Women in the Marijuana Industry

Abstract

This paper explores the experiences of women involved with rural marijuana production in Northern California. Using grounded theory analysis, my research explores patterns and trends in the daily lives of women participants in the growing community. Multiple dimensions are explored, highlighting divisions of labor, gender, social networking, and elements of power and class. My research aims to provide a rich and highly textured portrait of various women as they operate from different positions within a legally ambiguous economy. Though the federal government continues to judge marijuana cultivation and distribution to be illegal, the marijuana industry thrives in the progressively tolerant California state environment where it is emerging as a significant source of commerce.