When Washington DC and Louisiana launched their respective medical cannabis markets, many entrepreneurs questioned whether the restrictive frameworks could be viable for businesses. But Chanda Macias saw opportunities to help shape those markets into communities focused on helping patients. Now, Chanda operates a dispensary in Washington DC and one of two licensed cultivation and manufacturing operations in Louisiana. Her deep roots and efforts at community-building led to one of the oldest Mardi Gras parade krewes anointing her Queen Zulu in 2020. Chanda shares: How having a keen patient focus helped her become a market leader in Washington DC. Why relationships are critical for maintaining reliable supply in restrictive markets. How a business owner can actively effect regulatory changes in developing markets. How her science background shaped her approach to cannabis as medicine. Who is Chanda Macias? At her core, Chanda is a wife, mother, biomedical researcher, entrepreneur and mentor to many in the marijuana and hemp industries. For more than 15 years, Chanda has focused on advancing the careers of women and minorities while improving the quality of life for patients suffering from various ailments. She now serves as CEO of National Holistic Healing Center, an MMJ dispensary in Washington DC; Ilera Holistic Healthcare, a cultivation and manufacturing facility in Louisiana; and Women Grow, an advocacy group focused on empowering women in cannabis.