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Things are looking pretty good for the New Mexico cannabis industry, but there are still plenty of spaces where there can be improvement. We sat down with Erika Martinez, a manager at High Desert Relief, to talk about inclusiveness in New Mexico’s weed industry and where businesses should be putting their energies.
Why were you interested in working in the cannabis industry? Have you ever worked in any other sector?
This was my first job in the cannabis industry. I’ve wanted to be a part of the industry for a long time. Before I was working at the dispensary, I worked at Whole Foods. But I just knew that it wasn’t really the job for me. I was trying to get into the cannabis industry while working there, and I was finally able to get an interview at High Desert Relief. It just took off from there.
What makes High Desert Relief a special place, compared to other dispensaries?
It’s really a mom-and-pop shop, and I just feel like everybody is really comfortable with each other. The environment is really nice and fun, and all of us get along. Our owners are awesome. They take really good care of us. It’s just a really good environment.
How is New Mexico’s cannabis industry doing when it comes to including women?
It’s definitely a male-dominated industry. I would definitely like to see more women in the industry and more women in power, for sure. I would say the state could improve at making the industry more inclusive for everybody and just keeping up with the demands of the people. But other than that, I feel like we’re off to a good start with recreational. I feel like the industry is doing a pretty good job, for the most part. Businesses could host women’s hiring fairs to get more women involved.
What should the industry be focusing on in the coming year?
I would definitely like to see more consumption lounges go up—where people can go to smoke and chill. Or even lounges where you can go have some food and coffee while you work on some joints. That’s something I really want to share. I’d like to see dab lounges. I think that would be pretty popular.
Is there any advice that you could give to women that are looking to get into the industry or coming up in it right now?
Don’t be afraid and go after what you want. Even if it does seem like a male-dominated industry, there’s always room for more females in the industry. Don’t get discouraged if one place doesn’t want to hire you. Always keep moving forward, and just keep trying.