Inside the GWGW Women’s Lounge at Hall of Flowers Ventura 2026: Content, Community & Collaboration

The GWGW Women’s Lounge Hall of Flowers Ventura 2026 brought together female creators, brands, and collaborators for a dynamic content creation experience and chill place to hang, connect and get to know each other more deeply.

I was honored to be asked to interview the incredible women featured inside the GWGW (Grown Womxn Good Weed) Women’s Lounge - a space where women could actually slow down, connect, create, and just enjoy being together. It was my favorite part of the event!

GWGW doesn't just create a booth - they created a vibe. A space where women can step away from the chaos, sit down, craft, connect, and of course… sesh. It felt like walking into a beautiful living room in the middle of a show that doesn’t always have the ability to build real connection.

"There’s something different that happens when women are given space to just be."

Inside the GWGW Women’s Lounge Hall of Flowers Ventura 2026

One of the things that made the GWGW activation so special was the level of details they put into it all. From a beautiful seating area with plenty of crafts and space to sesh in, to their signature photobooth with a gorgeous pink floral backdrop that instantly pulled you in.

I got to take photos with women I’ve known for years, women I’ve only connected with online, and women I was meeting for the first time. Communities like WEIC, EmpowHer, and even our own Canna Boss Babes CONNECT sessions all collided in that one space.

The Kenny Show photobooth does such a great job capturing the fun and vibes women create when we come together and you can view it all on his site.

Building From the Ground Up with Mayra Altamirano

One of my first interviews with the GWGW Women's Lounge was with Mayra Altamirano from The Elevens out of Sacramento. I caught up with Mayra as she brought me over to her booth, which had a solid line.

She didn’t just talk about what they do—she showed me. The molds they use for their edibles, packaging laid out across the table, different products in various stages. You could see how hands-on their operation is just by looking at it.

She told me they started in delivery, then moved into distribution and manufacturing, building things out step by step in Sacramento.

“We used to do deliveries, then we moved to distro… and we did over 180 events in Sacramento.”

That part explains how they built their network.

What they have now is layered. Distribution, manufacturing, packaging, white labeling, delivery, events—it’s all connected. The booth reflected that. It wasn’t set up around one product or one brand. It was showing the full scope of what they do.

They even had their packaging structure broken down—entry points for brands depending on budget, scaling up from smaller runs to more comprehensive product lines. It made it easy to understand how someone could go from an idea to something on shelves without having to figure out every step on their own.

Everything is done in-house—from gummies to pre-rolls—and they’re working with brands at different stages.

“We do all our in-house products… gummies, pre-rolls.”

Names like CGO (Connoisseur Grade Only), She’s Baked, and Budget Dabs were part of what they had on display.

CGO, founded by Marcos Surita out of Sacramento, has built a following around its hash holes and a very specific approach to quality and culture. It’s one of those brands that people who know, know - and most everyone knows after last year's Hash Hole Island event.

She’s Baked came from a different place—built around wellness and consistency, with solventless, vegan, gluten-free products that still focus on flavor.

Seeing those brands connected to what Mayra is doing made her role clearer.

She’s not just building one brand—she’s part of how multiple brands get built.

Owning the Process and Educating the Consumer with Wendy Baker

I caught up with Wendy Baker @wendythespacegem of Space Gem @spacegemofficial_ at the GWGW Women’s Lounge and we kept it quick.

Earlier, when I was walking the floor, I passed by Wendy's booth while she was doing a photoshoot with a fan, with Vanessa Lavorato taking the photo. Vanessa had been there earlier signing copies of her book How to Eat Weed and Have a Good Time: A Cannabis Cookbook, which pulled a crowd—especially for those of us who have been drooling over her content online.

Seven years ago, I met Wendy at my first B2B show. She was at a six-foot table in the back, by herself. I always joke no one puts Baby in the corner—but someone had put Wendy in the corner.

I remember standing there while she shared about what she was making, why it was different, and how much care went into it. She lights up when she talks about her work. Her blue eyes literally sparkle with stars in them.

That hasn’t changed.

What has changed is how many people see her now.

Wendy started Space Gems in 2013 in her home kitchen in Humboldt after seeing a need for better edibles for medical patients. Clean, solventless, no dyes, no fillers—products people could actually trust and come back to. We got into that pretty quickly.

