and Clea talk about the challenges of being pioneers as a minority and woman-owned cannabis business.

00:04:33 – Changing Public Perceptions
Nicole reflects on the societal challenges and misconceptions about cannabis that they had to navigate.

00:05:23 – Dual Nature of Dispensary: Medical and Recreational
Exploration of how Green Lady Dispensary serves both medical and recreational cannabis users.

00:06:08 – Clea’s Personal Journey in Cannabis Industry
Clea shares her experiences and challenges as a young woman in a predominantly male industry.

00:08:47 – Personal Growth Through Challenges
Clea discusses how overcoming challenges in the cannabis industry has helped her grow personally and professionally.

00:09:13 – Nicole’s Reflections on Initial Struggles and Achievements
Nicole talks about the early days of their business, the struggles they faced, and the positive outcomes that emerged.

00:10:44 – Innovative Product Development
Discussion on unique product offerings like fresh baked goods that differentiate