Meet National Cannabis Championship Finals Judge: Hope Wiseman
Hope at Mary and Main in Prince George’s County, Maryland
We are thrilled to have Hope Wiseman, owner of Maryland cannabis dispensary Mary and Main taking part as a finals judge for the 2023 National Cannabis Championship.
Early in her professional career, Hope knew she wanted to be an entrepreneur. With medical cannabis legalization on the horizon in Maryland, she dove into researching the industry. She knew about the injustices of the war on drugs, and upon realizing the potential social, medical and economic impacts of this new market she was ready to take the leap.
In 2014, Wiseman opened Mary and Main in Prince George's County, Maryland, taking her place in cannabis history as the youngest Black woman in the United States (and possibly the world?!) to own and operate a licensed cannabis dispensary.
While the accomplishment is notable, as Hope reminded viewers in a 2021 CBS News interview, she still has to fight daily to get the respect and opportunities that she deserves:
"It's hard to get into the industry no matter who you are. Being a Black person and being a young woman only exacerbates the challenges," Wiseman said. "I am constantly being looked at as not as qualified. I think a lot of Black people already have that image in business, and then you add on being a woman. A lot of men have a hard time taking direction from a woman or looking at them as equal. Then add on that I'm 20 years younger than a lot of my counterparts — people have a hard time taking me seriously."
In addition to owning Mary and Main, Hope is also the CEO of Wise Co. a multi-state operator creating a global cannabis supply-chain that specializes in social equity frameworks for Black, Indigenous and people of color operators and brands.
Hope's contributions to the cannabis industry go beyond her work as a CEO. She is also a co-founder of The Mary and Main Foundation, a non-profit organization that focuses on addressing the social and economic issues affecting underserved communities. The foundation's programs include mentorship, education, and entrepreneurship initiatives.
As a dispensary owner and brand portfolio CEO, Hope knows a thing or two about quality cannabis and cultivation practices. We’re excited to have her judging this year’s National Cannabis Championship Finals.