The cannabis industry can be tough—even more so for women. Female business owners often struggle with unique barriers to success, including a lack of capital investment, sexism, and stigma. Couple that with broader economic uncertainty, and the deck seems stacked against women in weed. Latinas in Cannabis hopes to make things a bit brighter with its Seeds of Change small business grant program.
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The program seeks to assist deserving women entrepreneurs in the cannabis industry by providing a $500 grant. At a time when many in the industry are struggling to stay afloat, the funds and accolades are meant to help recipients grow and thrive.
“This program puts real dollars, visibility, and community support into the hands of those who need it most,” explained Susie Plascencia, founder of Latinas in Cannabis.
Five grants totaling $2,500 are available to support deserving female entrepreneurs. Encore Labs, Alibi, Cannabiotix, Dispensify, and Green Rush Accounting & Tax contributed to the program.
“I know firsthand what it takes to build a business from the ground up in the cannabis space,” Marianne Cursetjee, co-founder and CEO of Alibi, said in a press release. “In an industry full of obstacles, this backing can be the difference between simply surviving and truly thriving.”
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Applications are open through December 4th, 2025. The winners will be revealed onstage during the Latinas in Cannabis meetup on December 5th at MJBizCon in Las Vegas. The selected businesses must have a representative on-site to accept the awards in person.
At a time when prosperity feels out of reach for so many, the Seeds of Change grants are a breath of fresh air. Plascencia and the rest of the team know that women in cannabis are resilient, but they hope their tangible, real-world support goes the extra mile.
“That’s what empowerment looks like,” she concluded.
