Cannabis Equity Workshop Series

Tiana Woodruff is a social-equity operator and the founder/CEO of Queen Mary, a California-born brand designing “daily-use” cannabis for women’s wellness. She entered the industry as a Los Angeles delivery driver in 2016 and later applied through the city’s Social Equity Program. When she wasn’t selected for retail, she built a brand grounded in her family’s experience with prescription drug addiction. Woodruff now serves on the Minority Cannabis Business Association board and, in 2025, expanded Queen Mary into Colorado, where the brand holds a social-equity license.

Sean Maddocks is a cannabis attorney and the managing partner of Green Consulting Partners, where he advises operators on licensing, regulatory compliance, and transactions. A graduate of UCLA School of Law and UC Berkeley, he has helped clients secure more than 100 local and state licenses across California. Maddocks brings a blend of legal and business expertise to his work, supporting projects ranging from facility and retail applications to investment structuring and ongoing compliance. Admitted to the State Bar of California, he is frequently cited on California’s regulatory landscape, and how zoning and capital costs impact license valuations.

Ramon M. Garcia is a social-equity operator and supply-chain builder, best known as a co-creator of the National Equity Trade Certification and co-founder of the Equity Trade Network. A second-generation cultivator, Garcia also co-founded Sanctuary and leads Padre Mu, an Oakland-based delivery and distribution business. His work centers on getting certified equity brands onto retail shelves and helping consumers “vote with their dollars.” Garcia has advised statewide distributors and industry groups, serving on DEI committees for the Cannabis Distributors Association and National Cannabis Industry Association (NCIA).

CADRE is a social-equity cannabis company founded in Los Angeles and led by CEO Madison Shockley III. While developing a product line and hosting events that emphasize equity and community impact, the brand blends retail, culture, and advocacy—anchored by the launch of CADRE in South L.A. CADRE describes its mission as championing “The People, The Culture, The Revolution,” and showcases strains and collaborations that celebrate Black joy and resilience. Its work runs alongside Shockley’s ongoing policy advocacy aimed at stabilizing equity business amid high taxes and compliance costs.

Maisha Bahati is the CEO of Crystal Nugs, a Sacramento cannabis retailer that started as the city’s first Black- and woman-owned delivery service. In 2023, she opened Sacramento’s first Black-woman owned dispensary, expanding Crystal Nugs from delivery to a flagship store in Midtown. A champion of social equity and local entrepreneurship, she also holds a state cannabis event-organizer license and has been preparing an on-site consumption lounge as Sacramento rolls out its new pilot program.

Victoria Basso brings a rare mix of science, operations, and culture to California cannabis. As Partner and Operations Manager at AJ’s Cannabis Company, she oversees day-to-day brand execution and helps align production with compliance and patient/consumer experience. Her perspective is grounded in lab testing. In 2018, she prioritized public safety standards as a sales and account manager at a licensed testing lab. She now applies that experience to vendor qualifications, COA review, and inventory planning. She also created Colors of Cannabis, a culture-driven podcast that spotlights women and BIPOC contributors while demystifying products and policy for new consumers.

LUIS RIVERA is the founder and CEO of Collective Strategies Enterprises LLC and owner/operator of GreenWay HighWay Inc, which are cannabis retail storefronts in Sun Valley and Pacoima. As a verified Social Equity Applicant in the City of Los Angeles, Luis has been at the forefront of promoting fairness and economic opportunity in the cannabis industry. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from California State University of Los Angeles. He’s also the Founder of Social Equity which provides free resources and information to individuals qualifying for Social Equity Programs. In 2021, he launched the Cannabis Delivery Network, a digital platform with a mission to power a reimagined, local, and inclusive cannabis economy.