Mary Pryor is a passionate advocate and shrewd media expert based in Los Angeles and New York. Mary is the co-founder of Cannaclusive along with Tonya Rapley-Flash and Charlese Antoinette.

INTERVIEWED BY EVA GREEN

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I grew up in Detroit, Michigan. Throughout my life, my mother dealt with horrible health issues including MS [multiple sclerosis] and Lupus. My father was a Vietnam Veteran who also had Type-I Diabetes and worked in the auto industry. I grew up with a lack of awareness around self-care and daily health practices. Seeing my mother go through flares of her diseases and witness severe health complications caused me to develop a hyper-awareness and I matured fast.

Because of my parents’ health issues, they were unable to raise me so my grandmother was my caretaker growing up. My grandmother raised me to be a smart kid. She instilled in me the value of hard work and self-reliance. I was bullied as a young child but became resilient and learned to channel myself with artwork through painting and drawing. I was always intrinsically focused on being dynamic and intelligent. I grew up understanding the difference between middle and upper class living as a contrast to how I grew up and I eventually went to the University of Michigan for my bachelor's degree.

WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST EXPERIENCE WITH CANNABIS LIKE?

My first experience with cannabis was when I was fourteen years old at a party in high school and it was not a pleasant experience. At sixteen, I tried again by smoking and I really liked it. In college, I occasionally smoked every now and again at social events.

In the early 2000s, I lived in Los Angeles and worked in production. I chose to partake in cannabis as opposed to harder drugs that were growing in popularity in the city. Some members of my family struggled with opioid addiction and my understanding of drugs was skewed because of my experience in Detroit and the subsequent impact of the War on Drugs. In 2013, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a gastrointestinal auto-immune disorder. Most patients deal with constant inflammation, pain, discomfort along with a host of other related symptoms.

It is a horrible disorder and I wake up in pain every day. When I was originally diagnosed, the medicine doctors were prescribing me was really affecting my quality of life. Around 2014-15, I started to take cannabis medicine more seriously when I discovered that it helped with my symptoms and relieved my pain. I found myself flying to Colorado to get this medicine, particularly strains high in CBG, CBC, THC-V, and CBD. Cannabis helps me maintain my health and well being. Using cannabis as a medicine is a really big deal for me. If I didn’t have access to this plant, I would be so miserable.

“My number one advice would be to open up your circles. The world is not all black or all white. It is multicultural, with many ethnicities, genders, and orientations.”

— Mary Pryor

CAN YOU DESCRIBE WHAT “WELLNESS” MEANS TO YOU? DO YOU HAVE ANY RITUALS OR SELF-CARE PRACTICES?

Wellness means everything. It is a 360-degree process from self-care to fitness to what one eats. I’m a plant-based eater, and I work out every day—twice if I am stressed out. I participate in daily meditations and have an active spiritual practice. My cannabis use is also part of my wellness routine. I don’t agree with taking pharmaceutical medicine frivolously, but understand that sometimes it is necessary. My approach is to assess the risk profile of any medicine and understand them, as opposed to aggressive pharmaceutical medications that may have potentially harmful side effects, holistic medicines are often lower. Some of my favorite strains are Harlequin, Durban Poison, White Widow, and Ringo’s Gift.

CBD Botanical Blends, Full-spectrum CBD Tincture

WHAT ARE YOU EXCITED ABOUT RIGHT NOW IN THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY?

This plant is amazing. It is now undoubtedly a part of our culture now all over the United States. The buzz is aflutter, and we can’t stop talking about it! Finally, there is an opportunity for cannabis to be taken more seriously. We are early enough in the legalization process, where we can start to pay more attention to the overall conversation and make an impact on the social fabric of this country.

WHAT IS YOUR MISSION WITH CANNACLUSIVE?

Cannaclusive knows inclusion is an issue in cannabis. Our part of the solution is being able to educate and provide insights to businesses and everyday people coming into this space as an educated consumer, business owner, or employee. Cannaclusive was created to facilitate a fair representation of minority cannabis consumers. We were inspired by the growing opportunities yet disappointed by the diversity issues taking root in mainstream cannabis culture.

At Cannaclusive, we celebrate the cultures of this thriving community through curated experiences, groundbreaking insights, thoughtful content, and dynamic visuals. We make it easier for brands to communicate with diverse audiences and ensure that minority consumers are not an afterthought, but a valued ally in the fight for legalization and destigmatization.

WHAT DOES PROGRESSIVE CANNABIS LEGISLATION LOOK LIKE?

Progressive cannabis legislation looks like a law that supports community reinvestment—programs, incubators, and job training to work within the cannabis industry. Not everyone needs to be a grower or dispensary owner, but there are a lot of jobs created by legalization, including ancillary businesses. Progressive cannabis legislation looks like releasing non-violent drug offenders for cannabis. You can’t have large amounts of black and brown bodies behind bars, while cannabis businesses turn a profit. Progressive cannabis legislation includes the government opening up banking opportunities and including tax provisions for minorities whose businesses will make a tangible impact on the communities they benefit. Lack of capital is a significant barrier for startups— and often marginalized communities and women do not receive the proper support they need to start businesses. It is even more of an issue in cannabis. Lastly, there needs to be support for the formerly incarcerated and those ravaged by the harms of the Drug War. Cannabis needs to be equitable for all, and existing cannabis companies have a social responsibility to shine a light on this issue and fight for progressive legislation.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR ADVICE TO OTHER WOMEN IN THE CANNABIS SPACE?

My number one advice would be to open up your circles. The world is not all black or all white. It is multicultural, with many ethnicities, genders, and orientations. If you look around at your community and you don’t see diversity then in your friendship network, workplace, and everyday life, then you don’t live in the real world. Our global landscape is moving and changing constantly. This world is way bigger and more diverse than you could ever imagine. Inclusion starts with you! If your daily life consists of being wrapped up in your own world, then you are missing out on what the world really is! Make sure your networks are inclusive. At the end of the day, it will increase your understanding of others who may be different than you, and that is so valuable.

Learn more about Mary Pryor and the relentless work Cannaclusive is doing for diversity in the cannabis industry by visiting www.cannaclusive.com