“People don’t even know what they’re ingesting… marketing’s a hell of a thing.”

A lot of what she’s been doing lately is breaking that down—what solventless actually means, what’s actually in products, and where marketing doesn’t match reality. She’s not trying to make it sound better than it is. She’s explaining it in a way people can actually understand.

At the same time, the foundation hasn’t changed. She’s making products she uses herself.

“I want to eat my edibles for the rest of my life.”

I want to eat her edibles for the rest of my life too.

We also talked about how different this year feels compared to last. Last year sounded like survival—launching new SKUs, working through prototypes, figuring things out in real time.

“Success is a lot of hard work… nothing’s handed to you.”

And seeing her now, compared to that table in the corner—it’s been a long time coming.

Wendy's online presence has been increasing and while she had to get over her fear of putting herself out there at first - the response? Undeniable. If you have met Wendy in person or seen her online you know she is just as loveable as her gems.

Creating Space and Building Forward with Susie Plascencia

I caught up with Susie Plascencia @susieplasencia on day two, and even in a quick conversation, it’s clear how much her work has expanded.

She’s stepped into a new role as co-executive director of the National Hispanic Cannabis Council, a national organization focused on advancing Latino participation in cannabis through policy, education, and economic opportunity.

“It’s really focused on the national impact of Latinos in the cannabis industry… across education, health, wellness, economic opportunity, and public policy.”

That shift builds on what she’s already been doing on the ground.

Through Latinas in Cannabis, she created a space for women across the industry to connect, speak, and step into leadership roles. Not just attending events, but being part of the conversation.

“We create stages for women who deserve to be heard.”

I attended my first Latinas in Cannabis Summit last year and was profoundly moved - first by how beautiful and welcoming the space was, but also the variety of vendors and businesses who came to support and be supported and finally the stage and the speakers - the discussions that were being shared were relatable as women in the world and also provided the additional lens of being both marginalized for and incredibly proud of their culture.

Suzie isn't just about stages and events. Through MOTA Glass, that same thinking shows up in a different part of the industry.

What they’re pushing back on is something most people don’t see. A lot of functional glass on the market is imported, lower quality, and still sold as if it were made here. At the same time, the people doing the actual work—often from minority communities—are underpaid and overlooked.

MOTA was built as a response to that.

It’s Los Angeles-based, focused on producing glass locally, but more than that, it’s about creating jobs that are stable, with real pay and actual room to grow. Not temporary work, not disposable labor—something people can build on.

There’s also a level of accountability in how they approach it. If you’re buying from a brand, you’re supporting how they operate—who they hire, how they pay, and what they prioritize.

That’s part of what makes this feel connected to everything else Susie is doing. Whether it’s Latinas in Cannabis, MOTA Glass, or now her role with the National Hispanic Cannabis Council, the throughline is the same—access, ownership, and making sure the people who were pushed out of this industry are able to build something within it now.

“If this is something you want to do… go and try it out.”

There’s openness in how she approaches it, but also structure. People are encouraged to step in, but expected to show up prepared and contribute.

It’s still growing, but it’s already influencing how people move through the industry—and who gets to be part of it.

The Beauty of The Plant & It's People

Not only did I get to interview some pretty amazing Boss Babes but Leslie K. Monroy aka @bunnyfoofee brought an insanely gorgeous headdress made of florals and flowers donated by Sue Carlton-Surabian @rancheramami and the @rancherafamilia farm which of course Lilli had to capture. Check out this incredible gallery with all images shot by @therealpotparazzi who I am going on tour with later this summer! Want to be a stop or help sponsor a stop? Let's Talk!

The Power of Connection

There’s something really powerful about being in a space where women are building, supporting, and showing up for each other without competition.

That’s what I felt inside the GWGW Women's Lounge at Hall of Flowers Ventura 2026.

Not just momentum—but alignment and a mutual support of each other as we grow into the future. The importance of making sure we are all at the finish line, not just racing each other to it.

I want to give a huge thank you to Spenta, Gabi, Yessenia, Mel and the entire GWGW team who put this together. Spaces like aren't accidental. They are created by women who care deeply about making sure we’re not just seen in this industry, but that we actually have space to exist, connect, and grow together.

Thanks Babes!