We’re back with our second Women’s History Month spotlight! This week, we had the absolute pleasure of sitting down with NJ native and founder of Miss Grass, Kate Miller!
Miss Grass first launched as a digital platform focused on helping women feel more confident and informed about cannabis. Since then, it has grown into one of the most recognizable and thoughtfully built brands in the space, known for its intentional design, strong community and fresh perspective on the plant.
From NJ’s legalization to advice for women building careers in cannabis, here’s what Kate had to say.
Catching Up With Kate
What was the moment you realized cannabis could be a career?
When I saw how little the industry reflected the people I knew who had deep, meaningful relationships with this plant, many of whom were women. The products, the messaging and the retail environments didn’t feel welcoming or representative.
That gap felt like an opportunity, not just commercially, but culturally. I realized this wasn’t just about selling a product. It was about shaping how the plant is understood, portrayed, and experienced.
Since NJ legalization to now, what have you seen that’s been encouraging?
I’m born and raised in NJ, so the shift feels personal. From stealth blunt rides in high school to walking into beautiful legal dispensaries and seeing older consumers and first-time shoppers feel comfortable – we’ve come a long way.
Legalization has been a powerful catalyst for normalization, and I’m proud to see the NJ market online.
What’s been discouraging?
How quickly the race to the bottom can erode quality. It’s also incredibly challenging for independent brands to compete with vertically integrated operators who control shelf space and often trade it amongst themselves. Purchase decisions should ultimately serve the consumer.
More broadly, it’s still very hard to build a profitable cannabis business. High taxes, limited access to capital, pricing compression, saturation — legalization was a milestone, but it didn’t create sustainable economics. We’re still building the plane while flying it.
What do you wish people understood about working in cannabis that no one talks about?
- It’s such a grind.
- Our industry is hurting. Very few operators are truly thriving. Much of that stems from regulatory structure.
- Cannabis operators are incredibly resilient, but we have to be intentional about building a sustainable market. That means making decisions in service of the consumer, structuring true win-win partnerships, and protecting pricing integrity.
- If we keep undercutting one another to achieve short-term wins, we’re undermining the long-term health of the industry.
When you look at where cannabis is headed, what keeps you up at night?
Federal inaction. Regulatory uncertainty affects capital markets, pricing stability and long-term planning.
What gives you hope?
The consumer. Demand is durable and consistently growing. The stigma continues to erode. And we’re beginning to see proof that strong, intentional brands can create real enterprise value.
What advice would you pass along to women looking to build a career in this space?
“Build something real. Show up authentically. Know your power.”
If you genuinely care about the plant, the people, and building durable value, there is enormous opportunity.
It’s essential that women lead in cannabis so the industry reflects the diversity of the people it serves. Women drive spending across industries, and in cannabis they’re often underserved. We have both a responsibility and an opportunity to change that by building brands, products, and businesses that truly resonate.
What’s a rule you were told you had to follow that you chose to question instead?
That brands in cannabis don’t matter.
“When we started Miss Grass, the narrative was that vertical operators would own everything and independent brands wouldn’t survive. I questioned that. I believed consumer love and cultural relevance would ultimately matter more.
That belief shaped how we built Miss Grass – community-first and highly intentional. And I still believe that as this industry matures, brand equity will be one of the few enduring moats.”
Who’s a woman who helped you get where you are today?
My mom. She modeled independence and work ethic without ever framing it that way. She built an incredible career while raising a family and never treated career ambition as something women should apologize for, or need to sacrifice.
In cannabis, I’ve also been fortunate to learn alongside other women navigating the same volatility and still showing up. That shared resilience, and mutual support, matters so much.
Generous 8ths & More
Miss Grass first launched in 2018 as an educational cannabis platform with a curated CBD shop, created to make the plant feel more approachable, especially for women who didn’t see themselves reflected in traditional cannabis culture. By 2020, the brand expanded into its own line of products, and since then Miss Grass has grown into a thriving multi-state brand known for its intentional design, community-driven approach and commitment to reshaping the conversation around cannabis.
Shop Miss Grass
Happy Women’s History Month!
Visit Pure Blossom for Cannabis and Other Essentials
Explore Pure Blossom’s curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands and essential accessories. Whether you’re doing the old Google thing, searching for a dispensary near me or nearby dispensaries in New Jersey, Pure Blossom is a short, scenic, calming drive away, and our friendly guide-connoisseurs are excited to take you through our curated selection of New Jersey cannabis brands (and other essentials). We’ll see you there!