This is an English translation. The original Dutch article is authoritative.
Simone van Breda is a representative of THE BULLDOG and chair of the Bond van Cannabis Detaillisten. It remains remarkable that an industry that is about femininity like no other is so dominated by men. Nevertheless, there are women active in the cannabis industry. From leading a coffeeshop to committing to cannabis legalisation and cannabis rights.
According to some sources, the cannabis industry is a particularly female-friendly environment and, for various reasons, has a higher percentage of women than many other industries. While people generally do not shout from the rooftops about working in a coffeeshop, women seem to do this even less. But they are certainly there!
Introduction
I will briefly introduce myself: I am Simone van Breda, entrepreneur and mother of three children. And yes, I work within the cannabis industry. As a representative of THE BULLDOG and chair of the Bond van Cannabis Detaillisten, I am committed to a more workable cannabis policy. Additionally, I have an activist mindset and do not shy away from associating my face with the sector.
Entrepreneur and mother of three children
The inequality and the stigma in this sector attract me the most. I find it incomprehensible that a phenomenon like the coffeeshop has been stuck in a tolerance policy for almost 45 years. Trapped in a "criminogenic environment" while the coffeeshop fulfills a social function. With use, as with any stimulant, proper education is extremely important. Many people have no idea that the coffeeshop fulfills this function and see it as no different from the café or the liquor store where you buy alcohol. I therefore enjoy spreading this message in my social circle. When I explain the tolerance policy, I regularly get the reaction of how on earth this can still persist.
Stigma
By now, the coffeeshop is for many a legal phenomenon they have grown up with. And with the rise of CBD, it seems to be normalising further. Despite this, the stigma and negative resonance surrounding cannabis remain significant. Unfortunately, this became clearer to me than ever due to a personal loss.
At the end of 2019, my dear mother passed away from the consequences of brain tumours. When my mother was told in early 2019 that she had a very aggressive form of cancer in her brain, she placed her trust entirely in regular healthcare. They had already removed one tumour. But unfortunately, it was already clear then that the treatment would only be life-prolonging. Because I know that the use of CBD and cannabis oil can provide good support, I arranged this for her as quickly as possible.
Even though she deteriorated significantly from the chemotherapy and radiation, she wanted to wait to use the oil. She didn't dare. While my mother was terribly proud of my work and my plea regarding how unfairly cannabis is recognised in the world, she remained afraid of the unknown. Yet she took the prescribed medications without hesitation. That was incomprehensible to me. Only when we were told in September that three tumours had returned did the switch flip. After using the oil, she perked up considerably!
I take my personal grief and experience into my work
She slept, ate, and even gained weight again. Unfortunately, it was already a losing battle. I take my personal grief and experience into my work. I therefore give my all to contribute to normalisation, legalisation, and working towards a more workable cannabis and coffeeshop policy.
In this, I hope of course that over time more and more women will join me in committing to and speaking out positively for and about cannabis. So that the sector where femininity is at the centre will be dominated more by women.
Source: cannabisindustrie.nl
November 2020