Staff
Women’s Leadership Award
Brands
Nancy Whiteman, CEO of Wana Brands
Nancy is CEO of Wana Brands and co-founded the company in 2010. Recently, Canadian cannabis giant Canopy Growth signed a deal to acquire 100% of the membership interests in each Wana entity for upfront cash payment of $297.5 million. This will trigger with federal permissibility in the US. Nancy remains CEO of Wana Brands. Headlines were made when Whiteman noted she would apply a significant amount of the Canopy option funds to CSR. And for years, Whiteman has championed social equity in cannabis. Wana supports the Last Prisoner Project’s advocacy and restorative justice work as a “Partner for Freedom.” Wana also launched the CannabisForJustice.com initiative, which provides trusted resources and guidelines to address systemic racism and social equity throughout the industry. Whiteman isn’t your typical cannabis CEO. The mother of two and former insurance marketing executive founded the company in 2010 when Colorado was getting its medical marijuana program off the ground and shifted to adult-use when the state was the first to get recreational online. She’s kept Wana’s leading-edge through innovation, launching Wana Quick, one of the most effective and popular quick onset products. She also oversaw the development of the Optimals line, including Wana Fast Asleep and Wana Fit, which leverage rare cannabinoids and proprietary terpenes blends. In March, she will lead Wana Brands in introducing the launch of Wana SPECTRUM Live Rosin Gummies in Colorado, available in four distinct flavors. With fast-acting effects, these live rosin gummies are the first of their kind in the cannabis marketplace.
